Established twenty eight years ago, the Computing Technology Industry Association (or CompTIA in short) is a non profit organisation. The organisation produces vendor neutral accreditations that have made it a world leader in it's industry. This essentially means they are free to independently deliver and monitor exams & accreditations which are needed by the I.T. market, regardless of a particular company's commercial interests. With today's move to inter-connectivity & systems 'convergence', this is a great step for the I.T. trainee, because it provides cross-platform learning & a knowledge of integration. Whenever new syllabuses are created, CompTIA invites numerous academic and industrial organisations to come together and validate that every aspect has been considered equally, & the training programs are appropriate from a commercial perspective.

These accreditations and employment options are often taken on the way to a much more senior I.T. role. Before you decide to opt for a particular training program, keep in mind where you intend your ultimate destination to be. The best way to optimise your career-path fully is to get advice from an industry advisor ahead of starting out on your training course. It can be advisable to look at personalised career-training products that include the 'A+' & 'Network+' programs. 'Bundling' various program materials into one is often very cost effective.

New students to the IT marketplace can look to 'CompTIA' for many of their initial training packages. Whatever area an individual chooses to build a career in IT, there are various 'CompTIA' accreditations that will strengthen their abilities. Individuals who are specifically considering Networks, Systems, Support, Security, Communications and Servers are particularly well served. There is certainly also now a push at 'CompTIA' to provide their beginner-level STRATA programs to those people who do not actually work within I.T., but would benefit from a comprehension of basic IT & how it impacts their career.

Any of the job roles that follow will be feasible for the applicant holding a 'CompTIA' A+ certification: Call Centre Technician, Remote Support Technician, Depot Technician, Field Service Technician, Help Desk Technician, IT Administrator and PC Technician . With 'CompTIA' Network+ on top of that, you can consider becoming a Network Installer, an IT Cable Installer, a Network Technician or a Network Administrator.

For the A+ exams give yourself somewhere around 100 to 150 hrs to train & prepare, and somewhat less for the Network+ examinations (possibly up to 75-100 hrs). Using the appropriate multi-media training package that is backed up by accredited examination preparation software, the two accreditations could very well be accomplished within six months for the student who is learning around employment.

In 2009 each program underwent upgrades, and new exams are actually to be found for each of them. The former A+ (version 2006/2007) exams that were categorised using the 600 pre-fix are being retired globally through 2010. In Britain, they cease being offered on August 31st 2010. As 2009 examinations (version 700) are currently available at test-centres across the country, the newer learning programs would be a more valuable alternative for someone just starting out. 'CompTIA' 'A+' Essentials and 'CompTIA' A+ Practical Application are the new exam titles (220/701 & 220-702 respectively). The 4 previous exams have been streamlined into two brand new exams, & some further up-dated material has been added in. Initially, the A+ was broken into four examinations: one essential and 3 'elective' specialisations. Today the industry demands workers with know-how that was in all of the previous exams. Individuals will learn that understanding from the two '2009' essential A+ programs. Those who have previously taken the 600 examination can bring their certification up-to-date by taking an up-grade examination : BR-003. This could almost definitely involve additional learning, although less so if you covered all 4 of the original examinations, and not just the minimum of two. Sufficient training hours need to be allowed for the new technology aspects though.

On to the 2009 version of the 'Network+' - 'N10-004' has become the exam number. As well as maintaining it's attention on network management & infrastructure, the updated '2009' exam points to a wider importance on security, wireless networking skills and network design standards.

The 'A+' training and the 'Network+' training are 'CompTIA's' most widely recognised qualifications. An incredibly useful pair taken as a bundle, they are the starting place for quite a number of productive career-tracks. Students get to grips with a good deal of essential computer principles with A+ , including maintenance, support, repair, installation, security & fault finding. What's more, the 'A+' covers specific relationship building skillsets to help you communicate more effectively with other people. Advancing this awareness, the N+ qualification covers networks, (this includes routers & servers) & shows exactly how they communicate with each other. 'Security' is naturally vital, and wireless technology is covered to a certain extent. Acquiring both of these certifications will provide a good platform for anyone considering getting into the systems side of the IT industry, as well as a platform of knowledge for further certification.

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