Four specialist training areas feature in the complete CompTIA A+ course, of which you'll need certification in two subjects to be considered A+ qualified. We would advise however that only studying two of the four specialities might well not equip you for a job. At least learn about all four - employers will notice the difference.
Qualifying in CompTIA A+ on its own will allow you to fix and repair stand-alone PC's and MAC's; ones which are usually not part of a network - which is for the most part the home market.
You might also choose to consider adding Network+ training to your A+ as you'll then be in a position to take care of computer networks, which means greater employment benefits.
One crafty way that training providers make a lot more is by charging for exams up-front and offering an exam guarantee. This sounds impressive, but is it really:
It's very clear we're still paying for it - obviously it has already been included in the overall figure from the training company. It's certainly not free (although some people will believe anything the marketing companies think up these days!)
Trainees who take exams one at a time, funding them as they go are much more likely to pass. They are mindful of what they've paid and so are more inclined to make sure they're ready.
Why should you pay your college at the start of the course for exams? Find the best exam deal or offer when you're ready, instead of paying a premium - and do it locally - rather than possibly hours away from your area.
A great deal of money is netted by a significant number of organisations that get money upfront for exam fees. For quite legitimate reasons, a number of students don't get to do their exams and so they pocket the rest. Surprising as it sounds, providers exist that actually bank on it - as that's how they make a lot of their profit.
Most companies will require you to sit pre-tests and with-hold subsequent exam entries from you until you've demonstrated an excellent ability to pass - which actually leaves you with no guarantee at all.
Shelling out hundreds or thousands of pounds on 'Exam Guarantees' is remiss - when a commitment to studying and the use of authorised exam preparation tools is actually the key to your success.
Does job security truly exist anywhere now? In the UK for example, where industry can change its mind whenever it suits, it certainly appears not.
We can however locate security at market-level, by probing for areas in high demand, together with work-skill shortages.
Taking the computing business for instance, a recent e-Skills analysis demonstrated massive skills shortages throughout Great Britain around the 26 percent mark. To explain it in a different way, this reveals that the United Kingdom can only find three qualified staff for each 4 positions existing currently.
This glaring notion underpins the requirement for more commercially qualified IT professionals around Great Britain.
It's unlikely if a better time or market settings will exist for acquiring training in this quickly increasing and blossoming market.
We're regularly asked to explain why traditional degrees are now falling behind more commercial qualifications?
With university education costs becoming a tall order for many, and the industry's growing opinion that vendor-based training most often has much more commercial relevance, there's been a big surge in CISCO, Adobe, Microsoft and CompTIA accredited training paths that create knowledgeable employees for much less time and money.
Patently, a necessary amount of background information needs to be learned, but essential specialised knowledge in the areas needed gives a commercially educated student a massive advantage.
Just as the old advertisement said: 'It does what it says on the tin'. All an employer has to do is know what areas need to be serviced, and then request applicants with the correct exam numbers. They'll know then that all applicants can do what they need.
Of course: a training itself or a qualification isn't the end-goal; the particular job that you want to end up in is. Too many training companies place too much importance on the qualification itself.
Imagine training for just one year and then end up doing a job for a lifetime. Don't make the error of taking what may be a very 'interesting' program only to waste your life away with something you don't even enjoy!
Take time to understand how you feel about career progression and earning potential, and whether you intend to be quite ambitious. It makes sense to understand what industry expects from you, what particular accreditations they want you to have and how you'll gain real-world experience.
You'd also need help from someone that can best explain the sector you're hoping to qualify in, and who can offer 'A typical day in the life of' type of explanation of the job being considered. These things are of paramount importance as you'll need to know whether or not you've chosen correctly. - 29852
Qualifying in CompTIA A+ on its own will allow you to fix and repair stand-alone PC's and MAC's; ones which are usually not part of a network - which is for the most part the home market.
You might also choose to consider adding Network+ training to your A+ as you'll then be in a position to take care of computer networks, which means greater employment benefits.
One crafty way that training providers make a lot more is by charging for exams up-front and offering an exam guarantee. This sounds impressive, but is it really:
It's very clear we're still paying for it - obviously it has already been included in the overall figure from the training company. It's certainly not free (although some people will believe anything the marketing companies think up these days!)
Trainees who take exams one at a time, funding them as they go are much more likely to pass. They are mindful of what they've paid and so are more inclined to make sure they're ready.
Why should you pay your college at the start of the course for exams? Find the best exam deal or offer when you're ready, instead of paying a premium - and do it locally - rather than possibly hours away from your area.
A great deal of money is netted by a significant number of organisations that get money upfront for exam fees. For quite legitimate reasons, a number of students don't get to do their exams and so they pocket the rest. Surprising as it sounds, providers exist that actually bank on it - as that's how they make a lot of their profit.
Most companies will require you to sit pre-tests and with-hold subsequent exam entries from you until you've demonstrated an excellent ability to pass - which actually leaves you with no guarantee at all.
Shelling out hundreds or thousands of pounds on 'Exam Guarantees' is remiss - when a commitment to studying and the use of authorised exam preparation tools is actually the key to your success.
Does job security truly exist anywhere now? In the UK for example, where industry can change its mind whenever it suits, it certainly appears not.
We can however locate security at market-level, by probing for areas in high demand, together with work-skill shortages.
Taking the computing business for instance, a recent e-Skills analysis demonstrated massive skills shortages throughout Great Britain around the 26 percent mark. To explain it in a different way, this reveals that the United Kingdom can only find three qualified staff for each 4 positions existing currently.
This glaring notion underpins the requirement for more commercially qualified IT professionals around Great Britain.
It's unlikely if a better time or market settings will exist for acquiring training in this quickly increasing and blossoming market.
We're regularly asked to explain why traditional degrees are now falling behind more commercial qualifications?
With university education costs becoming a tall order for many, and the industry's growing opinion that vendor-based training most often has much more commercial relevance, there's been a big surge in CISCO, Adobe, Microsoft and CompTIA accredited training paths that create knowledgeable employees for much less time and money.
Patently, a necessary amount of background information needs to be learned, but essential specialised knowledge in the areas needed gives a commercially educated student a massive advantage.
Just as the old advertisement said: 'It does what it says on the tin'. All an employer has to do is know what areas need to be serviced, and then request applicants with the correct exam numbers. They'll know then that all applicants can do what they need.
Of course: a training itself or a qualification isn't the end-goal; the particular job that you want to end up in is. Too many training companies place too much importance on the qualification itself.
Imagine training for just one year and then end up doing a job for a lifetime. Don't make the error of taking what may be a very 'interesting' program only to waste your life away with something you don't even enjoy!
Take time to understand how you feel about career progression and earning potential, and whether you intend to be quite ambitious. It makes sense to understand what industry expects from you, what particular accreditations they want you to have and how you'll gain real-world experience.
You'd also need help from someone that can best explain the sector you're hoping to qualify in, and who can offer 'A typical day in the life of' type of explanation of the job being considered. These things are of paramount importance as you'll need to know whether or not you've chosen correctly. - 29852
About the Author:
(C) Jason Kendall. Navigate to LearningLolly.com for the best career tips on Networking Courses and Computer Courses.
