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’re considering being someone who works for a larger company – in network support, build on A+ with Network+, or follow the Microsoft route – MCP’s, MCSA or MCSE in order to have a wider knowledge of how networks work.
A study programme should always lead to a nationally (or globally) recognised qualification at the finale – not a useless ‘in-house’ printed certificate to hang in your hallway.
The main industry leaders such as Microsoft, Cisco, Adobe or CompTIA each have internationally acknowledged skills programmes. These big-hitters will give some sparkle to your CV.
If your advisor doesn’t dig around with lots of question – chances are they’re just a salesperson. If they push a particular product before understanding your background and experience, then you know it’s true.
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.
If you’re a student embarking on IT studies anew, it’s often a good idea to start out slowly, kicking off with user-skills and software training first. This can easily be incorporated into any study program.
Starting from the viewpoint that it makes sense to find the job we want to do first and foremost, before we can consider which training program meets that requirement, how do we know the correct route?
What is our likelihood of grasping what is involved in a particular job when it’s an alien environment to us? Most likely we don’t know someone who does that actual job anyway.
Ultimately, the right resolution really only appears from a meticulous study across many changing factors:
* Personality factors as well as your interests – what work-oriented areas please or frustrate you.
* Why you want to consider starting in computing – maybe you’d like to achieve a life-long goal like firing your boss and working for yourself maybe.
* What salary and timescale requirements that are important to you?
* Many students don’t properly consider the time required to gain all the necessary accreditation.
* Having a good look at how much time and effort that you’re going to put into it.
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:
Patently it’s not free – you are paying for it – the price has simply been included in the whole thing.
People who take each progressive exam, paying as they go are much better placed to get through first time. They are conscious of what they’ve paid and revise more thoroughly to be ready for the task.
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.
Many training companies will require you to sit pre-tests and prohibit you from re-taking an exam until you’ve demonstrated an excellent ability to pass – making an ‘exam guarantee’ just about worthless.
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.
Copyright 2009 S. Edwards. Check out IT Certification or www.a-course.co.uk.
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