More or less yea. I went for the 801 and 802 before they retired.
Get very familiar with disassembling a computer, installing Windows OS, basic troubleshooting, and basic networking commands (command line things like IPconfig, release/renew etc)
Don't fail, you gotta pay to retake them, do as many practice tests as possible
I recommend Professer Messer.com, he helped me pass the A+.
My job title doesn't begin to explain what I do, but I see that its common in IT because HR has no clue
It's my second IT job (technically third but I wasnt at the last place long

)
The first job is always the hardest to get. After that, I would say it is easier street.
I get emails all the time for part time and short term gigs, finding a full time job took me about a month after I left my first job.
Once you have experience, they know they don't have to train you as much.
BUT, if you don't have a degree, certs become that much more important. I'm the lowest paid dude on the help desk, followed by one guy who has two years more exp than me.
And the other guy makes more than me and him. Because he has a four year degree, even though this is his first IT job