Set up twenty-eight years ago, the 'Computing Technology Industry Association' (or 'CompTIA' for short) is a not-for-profit association. They have developed step by step and right now are world leaders in I.T. certifications that are vendor neutral. This fundamentally means they are absolutely free to independently produce and monitor exams and qualifications which are required by the I.T. market, irrespective of a particular business' commercial interests. This is excellent for IT students, as they can be taught about different platforms and how they inter-connect & 'integrate' with each other - a not unusual situation now in industry. When a new exam is being developed (or an old one up-graded), 'CompTIA' consults with top associates of the professional and academic world to provide well balanced & very relevant content.

Be expecting to allow around a hundred to a hundred & fifty hours studying time for the 'A+' exams, and for the Network+ about seventy five to a hundred hours. With the right multi-media training that's supported by authorised examination preparation software, the two qualifications could very well be accomplished within just 6 months for the individual who is learning whilst holding down a job.

'CompTIA' 'A+' and Network+ are easily the most widely accepted of their certifications. Collectively they comprise the basis of a good number of career-paths in I.T., and as such are frontrunners within their industry. 'A+' training teaches all of the fundamentals of PC maintenance, fault finding & repair; including support, security & installation. To help you to establish yourself in the I.T. industry, the 'A+' also covers several communication & personal skills. 'Network+' takes the subject further, by working on a more significant understanding of how networks operate & communicate with each other. Both 'Security' and wireless technology are discussed to some degree. Getting these two qualifications will give a solid grounding for anyone looking to get into the systems area of the IT marketplace, as well as a platform of understanding for further qualification.

Both exams have quite recently been subject to a 2009 update in line with the company's move towards ISO standardisation. The earlier 'A+' (edition 2006-2007) examinations that were categorised using the '600' prefix are being retired worldwide throughout 2010. At the end of Aug 2010, the examinations will be retired in the British Isles. Because both these, and the new '700' examinations at the moment are available to sit in 'prometric' and 'Vue' test centres, it makes sense to study for the 700 exams now, and avoid having to certify again later on. The individual 'A+' 2009 examinations have become: 'CompTIA' A+ Essentials (examination 220-701) and 'CompTIA' A+ Practical Application (exam 220/702.) The most crucial changes were an entire re-structuring of the preceding 4 exams in to only two exams, and the addition of some information on newer relevant technologies. Originally, the A+ was broken into 4 examinations: 1 essential and three 'elective' specialisations. Right now the industry requires workers with know-how that used to be in all the four previous examinations. Individuals will get that knowledge from the 2 '2009' obligatory A+ programs. An upgrade exam has been produced by 'CompTIA' for those with the previous qualification. 'BR-003' is the exam number. This would almost certainly require further learning, although not so much if you studied all of the previous exams, as opposed to only the required 2. The extra subjects will undoubtedly necessitate some fresh studying.

Anyone looking to establish themselves in IT will benefit from training and certifications developed by CompTIA. Trainees thinking of getting into networks & support, or servers, security & systems will most often start with CompTIA, though it is fair to say that 'CompTIA' certifications will enhance just about any Resume designed for the IT industry. A new set of starter level courses named 'STRATA' have been put together by CompTIA. These are designed for those who need a more effective idea of basic I.T. knowledge, but do not always work with IT themselves.

With regard to 'Network+' , the old N10-003 has now been replaced by the N10-004, the 2009 edition. As well as the solid component of managing networks and their infrastructures, this latest exam focuses heavily on security, design & wireless skill-sets.

Clearly these careers often lead on to far more advanced roles if the relevant qualifications are in place. That's why its very important to look at your long term options before selecting your career-training route. This requires talking to an experienced IT training advisor to ensure that the route you select is right and cost-effective. Many companies offer 'packaged' career paths which include these qualifications, and so purchasing in a career bundle can offer significant financial savings.

The CompTIA 'A+' exams are for the most part suitable for anybody looking to start work in any of these areas: Call Centre Technician, Depot Technician, Field Services Technician, PC Technician, Help Desk Technician, IT Administrator & Remote Support Technician. CompTIA 'Network+' unwraps possibilities for Network Technicians & Administrators, IT Cable Installers and Network Installers.

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