A+ Certification - Opening Many Doors For IT Professionals

A+ Certification is a vendor neutral certification for computer technicians. This certification was developed by CompTIA (Computer Technology Industry Association), a non-profit organization. The curriculum for this exam is not bound to any specific company or vendor. Instead it is based on an industry-wide job task analysis.

Exam
A+ Certification is an entry level exam that requires you to pass two parts. The first part is referred to as CompTIA A+ Essentials. The second part consists of any one of these exams

  • CompTIA A+ 220-602 (IT Technician)
  • CompTIA A+ 220-603 (Remote Support Technician)
  • CompTIA A+ 220-604 (Depot Technician)

You need to have six months or less of experience in computer service to sit for this exam. The exams cost $168 each. If you are interested, you can register for the exam at any Pearson VUE and Thompson Prometric center. You have 90 minutes to complete the exam. The essential exam has 100 questions and the other three exams have 90 questions each.

Advantages
You might ask why you should go for A+ Certification.  If you are already in the IT field and you have knowledge and experience in computer programming, upgrading, repairs, troubleshooting, printers, laptops and maintenance, CompTIA Certification will confirm your level of competence. Those who have cleared the A+ exam enjoy the following benefits.

  • They have the satisfaction of knowing that they have the necessary knowledge of achieving an internationally recognized exam.
  • Better career opportunities.
  • They earn more than those who are not.
  • If you are planning to take any of the advanced certification program such as those offered by Microsoft, Cisco, Certiport, Novell, and Hewlett-Packard, you will be glad to know that your A+ Certification will be recognized.
  • Many colleges offer credits to students who are A+ certified.
  • Many companies require candidates to be A+ certified in order for them to qualify for their corporate training programs.

Benefits Enjoyed By Companies
Companies who employ A+ certified professional enjoy the following benefits

  • Better customer satisfaction and thus repeat business
  • Can use the A+ logo
  • Increase in productivity
  • Spend less on training
  • Set measurable competence standards

Career Choices
CompTIA certification opens many doors. Being A+ certified makes you eligible for entry level jobs like

  • PC Technician
  • Field Service Technician
  • Manufacturing
  • Help Desk Technician

In fact, you can even start your own computer repair business.

Better Salary
According to a Salary Survey conducted by Certification Magazine, professionals who achieve A+ Certification experience an average of 11 percent increase in their income within the first year. If in the future you combine your CompTIA certification with other advanced certification program, you will qualify for an even higher salary.

Tasks
As an A+ certified professional you would be expert in the following tasks:

  • Installation and setup
  • Upgrading software
  • Troubleshooting application and system errors
  • Maintenance of desktops, printers and laptops
  • Network configurations
  • Training users in using various systems and software
  • Overseeing PC usage
  • Writing user or training manuals

If you are a computer user, someone who wants to develop a career in IT and tech support, professional in tech support without recognized validation, or an IT professional who needs tech support skills, A+ Certification is the right choice for you.