By Georgia Stath

1. The A plus is what most people start with

Comptia (the vendor offering this certification) got it right with the A+ certification. It’s extremely popular and no wonder why. The A+ is the very first step in our career ladder and a very important one. Studying for this cert we get down to the basics of what computers are – hardware and software – and in depth learn everything that is important about them. This is what the A+ gives you – an extremely important foundation to work on. Nearly nobody stops at the A+ – it’s our very first step towards obtaining other higher certs which gives us higher positions and more money in our pockets.

2. How to study for it [this is important]

New people into the Industry feel unsure on how to best take this first step in their career ladders. Getting your first certification is like getting your first kiss – you always remember more details about it than any other cert you will be getting after that. Always opt to self study, unless your employer is willing to pay for a training school or boot camp. The truth is, entry certifications build a foundation to work on. They do not land you in the big bucks. That comes later. Spending lots of money on training for entry certs doesn’t make money sense.
3. There are 4 exams you can choose. Which ones do you do?

The A+ essentials (exam 220-601) is the first one you must pass. After that, you have the choice of:

IT Technician (220-602)

Remote Support Technician (220-603)

Depot Technician (220-604)

Most people do the IT Technician one as it gives you a more rounded knowledge. The other two, specialize so to speak, you should choice either one of these two only if your job requires it.

4. Where can you book the exam?

All comptia exams are booked through Prometric or Vue. Once you finished studying, go to either website and choose your nearest testing center. Pay the fee and book the exam on your choice of date. Now you are all set. When you go to the training center, arrive 30 minutes beforehand and don’t forget to bring 2 forms of ID with you.

5. How long does it take for the certification to arrive?

When you complete your exam at the training center and you pass, they will give you a piece of paper stating you have passed the exam. You can use that on your resume for the moment to show employers you are now A+ certified. The actual certification will be posted to you from Comptia and this take around 2 to 6 weeks.

Good luck!

By Georgina Stath: Studying for our A plus exam? Think different. It Needn’t Be Hell With Certification. Certification help – It helps you. It is free. It’s that simple.

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Computer technician training is provided by two types of institutes. There are two kinds of computer technicians – computer engineers (with recognized degrees in computer engineering or computer science from a college or university) and computer technicians (with a basic knowledge of computer hardware and software with or without any recognized degrees in computer engineering or computer science). Basic computer training, such as the parts of a computer system and their functions are sometimes part of some school curricula. Also, such information is part of basic computer training courses provided by specialised computer training institutes. However, being a computer technician requires more knowledge than the basics provided by such courses. A computer technician needs more specialised knowledge about computer hardware. For such computer technician training, one can enroll at a local computer training institute. Some employers require a certificate such as an A+ or a MCSE certificate. The A+ certification is also called the ComTia A+ Certification (after the Computing Technology Industry Association). This certificate is vendor neutral which means it covers products made by different hardware and software manufacturers. The course outline is roughly as follows: basics of computer installation, configuration, diagnosing, preventive maintenance and basic networking. Some other topics in this course are the domains of security, safety, and even environmental issues and professional standards. A+ boot camps are intensive training courses which provide a lot of practical experience. CompTIA Network+ consists of fundamentals about computer networking. CompTIA Linux+ is a certification that validates the knowledge of computer technicians with at least six months of practical Linux experience.

MCSE or Microsoft Certified System Engineer certification is another major certification. One can do this course at MCSE boot camps. This prepares one to work with Microsoft 2000 and 2003 Windows platforms and Microsoft Server Systems. Then there is the MCDST(Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician) certification. These are some of the certifications that are a part of some computer technician training.

The software training that is part of computer technician training includes learning installation protocol for Microsoft Windows and Linux, fundamentals of networking operations and design (including routers and switchers) and troubleshooting techniques for operating systems among various others.

These are some of the various hardware and software courses that are a part of computer technician training. A certificate in one of these computer technician training programs opens up the opportunity to work in big firms and at a high salary. If one is looking to work for smaller firms, such as shops selling computers and providing computer repairing services, such certificates are usually not required. One can be self-taught or learn from experience and may not have to possess a certificate from a formal computer technician training course. Salaries offered in such smaller firms are usually much lower than those offered in bigger firms.

It depends on one’s resources as to what type of training one wishes to receive. If one has the financial resources and also a basic familiarity with computers and some computer knowledge, then going in for a certificate computer technician training program is advisable.