CompTia, A+ and Network+

CompTIA certs

Hi James,

There will always be a demand for A+ and Network+ although they may lose some ground in the future to the Microsoft MTA certifications – a couple of which cover similar entry-level ground – now that the latter are available to the commercial training market (previously they were available only in academic institutions).

Between them, these two certifications cover pretty much all the IT skills that most small to medium companies require: configuring, maintaining, upgrading and repairing client PCs and setting up, securing and maintaining small networks. Network+ will test for a little more than the skills you list – although those skills will certainly give you a head start – and you will need to demonstrate that you know your way around command-prompt TCP/IP commands, the various wireless networking standards and so on.

There is plenty of inexpensive study material around although the exams themselves (two to gain A+, one more for Network+) are pricy in comparison to some vendor exams. I'd also recommend getting hold of some cheap hardware (if it's a few years old, that's fine) and tearing it apart, building it back up and networking it, rather than just developing the theoretical knowledge which is probably enough to get you through the exams.

Downside? Lots of technical trainers have these exams together with many more, and the market doesn't see them as all that valuable. I know a few trainers who deliver these courses week in week out, but the better paid ones move on to Microsoft, Cisco, VMware etc. certs as well.

Hope that's useful.

Alan

2 Responses

User deleted says:

July 18, 2013 at 8:19 am

CompTIA certs

Hi James,

There will always be a demand for A+ and Network+ although they may lose some ground in the future to the Microsoft MTA certifications – a couple of which cover similar entry-level ground – now that the latter are available to the commercial training market (previously they were available only in academic institutions).

Between them, these two certifications cover pretty much all the IT skills that most small to medium companies require: configuring, maintaining, upgrading and repairing client PCs and setting up, securing and maintaining small networks. Network+ will test for a little more than the skills you list – although those skills will certainly give you a head start – and you will need to demonstrate that you know your way around command-prompt TCP/IP commands, the various wireless networking standards and so on.

There is plenty of inexpensive study material around although the exams themselves (two to gain A+, one more for Network+) are pricy in comparison to some vendor exams. I'd also recommend getting hold of some cheap hardware (if it's a few years old, that's fine) and tearing it apart, building it back up and networking it, rather than just developing the theoretical knowledge which is probably enough to get you through the exams.

Downside? Lots of technical trainers have these exams together with many more, and the market doesn't see them as all that valuable. I know a few trainers who deliver these courses week in week out, but the better paid ones move on to Microsoft, Cisco, VMware etc. certs as well.

Hope that's useful.

Alan
User deleted says:

July 24, 2013 at 9:17 am

CompTia

Alan,

Many thanks for the response. It follows what I am finding. The problems that I am finding in my area is that the requirement is in ones and two which is not financially viable. Also many are taking the e-learning/on-line learning options and fitting it around their work (in their own time at their own expense).

To run the courses properly you need to have access to a range of equipment, some of which could easily get damaged in the courses, in particular the A+ 801.

I am not giving up yet, still more to find out but Thanks once again.

James