A+ Certification

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The A+ certification from CompTIA (Computing Technology Industry Association) is an entry-level, vendor-neutral offering designed to test a candidate’s overall knowledge of both hardware and popular operating system concepts. According to CompTIA, over 700,000 people now hold the A+ certification credential worldwide.





Comptia's A+ credential has largely positioned itself to become perhaps the leading entry-level certification aimed at PC technicians or those looking at a career in I.T. While there is no specific prerequisite for taking the A+ certification, CompTIA suggest that the candidate is expected to have sufficient knowledge equivalent to approx. 500 hours on-the-job training in order to successfully pass the exams.

Being vendor-neutral, the A+ certification is not tied to any specific software or hardware manufacturer (like Microsoft for example) but instead the focus is on the typical generic skills and knowledge required to perform as an entry-level I.T. technician.

Ideally the A+ certification suits candidates who are looking for, or already hold, positions such as an entry-level service technician. In turn, the A+ certification acts as a good stepping-stone for progression on to future I.T. certifications such as MCTS or CCNA. In fact, some CompTIA certifications qualify as credits toward more advanced certification paths, such as Microsoft's MCP.

To successfully pass the A+ certification candidates should be able to perform routine operating system installations and configuration, carry out fundamental maintenance, as well as problem diagnosis and elementary networking, to name but a few skill sets.

The A+ certification credential is awarded for life even though CompTIA regularly update the exam objectives to reflect current technologies and best practices. Thus, once you are A+ certified you will always be A+ certified irrespective of how outdated your certification becomes. This, of course, doesn’t preclude an A+ holder from updating his/her certification if they wish, but, arguably, most candidates would gain greater career mileage from spending their time and money pursuing a more advanced computer certification rather than updating their A+.

The latest version of the A+ certification is the A+ 2009 (the A+ 2006 version is now retired). For more information on the respective A+ certification tracks, click on the links below.

A+ 2009 Certification
A+ 2006 (retired)





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Free A+ study guides
Free A+ practice exams and questions