Four specialist training areas feature in the full CompTIA A+ syllabus, of which you need to pass two to gain A+ competency. We would advise however that limiting yourself to 2 of the specialised areas could expose flaws in your knowledge when applying for a job. Choose a course with all 4 subjects - employers will notice the difference.
Passing the A+ exam on its own will give you the ability to mend and maintain computers and Macs; ones that are most often not part of a network - essentially the domestic or small business sector. If you would like to be a man or woman who is a member of a large organisation - supporting, fixing and maintaining networks, you'll need to add CompTIA Network+, or consider an MCSA or MCSE with Microsoft to give you a wider knowledge of how networks work.
Every program under consideration has to build towards a widely recognised accreditation at the finale - and not a worthless 'in-house' diploma - fit only for filing away and forgetting. From an employer's viewpoint, only the big-boys such as Microsoft, Adobe, CompTIA or Cisco (for example) will get you short-listed. Anything less just doesn't cut the mustard.
It's likely that you probably enjoy fairly practical work - the 'hands-on' person. Typically, the trial of reading reference books and manuals is something you'll make yourself do if you have to, but you really wouldn't enjoy it. So look for on-screen interactive learning packages if learning from books is not your thing. Memory is vastly improved when multiple senses are involved - this has been an accepted fact in expert circles for many years.
Locate a program where you'll receive a library of CD and DVD based materials - you'll be learning from instructor videos and demo's, with the facility to use virtual lab's to practice your new skills. All companies should be able to show you some simple examples of the type of training materials they provide. Expect video tutorials, instructor led classes and a variety of interactive modules.
Many companies provide just online versions of their training packages; sometimes you can get away with this - but, think what will happen when you don't have access to the internet or you only get very a very slow connection sometimes. It's preferable to have DVD or CD discs which removes the issue entirely.
Far too many companies are all about the certification, and completely avoid what you actually need - which is a commercial career or job. Always start with where you want to get to - too many people focus on the journey. It's common, in many cases, to thoroughly enjoy one year of training and then find yourself trapped for decades in a job you hate, entirely because you stumbled into it without the correct research when it was needed - at the start.
It's well worth a long chat to see the exact expectations industry will have. What certifications you'll be required to have and how you'll build your experience level. You should also spend a little time thinking about how far you reckon you're going to want to go as it may force you to choose a particular set of certifications. As a precursor to beginning a particular learning program, trainees are advised to talk through individual job needs with an experienced industry professional, to make sure the training course covers all the bases.
Don't accept anything less than the most up to date Microsoft (or any other key organisation's) authorised simulation materials and exam preparation packages. Some students can get thrown by trying to prepare themselves with questions that aren't recognised by official sources. Sometimes, the question formats and phraseology is unfamiliar and it's important to prepare yourself for this. Why don't you test your depth of understanding by doing quizzes and simulated exams to get you ready for the proper exam.
It's quite a normal occurrence for students not to check on a painfully important area - how their company actually breaks down and delivers the courseware elements, and into how many bits. Students often think it makes sense (with a typical time scale of 1-3 years to achieve full certification,) for your typical trainer to courier the courseware in stages, as you achieve each exam pass. However: With thought, many trainees understand that the company's typical path to completion isn't as suitable as another. Sometimes, it's more expedient to use an alternative order of study. And what happens if they don't finish in the allotted time?
For future safety and flexibility, most students now choose to request that all their modules (now paid for) are delivered immediately, and not in stages. That means it's down to you in which order and at what speed you want to finish things.
Passing the A+ exam on its own will give you the ability to mend and maintain computers and Macs; ones that are most often not part of a network - essentially the domestic or small business sector. If you would like to be a man or woman who is a member of a large organisation - supporting, fixing and maintaining networks, you'll need to add CompTIA Network+, or consider an MCSA or MCSE with Microsoft to give you a wider knowledge of how networks work.
Every program under consideration has to build towards a widely recognised accreditation at the finale - and not a worthless 'in-house' diploma - fit only for filing away and forgetting. From an employer's viewpoint, only the big-boys such as Microsoft, Adobe, CompTIA or Cisco (for example) will get you short-listed. Anything less just doesn't cut the mustard.
It's likely that you probably enjoy fairly practical work - the 'hands-on' person. Typically, the trial of reading reference books and manuals is something you'll make yourself do if you have to, but you really wouldn't enjoy it. So look for on-screen interactive learning packages if learning from books is not your thing. Memory is vastly improved when multiple senses are involved - this has been an accepted fact in expert circles for many years.
Locate a program where you'll receive a library of CD and DVD based materials - you'll be learning from instructor videos and demo's, with the facility to use virtual lab's to practice your new skills. All companies should be able to show you some simple examples of the type of training materials they provide. Expect video tutorials, instructor led classes and a variety of interactive modules.
Many companies provide just online versions of their training packages; sometimes you can get away with this - but, think what will happen when you don't have access to the internet or you only get very a very slow connection sometimes. It's preferable to have DVD or CD discs which removes the issue entirely.
Far too many companies are all about the certification, and completely avoid what you actually need - which is a commercial career or job. Always start with where you want to get to - too many people focus on the journey. It's common, in many cases, to thoroughly enjoy one year of training and then find yourself trapped for decades in a job you hate, entirely because you stumbled into it without the correct research when it was needed - at the start.
It's well worth a long chat to see the exact expectations industry will have. What certifications you'll be required to have and how you'll build your experience level. You should also spend a little time thinking about how far you reckon you're going to want to go as it may force you to choose a particular set of certifications. As a precursor to beginning a particular learning program, trainees are advised to talk through individual job needs with an experienced industry professional, to make sure the training course covers all the bases.
Don't accept anything less than the most up to date Microsoft (or any other key organisation's) authorised simulation materials and exam preparation packages. Some students can get thrown by trying to prepare themselves with questions that aren't recognised by official sources. Sometimes, the question formats and phraseology is unfamiliar and it's important to prepare yourself for this. Why don't you test your depth of understanding by doing quizzes and simulated exams to get you ready for the proper exam.
It's quite a normal occurrence for students not to check on a painfully important area - how their company actually breaks down and delivers the courseware elements, and into how many bits. Students often think it makes sense (with a typical time scale of 1-3 years to achieve full certification,) for your typical trainer to courier the courseware in stages, as you achieve each exam pass. However: With thought, many trainees understand that the company's typical path to completion isn't as suitable as another. Sometimes, it's more expedient to use an alternative order of study. And what happens if they don't finish in the allotted time?
For future safety and flexibility, most students now choose to request that all their modules (now paid for) are delivered immediately, and not in stages. That means it's down to you in which order and at what speed you want to finish things.
About the Author:
(C) Jason Kendall. Pop to LearningLolly.com for quality advice on Comptia Certification and A+ Certification.
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