The non profit institution CompTIA - 'Computing Technology Industry Association' - was established in 1982. They've developed progressively and right now are world leaders in I.T. accreditations that are vendor-neutral. What this means is they can provide & over-see independent industry-recognised I.T. exams and certifications that don't support a single company's interests more than another. This really is excellent for IT students, because they can learn about different platforms & how they inter-connect & 'integrate' with each other - a common scenario in industry today. 'CompTIA' gathers together numerous commercial and learned industry organisations when designing or up-dating an examination, to ensure that all sides are considered and the most industry relevant syllabuses are crafted.

Several of these jobs can be starting-points for more professional I.T. positions, therefore, as with all career-tracks, its important to first talk over just what your end-goals are, and which kind of learning style you prefer. Do take time to go through everything with a training program and I.T. specialist - it will help safeguard you against set backs down the road. It's often really useful to think about personalised career training products that incorporate the A+ and 'Network+' programs. 'Bundling' various program materials together can be very financially attractive.

The A+ program and the 'Network+' training are CompTIA's most widely recognised qualifications. An extremely valuable pair taken as a package, they're the starting point for many excellent career paths. The CompTIA A+ accreditation covers the fundamentals of computer maintenance, installation, support, security, fault-finding and repair. It also covers several personal & communication skillsets required to get into IT. The CompTIA N+ certification extends this knowledge to a deeper grasp of networking, servers and routers, & just how they communicate. Both 'Security' and wireless technology are dealt with to some level. CompTIA 'A+' & N+ will give you a solid foundation for a systems career in I.T., and also an excellent basis for various other advanced accreditation programs.

The Network+ 2009 exam has been referred to as N10-004, replacing the old N10-003. In addition to the strong component of managing and running networks and their infrastructure, the new examination focuses heavily on security, design and wireless-skills.

For the new trainee to I.T., 'CompTIA' supplies the basic foundation training in a number of areas. Typically, students who are interested in careers in Networking, Security, Servers, Systems, Support & Communications will start out with 'CompTIA', although in fact trainees in any sector would find a 'CompTIA' certification a worthwhile component of their CV. CompTIA are also now marketing 'STRATA' certifications - they're not especially for individuals employed in the IT industry, but for people whose positions require a fundamental knowledge of computers.

For the A+ exams give yourself around 100-150 hrs to train & prepare, & a bit less for the 'Network+' examinations (maybe up to 100 hours). Studying part time, this could be achieved over a half year time period if you decide on the appropriate quality of training and first-rate exam prep products.

As part of their ISO standardisation move, CompTIA have upgraded both 'A+' and Network+ examinations to '2009' editions. Worldwide the 2006-2007 editions of 'A+' (those with exam pre-fix 600) will be retired over the coming 12 months. Come the close of August 2010, the examinations will be retired in the British Isles. As 2009 examinations (version 700) are currently available at test centres around the country, these newer learning programs would be a more practical alternative for anyone just getting started. 'A+' '09 is currently offered as '220/701' 'CompTIA' A+ Essentials & 220/702 CompTIA 'A+' Practical Application. As well as some additional material on more recent technologies, there are now two examinations which cover elements of all four of the preceding examinations. The previous format was one required 'essentials' exam and three 'electives', of which only one was required to be sat. Over the last several years, the marketplace has grown to the stage where all four exams are actually regarded as necessary - hence the reformatting into 2 essential exams. An upgrade exam has been produced by 'CompTIA' for everyone with the older certification. BR-003 is the reference number. Supplemental training will almost certainly end up being needed, especially for individuals who just originally worked on two of the four 'electives'. The new technology subject areas will naturally necessitate some extra study.

Any of the job roles listed here are all possible for the candidate holding a 'CompTIA' A+ qualification: I.T. Administrator, P.C. Technician, Field Service Technician, Remote Support Technician, Call Centre & Depot Technician and Help Desk Technician. With 'CompTIA' 'Network+' as well, you're able to look at becoming a Network Installer, an IT Cable Installer, a Network Technician or a Network Administrator.

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