Courses for CompTIA A Plus Insights
Posted: Wednesday, September 09, 2009
by Jason Kendall
Four specialist training areas feature in the A+ syllabus, but you're just required to achieve pass marks in 2 for competency in A+. But limiting yourself to 2 of the specialised areas might well not equip you for a job. At least learn about all four - this will give you the edge in the working environment.
Passing the A+ exam on its own will mean that you're able to repair and fix stand-alone PC's and MAC's; principally ones that aren't joined to a network - this generally applies to home use and small companies. Should you fancy yourself as the kind of individual who works for a larger company - in network support, build on A+ with Network+, or follow the Microsoft route - MCP's, MCSA or MCSE in order to have a wider knowledge of the way networks work.
If you look properly, you'll find the very best companies who recommend and use direct-access online support all the time - no matter what time of day it is. You can't afford to accept less than you need and deserve. Online 24x7 support is the only kind to make the grade for technical learning. It's possible you don't intend to study late evenings; but for the majority of us however, we're at work during the provided support period.
With so much choice, does it really shock us that most potential students get stuck choosing the job they could be successful with. As without any commercial background in the IT industry, how could any of us be expected to understand what someone in a particular job does? Ultimately, an informed choice only comes from a thorough study covering many different areas:
* Your personality type and what you're interested in - what work-related things you like and dislike.
* Do you want to obtain training due to a particular raison d'etre - i.e. are you pushing to work based from home (self-employment possibly?)?
* Does salary have a higher place on your wish list than some other areas.
* Considering all that IT encompasses, it's obvious you'll need to be able to absorb what's different.
* You should also think long and hard about the level of commitment that you will set aside for the accreditation program.
In all honesty, the only way to research these issues is via a conversation with an experienced advisor that has a background in Information Technology (and chiefly it's commercial requirements.)
Speak with a knowledgeable advisor and you'll be surprised by their many awful tales of salespeople ripping-off unsuspecting students. Make sure you deal with a skilled advisor that asks some in-depth questions to discover the most appropriate thing for you - not for their paycheque! It's very important to locate an ideal starting-point that fits you. With a strong background, or sometimes a little real-world experience (some certifications gained previously perhaps?) then it could be that your starting level will be quite dissimilar from a student that is completely new to the industry. Commencing with a foundation module first is often the best way to get up and running on your IT programme, but really depends on your level of familiarity with computers.
Review the facts below and pay great regard to them if you think the sales ploy of examination guarantees seems like a good idea:
You'll pay for it by some means. It's definitely not free - they've simply charged more for the whole training package. Students who go in for their examinations when it's appropriate, paying for them just before taking them are far more likely to pass first time. They are aware of the cost and so are more inclined to make sure they're ready.
Why should you pay your college at the start of the course for exam fees? Find the best deal you can at the time, rather than pay marked up fees - and do it in a local testing centre - rather than possibly hours away from your area. A surprising number of current training colleges make huge amounts of money by getting paid for all the exam fees up-front then cashing in if they're not all taken. It's worth noting, with most 'Exam Guarantees' - the company decides when you can re-take the exam. You'll have to prove conclusively that you can pass before they'll pay for another exam.
Exams taken at local centres are in the region of 112 pounds in the UK. Why pay exorbitant charges for 'Exam Guarantees' (often hidden in the cost) - when the best course materials, the right level of support and exam preparation systems and a dose of commitment and effort are what's required.
Far too many companies focus completely on the certification process, and avoid focusing on what it's all actually about - which will always be getting the job or career you want. You should always begin with the final destination in mind - don't get hung-up on the training vehicle. It's common, in some situations, to get a great deal of enjoyment from a year of study and then find yourself trapped for decades in a tiresome job role, simply because you did it without some decent due-diligence at the outset.
Prioritise understanding what industry will expect from you. Which accreditations you'll be required to have and how to gain experience. It's also worth spending time assessing how far you'd like to go as it will often present a very specific set of accreditations. Take guidance from an experienced advisor, irrespective of whether you have to pay - it's considerably cheaper and safer to investigate at the start whether you've chosen correctly, rather than find out after several years of study that you've picked the wrong track and have to return to the start of another program.
(C) Jason Kendall. Go to LearningLolly.com for smart career advice on Comptia A+ Certification and Comptia Training Course.
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Good article. Well done.The article is well written. However most people on SearchWarp will not know what you are talking about - I would advise you to explain what "TIA A" as unless you are in with whatever it is you are lost just after the title.Anyway, Welcome to SearchWarp.
Well done, Jason. I find myself being computer illiterate. But to others, I seem like a genius. So, I thank you for helping me to step out of the box, and actually know more than expected about computers. Welcome to the Warp, and keep up the good work, Jason!
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