CompTIA ('Computing Technology Industry Association') is a non-profit organisation that was formed in the early 1980's. They've built over the years to become the number one in vendor-neutral I.T. certification. So they can freely produce & be in control of a whole range of I.T. industry exams & produce their very own certifications that don't apply to just one specific vendor's goods. With today's shift towards inter connectivity and systems convergence, this is seen as a great step for the I.T. student, because it gives cross platform learning & a knowledge of 'integration'. Whenever a new examination is being developed (or a previous one up-graded), 'CompTIA' discusses the content with top members of the professional & academic world in order to provide balanced and highly relevant material.

With regards to Network+ , the earlier 'N10-003' has today been replaced by the N10-004, the '2009' edition. A greater emphasis is focused on Security in the '2009' Network+ examination, together with network-design & wireless networking. This of course is in addition to the key elements of network-management and infrastructure.

Any of the employment roles listed here are all feasible for the candidate holding a 'CompTIA' 'A+' qualification: Call Centre Technician, Remote Support Technician, Depot Technician, Help Desk Technician, Field Service Technician, PC Technician & IT Administrator. With the CompTIA Network+ on top of that, you could think about becoming a Network Installer, an IT Cable Installer, a Network Administrator or a Network Technician .

Many of these roles are often starting points for higher level IT positions, and so, as with all career tracks, it's important to first talk over what your end goals are, and which learning-style suits you. Do take time to go through every little thing with a training & IT specialist - it will help safeguard you from any set backs in the future. IT Training companies may offer to develop a tailored training path by assembling a combination of training programs that will take the individual from where they're starting from to where they would like to end up.

Anybody who is new to I.T. will certainly profit from programs and accreditations developed by 'CompTIA'. Typically, trainees who are aiming for careers within Networking, Systems, Security, Servers, Communications and Support can begin with CompTIA, although in fact trainees in any sector could find a CompTIA certification a helpful component of their CV. 'CompTIA' are also now marketing 'STRATA' certifications : they're not specifically for those employed in the I.T. industry, but for people whose jobs require a basic knowledge of computing.

The two examinations have fairly recently gone through a 2009 upgrade in-line with the company's advance towards 'ISO' standardisation. The previous A+ (version 2006/2007) exams that were classified with the 600 prefix are being phased out worldwide during 2010. In Great Britain, they discontinue on August 31st 2010. Up until that time, individuals can sit either the '600' or the more recent 700 examinations in local test-centres (specifically Vue & Prometric). Common sense dictates that new trainees should study edition '2009'. 'CompTIA' 'A+' Essentials and CompTIA A+ Practical Application are the new examination titles (220-701 & 220-702 respectively). The four original examinations have been re-structured in to two new examinations, & some more up-dated material has been introduced. The old format was 1 required Essentials examination and 3 electives, of which only one needed to be sat. Today the marketplace demands workers with knowledge that used to be in all four earlier exams. Trainees can get that information from the 2 '2009' obligatory A+ programs. A bridging examination has been created by CompTIA for any person with the previous qualification. 'BR-003' is the exam number. Successfully passing the upgrade examination will normally demand further study, although it shouldn't be especially much of a challenge for people who formerly studied all electives. Sufficient study hours really should be factored in for the newer technology elements though.

Expect to give yourself in the region of one hundred to a hundred & fifty hrs learning time for the A+ examinations, and for the 'Network+' close to seventy five to a hundred hrs. Using the right multi-media training package that is backed up by authorised examination preparation software, the two certifications could be achieved within just 6 months for the student who is studying around a job.

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