The CompTIA A+ training program covers four areas of training; you’re thought of as an A+ achiever when you’ve achieved certifications for 2 out of 4 subjects. This is why most training providers only teach 2 specialised areas. In fact you will need the training for all four areas as many jobs will ask for the skills and knowledge of the entire course. It isn’t necessary to take all four exams, however we’d advise that you take tutorials in all 4 subjects.
Passing the A+ exam on its own will mean that you’re able to repair and fix computers and Macs; ones that are most often not part of a network – essentially the domestic or small business sector.
If you feel it appropriate to add Network+ training, you will additionally be able to assist with or manage networks of computers, giving you the facility to command a higher salary.
Be on the lookout that any qualifications you’re considering doing are recognised by industry and are bang up to date. ‘In-house’ exams and the certificates they come with are generally useless.
To an employer, only the top companies such as Microsoft, Adobe, CompTIA or Cisco (for instance) will get you short-listed. Nothing else will cut the mustard.
Get rid of any salesperson that just tells you what course you should do without an in-depth conversation to assess your abilities as well as level of experience. Make sure they can draw from a generous range of products so they’re actually equipped to give you an appropriate solution.
Where you have a strong background, or maybe some live experience (maybe some existing accreditation?) then it could be that your starting level will be very different from a student that is completely new to the industry.
It’s wise to consider some basic PC skills training first. This can often make the transition to higher-level learning a a little easier.
For the most part, a normal student really has no clue in what direction to head in a computing career, let alone which market they should look at getting trained in.
Consequently, without any know-how of the IT market, how are you equipped to know what some particular IT person spends their day doing? How can you possibly choose what training route would be most appropriate for your success.
Generally, the way to deal with this quandary properly lies in a deep talk over some important points:
* Your personality can play a starring part – what things get your juices flowing, and what tasks really turn you off.
* Do you hope to accomplish a specific aspiration – for instance, working from home in the near future?
* How highly do you rate salary – is an increase your main motivator, or does job satisfaction rate further up on the scale of your priorities?
* Because there are so many ways to train in computing – you’ll need to get a solid grounding on what differentiates them.
* It makes sense to take in what is different for all the training areas.
For the average person, sifting through all these ideas requires a good chat with an experienced pro that has direct industry experience. And we don’t just mean the certifications – you also need to understand the commercial expectations and needs of the market as well.
Including exams upfront and offering an ‘Exam Guarantee’ is common for a good many training companies. Consider the facts:
You’re paying for it by some means. One thing’s for sure – it isn’t free – they’ve just worked it into the package price.
We all want to pass first time. Entering examinations in order and paying as you go puts you in a much stronger position to qualify at the first attempt – you revise thoroughly and are mindful of the investment you’ve made.
Take your exams somewhere local and look for the very best offer you can at the time.
Big margins are secured by a number of companies that get money for exam fees in advance. A number of students don’t take them for various reasons but the company keeps the money. Believe it or not, there are training companies who rely on that fact – as that’s how they make a lot of their profit.
You should fully understand that re-takes through organisations who offer an ‘Exam Guarantee’ inevitably are heavily regulated. They will insist that you take pre-tests first so you can prove to them you have a good chance of passing.
Spending hundreds or even thousands extra on an ‘Exam Guarantee’ is remiss – when consistent and systematic learning, coupled with quality exam simulation software is what will really guarantee success.
(C) Scott Edwards 2009. Browse around A+ Course or IT Certification.