Set up 28 years ago, the Computing Technology Industry Association (or CompTIA for short) is a not for profit institution. They have built over the years to become the number one in vendor-neutral I.T. accreditation. This means they are able to supply & oversee independent industry-recognised I.T. exams and accreditations that don't reflect a single company's interests more than another. Because systems regularly converge and inter-connect in industry, this provides the IT trainee with a more rounded knowledge & comprehension of cross-platform integration. Each time new syllabuses are produced, CompTIA invites numerous academic and commercial organisations to come together & validate that every area has been thought about equally, and the training programs are appropriate from a commercial perspective.

In 2009 both programmes underwent upgrades, & new exams are now to be found for them both. 'A+' exams that commenced with the prefix 600 (that is the 2006/2007 version) are being phased out worldwide. At the close of August 2010, the exams will retire in Britain. As '2009' examinations (700) are currently offered at test centres across the country, the newer study programs would be a more valuable alternative anybody just starting out. 'A+' 2009 is currently offered as '220-701' 'CompTIA' 'A+' Essentials and 220/702 CompTIA 'A+' Practical Application. Together with some more content on newer technology, we now have two examinations that cover aspects of all 4 of the previous examinations. The previous format was one compulsory 'essentials' examination and three 'electives', of which only one needed to be taken. But as the market has progressed, the know-how from all 4 examinations is currently deemed necessary, & thus has been fine-tuned into two essential exams. 'CompTIA' have also produced the BR/003 bridging test, for trainees qualified in the 600 exams who need to get up to date with the new '700' exams. Passing the bridging exam will almost always require more study, although this shouldn't be too much of a challenge for those who initially studied all electives. Plainly however the newer technological topics must be learned about.

If you are considering any of these roles, the 'A+' will work well : Depot Technician, Call Centre Technician, Field Services Technician, PC Technician, Help Desk Technician, IT Administrator, and Remote Support Technician. 'CompTIA' Network+ presents opportunities for Network Administrators & Technicians, Network Installers and IT Cable Installers.

These accreditations & employment options are in many cases done enroute to a more senior I.T. position. Before you commit yourself to a training program, look at where you would like your career destination to be. The best way to optimise your career-path fully is to receive guidance from an IT advisor ahead of getting started on your training. Many companies offer discounted career tracks which can include these qualifications, and so purchasing in a career bundle can provide substantial reductions in price.

The 'A+' training & the 'Network+' training are CompTIAs most widely recognised certifications. Both of them, as a set, create the foundation for many current I.T. career-tracks - & justly so . The 'CompTIA' 'A+' qualification teaches the fundamentals of PC maintenance, installation, support, security, fault-finding and repair. Additionally, the 'A+' deals with several relationship-building abilities to assist you to communicate more effectively with others. The 'CompTIA' N+ certification stretches this experience to a wider comprehension of networking, servers and routers, and just how they connect together. The vital issue of Security is introduced, and Wireless networks are described at a basic level. Both accreditations go with one another nicely, and together form an excellent starting platform for additional exam programs, or a solid career in I.T. support.

With regard to Network+ , the previous 'N10-003' has currently been replaced by the 'N10-004', the 2009 edition. A greater emphasis is placed upon Security in the 2009 N+ exam, along with network design and wireless-networking. This obviously is as well as the core aspects of network-management & infrastructure.

For a new entrant to I.T., CompTIA provides the preliminary foundation training courses in various areas. Wherever a student opts to work in I.T., there are various 'CompTIA' qualifications that will enhance their skills. Those who are specifically considering Networks, Security, Systems, Support, Servers and Communications are particularly well-served. There's now also a drive within 'CompTIA' to supply their beginner-level STRATA products to those people who don't work in I.T., but would gain from a knowledge of basic IT & exactly how it impacts their career.

For the A+ exams set aside for yourself something like 100-150 hours to study and prepare, & somewhat less for the Network+ exams (possibly close to 100 hrs). This means achieving both of them in six months part time study very likely, providing quality multi-media training materials are used, together with effective exam preparation software.

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