Founded twenty eight years ago, the Computing Technology Industry Association (or CompTIA in short) is a not for profit association. They've grown step by step & now lead the world in IT accreditations that are vendor-neutral. What this means is they can provide & over-see independent industry-recognised I.T. examinations and qualifications that don't reflect any one company's interests above another. With the current shift towards inter connectivity & systems convergence, this is a welcome step for the IT student, because it gives cross-platform learning and an understanding of integration. Whenever a new syllabus is created, 'CompTIA' invites several academic & commercial groups to come together and verify that every area has been thought about equally, & the training programs are commercially appropriate.

Needless to say these careers can often lead onto far more senior roles if the appropriate qualifications are in place. That's why its very important to examine your long term plans before deciding on your personal career training path. This requires talking to a professional training expert to ensure that the path you ultimately choose is appropriate & cost effective. Many organisations offer discounted career-tracks which can include these certifications, & so investing in a training 'bundle' can provide significant cost savings.

Expect to give yourself around a hundred to a hundred and fifty hours studying time for the A+ exams, and for the N+ about seventy-five to a hundred hrs. Using the appropriate multimedia training package that's supported by authorised exam preparation software, both qualifications could be achieved within 6 months for the trainee who's learning around employment.

By far the most renowned of all of the CompTIA certifications are undoubtedly the A+ and the Network+. These two, as a set, form the foundation of many current IT career-tracks - & for a good reason. Students learn many important PC principles with 'A+' , such as maintenance, support, repair, security, installation and fault-finding. In addition , it addresses certain personal & communication skillsets needed to get established in IT. Expanding on this awareness, the Network+ qualification looks at networks, (this includes routers & servers) and describes exactly how they inter-connect. Security is naturally paramount, and wireless-technology is dealt with to a certain extent. Both qualifications go with each other well, & collectively provide a very good starting platform for additional examination packages, or a solid career in I.T. support.

Any individual starting in IT will certainly benefit from programs and accreditations produced by 'CompTIA'. Anyone considering getting into networks and support, or systems, servers & security should usually start with 'CompTIA', although its fair to state that 'CompTIA' certifications can boost any CV geared for the I.T. marketplace. 'CompTIA' are also now producing STRATA qualifications : they're not especially for those working in the IT industry, but for people whose jobs require a fundamental understanding of computing.

Both of the exams have quite recently gone through a 2009 update in-line with CompTIA's advance towards 'ISO' standardisation. The earlier A+ (version 2006-2007) exams which were classified with the '600' prefix are being phased out worldwide during 2010. At the close of August 2010, the exams will be retired in Britain. As '2009' examinations (version 700) are currently available at test-centres up and down the country, the newer learning programs are probably a more sensible preference for anyone just starting out. CompTIA A+ Essentials & CompTIA A+ Practical Application are the new examination titles (220-701 & 220/702 respectively). The 4 previous examinations have been streamlined in to two brand new examinations, & some additional updated information has been introduced. The old structure was 1 compulsory Essentials exam & three 'electives', of which just one was required to be taken. These days the marketplace demands professionals with knowledge that was in all four past exams. Individuals will learn that knowledge from the two new compulsory A+ programs. An up-grade examination has been created by CompTIA for any person who have the older accreditation. BR-003 is the reference number. This will probably necessitate additional learning, although less so if you studied all 4 of the original examinations, as opposed to only the two that were required. Obviously though the newer technology topics will have to be studied.

The 'Network+' 2009 exam has been referred to as N10-004, updating the old N10-003. In addition to keeping it's focus on network management & infrastructure, the up-graded '2009' examination points to a greater importance on Security, wireless-networking abilities & network design principles.

Any of the job roles that follow will be appropriate for the applicant holding a CompTIA 'A+' accreditation: Call Centre Technician, Depot Technician, Field Services Technician, PC Technician, Help Desk Technician, IT Administrator & Remote Support Technician. Employment opportunities open up to include Network Administrators, Technicians and Installers when you attain the CompTIA Network+ as well.

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