Set up 28 years ago, the Computing Technology Industry Association (or 'CompTIA' for short) is a not-for-profit institution. They've developed over the years to become the leader in vendor-neutral IT certification. What this means is they can offer and oversee independent industry recognised IT examinations and qualifications that don't support a single company's interests over another. With today's move towards 'inter-connectivity' & systems convergence, this is a welcome step for the I.T. student, as it gives cross platform learning & a knowledge of integration. 'CompTIA' gathers together different commercial & learned industry organisations when designing or upgrading an exam, to make sure that all sides are thought about & the very best commercially relevant syllabuses are crafted.

Be expecting to allow yourself close to a hundred to one hundred & fifty hrs learning time for the A+ exams, & for the N+ close to seventy-five to one hundred hrs. Learning part time, this could be done over a six month period if you select an appropriate quality of training and first-rate exam prep materials.

As part of their 'ISO' standardisation drive, 'CompTIA' have upgraded both A+ and Network+ exams to '2009' versions. Worldwide the 2006-2007 versions of 'A+' (those with the exam pre-fix number 600) will be phased out within the next year. After 31st August 2010 they will not be available in the United Kingdom. As '2009' examinations (version 700) are already available at test centres around the country, these newer study programs are probably a more practical option for someone just about to start. CompTIA A+ Essentials & CompTIA A+ Practical Application are the new exam titles (220/701 and 220-702 respectively). Along with some more material on more recent technology, we now have 2 examinations that cover components of all four of the preceding examinations. The old format was one required 'essentials' examination & 3 'electives', of which just one needed to be sat. These days the sector demands professionals with know-how that was in all four previous exams. Students can get that understanding from the 2 '2009' compulsory A+ programs. Anyone who has formerly passed the '600' examination can bring their qualification up to date by sitting an upgrade exam - 'BR-003'. This would almost definitely involve extra study, although not so much if you covered all 4 of the original exams, rather than only the required 2. Plainly however the new technological subjects must be studied.

'CompTIA' 'A+' & the Network+ are by far and away the most widely recognised of their certifications. Together they encompass the basis of many career paths in I.T., & as such are market leaders in their field. Trainees learn many basic PC principles with A+ , such as maintenance, support, repair, security, installation and fault finding. In addition, the 'A+' handles certain relationship-building skill-sets to help you communicate better with others. The 'CompTIA' 'Network+' qualification expands this knowledge to a more thorough understanding of networks, servers & routers, & how they communicate. Security is naturally very important, and wireless-technology is covered to some extent. The two qualifications complement one another well, & together form an excellent start-up platform for other examination programs, or a solid career in IT support.

The 'CompTIA' A+ examinations are predominantly suitable for anybody looking to begin work in any of the following areas: Call Centre Technician, Depot Technician, Help Desk Technician, Field Service Technician, PC Technician, Remote Support Technician and IT Administrator. Employment prospects open up to include Network Installers, Administrators and Technicians when you attain the 'CompTIA' 'Network+' too.

These accreditations & employment options are often done on the way to a more senior I.T. position. Before you decide to get started on a training program, look at exactly where you would like your career destination to be. This requires talking to an experienced training advisor to make sure that the track you select is appropriate and cost-effective. It's often really useful to think about customised career training bundles that incorporate the A+ and 'Network+' courses. Bundling several course materials into one is usually very financially attractive.

The 'Network+' 2009 exam is now numbered N10-004, superseding the earlier N10-003. As well as the solid component of managing and running networks & their infrastructure, this latest examination concentrates to a great extent on security, design and wireless skillsets.

Anyone looking to establish themselves in I.T. will benefit from training & certifications produced by CompTIA. Whatever area a trainee opts to work in IT, there are various CompTIA qualifications that will increase their abilities. Individuals who are specifically considering Networks, Systems, Support, Security, Communications & Servers are especially well-served. There's now also a drive within CompTIA to provide their starter-level 'STRATA' products to those individuals who don't work in I.T., but would benefit from an understanding of the basics of IT & how it affects their job.

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