Wednesday, 20 August 2008

5 Important Things To Know About The A Plus Certification

1. The A plus is what most people start with

Comptia (the vendor offering this certification) got it right with the A+ certification. It's extremely popular and no wonder why. The A+ is the very first step in our career ladder and a very important one. Studying for this cert we get down to the basics of what computers are - hardware and software - and in depth learn everything that is important about them. This is what the A+ gives you - an extremely important foundation to work on. Nearly nobody stops at the A+ - it's our very first step towards obtaining other higher certs which gives us higher positions and more money in our pockets.

2. How to study for it [this is important]

New people into the Industry feel unsure on how to best take this first step in their career ladders. Getting your first certification is like getting your first kiss - you always remember more details about it than any other cert you will be getting after that. Always opt to self study, unless your employer is willing to pay for a training school or boot camp. The truth is, entry certifications build a foundation to work on. They do not land you in the big bucks. That comes later. Spending lots of money on training for entry certs doesn't make money sense.

3. There are 4 exams you can choose. Which ones do you do?

The A+ essentials (exam 220-601) is the first one you must pass. After that, you have the choice of:

IT Technician (220-602)
Remote Support Technician (220-603)
Depot Technician (220-604)

Most people do the IT Technician one as it gives you a more rounded knowledge. The other two, specialize so to speak, you should choice either one of these two only if your job requires it.

4. Where can you book the exam?

All comptia exams are booked through Prometric or Vue. Once you finished studying, go to either website and choose your nearest testing center. Pay the fee and book the exam on your choice of date. Now you are all set. When you go to the training center, arrive 30 minutes beforehand and don't forget to bring 2 forms of ID with you.

5. How long does it take for the certification to arrive?

When you complete your exam at the training center and you pass, they will give you a piece of paper stating you have passed the exam. You can use that on your resume for the moment to show employers you are now A+ certified. The actual certification will be posted to you from Comptia and this take around 2 to 6 weeks.

Good luck!

By: Georgia Stath

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