Founded twenty eight years ago, the 'Computing Technology Industry Association' (or CompTIA in short) is a not-for-profit organisation. They have built over the years to become the number one in vendor-neutral IT certification. This basically means they are absolutely free to independently produce & monitor examinations & certifications that are needed by the I.T. industry, regardless of a specific company's commercial interests. With the current shift towards 'inter-connectivity' and systems 'convergence', this is seen as a great move for the I.T. trainee, as it gives cross platform learning and a comprehension of integration. Every time a new syllabus is produced, CompTIA invites a number of educational and industrial groups to come together & validate that every area has been thought about equally, & the packages are commercially appropriate.

The career roles that follow will be possible for the applicant holding a CompTIA A+ certification: PC Technician, IT Administrator, Field Service Technician, Remote Support Technician, Call Centre & Depot Technician and Help Desk Technician. CompTIA 'Network+' unwraps possibilities for Network Administrators & Technicians, IT Cable Installers & Network Installers.

For the new student to I.T., 'CompTIA' supplies the preliminary foundation training programs in various areas. Typically, students who are planning on careers in Networking, Security, Servers, Systems, Communications & Support will begin with CompTIA, although students in any IT sector would likely find a 'CompTIA' accreditation a worthwhile addition to their Curriculum Vitae. CompTIA are also now producing STRATA certifications - they're not specifically for those working in the I.T. market, but for people whose careers need a fundamental knowledge of computers.

For the A+ examinations allow yourself around 100 to 150 hours to train and prepare, & a bit less for the Network+ exams (possibly close to 75 to 100 hrs). Learning part-time, this could be accomplished over a half year time period if you decide on an appropriate quality of training matter & superior exam preparation materials.

The Network+ 2009 exam is now numbered N10-004, replacing the earlier 'N10-003'. In addition to the solid component of managing and running networks & their infrastructures, the new exam concentrates closely on design, security and wireless-skills.

In line with their 'ISO' standardisation move, 'CompTIA' have up-graded both 'A+' and Network+ examinations to '2009' editions. Worldwide the 2006/2007 editions of 'A+' (with the exam prefix number 600) will be phased-out within the coming 12 months. In the United Kingdom, they cease being offered on 31st August 2010. As '2009' examinations ('700') are already offered at test centres around the country, the newer study programs would be a more practical choice anybody just getting started. 'A+' 2009 will now be offered as '220/701' 'CompTIA' 'A+' Essentials and '220-702' 'CompTIA' 'A+' Practical Application. The 4 previous exams have been stream-lined into 2 brand new exams, & some more up-dated material has been included. The previous structure was one required Essentials examination & three 'electives', of which only one was required to be taken. But as the market has developed, the know-how from all four examinations is now regarded as necessary, & thus has been condensed into 2 essential exams. Anyone who has formerly achieved the '600' examination can bring their qualification up to date by taking an upgrade exam : BR/003. Additional training will undoubtedly end up being needed, especially for individuals who only initially worked on two of the 4 'electives'. Adequate training time need to be allowed for the new aspects however.

The A+ program & the Network+ training are CompTIAs most widely recognised certifications. Together they comprise the first step toward a good number of career paths in I.T., & therefore are frontrunners within their industry. A+ courses cover all of the fundamental basics of PC maintenance, fault-finding & repair; including support, security & installation. To help you become established in the IT industry, the 'A+' also addresses various communication & personal abilities. The CompTIA 'Network+' accreditation stretches this awareness to a wider grasp of networks, servers & routers, & just how they connect together. The very important issue of 'Security' is underlined, and Wireless networks are outlined at an elementary level. Both qualifications complement each other nicely, & together form a very good starting platform for further examination programs, or a good career in I.T. support.

These qualifications & job-roles can be done en-route to a more advanced IT role. Before you opt for a particular training program, think about exactly where you plan for your ultimate destination to be. This requires actually talking to a skilled IT training expert to ensure that the route you ultimately choose is suitable and cost-effective. The best companies also offer discounted career-tracks which can include these accreditations, and so investing in a career 'bundle' can provide substantial financial savings.

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