Established twenty eight years ago, the 'Computing Technology Industry Association' (or 'CompTIA' for short) is a not-for-profit organisation. They've grown step by step and now are world leaders in I.T. certifications that are vendor-neutral. This means they can offer & over-see independent industry recognised IT examinations and qualifications that do not support any one company's interests over another. Because systems regularly 'converge' and inter-connect in industry, this provides the I.T. student with a much more rounded knowledge & comprehension of cross-platform integration. CompTIA brings together various commercial and learned industry groups when creating or updating an exam, to make sure that all things are thought about and the very best commercially related syllabuses are created.

For the A+ examinations set aside for yourself more or less 100 to 150 hours to train and prepare, & somewhat less for the N+ exams (possibly close to 100 hours). This means accomplishing them both inside of six months part time studying very likely, providing superior multimedia training materials utilised, in conjunction with excellent exam preparation-software.

Several of these roles can be starting points for higher-level IT careers, therefore, much like all career-tracks, it's important to first discuss just what your end-goals are, and which learning style suits you. The way to maximise your career path fully is to obtain advice from an IT advisor prior to starting on your training. it is often sensible to look at customised career training packages that include the 'A+' & Network+ courses. Bundling various program materials together is often quite financially attractive.

On to the '09 edition of the 'Network+' : 'N10-004' has become the examination reference number. In addition to the strong element of managing and running networks and their internal infrastructure, the new examination focuses to a great extent on design, security & wireless-skills.

Essentially the most well-known of all the CompTIA accreditations are undoubtedly the A+ and 'Network+'. An extremely useful pair taken as a package, they're the starting point for a lot of successful career tracks. The 'CompTIA' A+ accreditation teaches the basics of PC maintenance, installation, support, security, fault-finding and repair. In addition, the A+ teaches specific relationship building skillsets that may help you communicate better with other people. The Network+ takes things further, by working on a greater understanding of how networks operate & communicate with each other. 'Security' is obviously paramount, and wireless-technology is covered to a certain extent. 'CompTIA' A+ & N+ provide a firm basis for a Systems career in I.T., and furthermore a great basis for various other advanced qualification programs.

In-line with their ISO standardisation move, 'CompTIA' have up-dated both 'A+' & Network+ examinations to 2009 editions. A+ examinations which started using the prefix 600 (i.e. the 2006/2007 version) are being phased-out globally. In the United Kingdom, they discontinue on 31st August 2010. As 2009 examinations (700) are already offered at test centres around the country, these newer study programs would be a more sensible choice for anyone who is just starting out. The individual A+ 2009 exams have become: CompTIA A+ Essentials (exam 220/701) & CompTIA A+ Practical Application (examination 220-702.) Together with some additional content on more recent technologies, there are now two exams that cover components of all 4 of the preceding examinations. The old format was 1 compulsory 'essentials' examination and three 'electives', of which only one needed to be taken. Over the last 4 years, the industry has grown to the stage where all 4 examinations are now thought to be necessary - hence the re-formatting into 2 essential exams. An up-grade exam has been produced by 'CompTIA' for those who have the old accreditation. 'BR-003' is the reference number. Extra training will undoubtedly be required, particularly for many who just initially worked on 2 of the four 'electives'. Sufficient training hours really should be factored in for the new technology aspects however.

The employment roles that follow are all feasible for the applicant with a CompTIA 'A+' accreditation: I.T. Administrator, P.C. Technician, Remote Support Technician, Field Service Technician, Call Centre & Depot Technician and Help Desk Technician. With the CompTIA Network+ also, you can think about becoming an IT Cable Installer, a Network Installer, a Network Technician or a Network Administrator.

New entrants into the I.T. sector can turn to CompTIA for a good deal of their preliminary training courses. Usually, trainees who are planning on employment opportunities in Networking, Security, Servers, Systems, Communications & Support will start with 'CompTIA', but in fact trainees within any sector would find a 'CompTIA' accreditation a helpful addition to their Resume. CompTIA are also now offering STRATA qualifications : these are not specifically for people employed in the I.T. market, but for people whose careers would benefit from a basic knowledge of computers.

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