Set up 28 years ago, the 'Computing Technology Industry Association' (or CompTIA in short) is a not-for-profit association. They have built over time to become the leader in vendor neutral I.T. accreditation. Which means they're able to freely produce & control a complete range of I.T. industry exams and produce their very own certifications that don't just apply to one specific company's solutions. Because systems regularly 'converge' & inter-connect in the business world, this supplies the IT trainee with a more wholesome knowledge and grasp of cross-platform integration. 'CompTIA' brings together several commercial and academic industry organisations when designing or upgrading an exam, to make sure that all sides are considered & the most industry relevant syllabuses are crafted.

These qualifications and job roles can be done enroute to a senior IT job. Before you decide to go for a training-program, consider where you plan for your ultimate destination to be. Take the opportunity to go through every little thing with a training & I.T. expert - it will safeguard you against set backs as time goes on. Many organisations also offer discounted career-tracks which can include these certifications, and so buying in a training 'bundle' can offer substantial cost savings.

For the 'A+' examinations give yourself approximately 100 to 150 hours to train and prepare, & slightly less for the 'Network+' examinations (maybe close to 75 to 100 hrs). This makes acquiring both of them in 6 months part-time study totally viable, providing quality multimedia training materials are used, in conjunction with effective examination preparation-software.

The job roles that follow are all appropriate for the candidate holding a CompTIA 'A+' certification: Call Centre Technician, Remote Support Technician, Depot Technician, Field Service Technician, Help Desk Technician, PC Technician and IT Administrator. 'CompTIA' 'Network+' unwraps opportunities for Network Administrators & Technicians, IT Cable Installers and Network Installers.

The two examinations have recently undergone a 2009 update in line with CompTIA's work towards ISO standardisation. Worldwide the 2006/2007 editions of A+ (those with examination pre-fix numbers '600') will be phased-out over the coming twelve months. Come the close of August 2010, the examinations will retire in Great Britain. As 2009 examinations ('700') are already available at test centres across the country, the newer study programs would be a more valuable choice for anyone who is just about to start. The individual A+ '09 exams are now: 'CompTIA' A+ Essentials (exam 220-701) and 'CompTIA' A+ Practical Application (exam 220/702.) As well as some more information on newer technology, there are now two examinations which cover components of all 4 of the previous examinations. Initially, the 'A+' was broken into four examinations: 1 essential & 3 elective specialisations. During the last 4 years, the industry has grown to the stage where all 4 examinations are now considered essential - hence the reformatting into two essential examinations. 'CompTIA' have also released the BR/003 bridging test, for trainees accredited in the 600 exams who need to get up to date with the new '700' exams. This will almost definitely involve extra learning, although not so much if you covered all four of the older exams, rather than just the required 2. Obviously however the newer technological subjects must be mastered.

For the new entrant to IT, CompTIA offers the basic foundation training courses in many areas. Usually, individuals who are looking for employment opportunities in Networking, Servers, Systems, Security, Communications & Support will start out with 'CompTIA', although trainees within any IT sector would find a CompTIA accreditation a helpful component of their Resume. 'CompTIA' are now also promoting STRATA qualifications - they're not specifically for those working in the IT industry, but for those whose careers require a basic understanding of computers.

'CompTIA' A+ & 'Network+' are by far and away the most broadly recognised of their certifications. Both of them, as a pair, form the foundation of many contemporary I.T. career-tracks - & rightly so. The 'CompTIA' A+ accreditation covers the basics of PC maintenance, installation, support, security, fault finding & repair. Additionally, the A+ deals with certain relationship-building skills that will help you to communicate much better with others. Advancing this awareness, the Network+ accreditation covers networks, (including routers and servers) & teaches how they communicate with each other. Both 'Security' and wireless technology are dealt with to some level. CompTIA 'A+' and 'Network+' will give you a solid basis for a systems career in IT, and also a great platform for other more advanced certification programs.

The actual 'Network+' 2009 examination has been coded N10-004, updating the previous 'N10-003'. In addition to the strong element of managing and running networks and their infrastructure, this latest exam focuses closely on design, security and wireless skill-sets.

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