The not for profit institution CompTIA - 'Computing Technology Industry Association' - was established in the early 1980's. They have grown step by step & now lead the world in IT accreditations that are vendor neutral. So they can freely create & control a complete collection of IT industry exams & issue their own accreditations which don't just apply to one specific company's solutions. This is very good for students, because they can be taught about various platforms & how they inter-connect and integrate with each other - a not unusual scenario today. When a new exam is being assembled (or a previous one upgraded), CompTIA consults with top members of the industrial & educational world to create well balanced & extremely relevant content.

Obviously these jobs frequently lead to much more senior jobs if the relevant qualifications have been put in place. That's why it's imperative to examine your long term ideas before picking out your career training route. This requires a discussion with an experienced training expert to ensure that the course you decide on is right and cost effective. IT Training organisations should offer to build a tailored training path by co-ordinating a number of programs to take the individual from wherever they are now to wherever they would like to end up.

If you're thinking about any of the following work opportunities, the A+ would certainly serve you well - Depot Technician, Call Centre Technician, Remote Support Technician, Field Service Technician, Help Desk Technician, IT Administrator and PC Technician . With the CompTIA Network+ as well, you could consider becoming an IT Cable Installer, a Network Installer, a Network Administrator or a Network Technician .

Standard learning time for these examinations are considered to be in the region of 100 to 150 hours for the A+ , & 75 to 100 hours for the Network+ . This makes accomplishing both of them inside of six months part-time study very viable, provided that high quality multi-media training products utilised, along with effective examination preparation-software.

On to the '09 version of the Network+ : N10-004 is currently the examination number. In addition to the solid component of managing and running networks & their infrastructures, this latest examination concentrates to a great extent on security, design & wireless skillsets.

By far the most popular of all of the CompTIA certifications are undoubtedly the A+ and the Network+. Jointly they encompass the basis of many career-paths in IT, and therefore are market leaders within their field. The 'CompTIA' 'A+' certification goes over the basics of computer maintenance, installation, support, security, fault-finding & repair. Additionally , it addresses several personal and communication skillsets needed to get established in I.T.. Advancing this awareness, the 'Network+' qualification goes into networks, (this includes routers & servers) and teaches exactly how they inter-connect. The important issue of 'Security' is underlined, and Wireless networks are described at an introductory level. Both qualifications complement each other nicely, & together provide a very good start-up platform for other exam packages, or a strong career in IT support.

In line with their ISO standardisation drive, 'CompTIA' have updated both A+ & Network+ examinations to 2009 versions. 'A+' examinations which started with the prefix '600' (i.e. the 2006/2007 edition) are now being phased-out internationally. Come the close of August 2010, the exams will be retired in the British Isles. As both the '600', & the recently released '700' exams are now available to sit in Prometric & 'Vue' test-centres, it makes sense to study the '700' exams now, & avoid having to certify again later on. The individual 'A+' 2009 exams have become: CompTIA A+ Essentials (examination 220/701) and 'CompTIA' A+ Practical Application (examination 220/702.) The most crucial changes were a whole restructuring of the previous four examinations in to just 2 exams, and the addition of some coverage on more recent relevant technologies. Originally, the A+ was split into four exams: 1 essential and three elective specialisations. These days the marketplace demands professionals with know-how that was in all four earlier examinations. Trainees can get that subject matter from the 2 '2009' essential 'A+' programs. CompTIA also have produced the BR/003 'up-grade' examination, for trainees qualified under the '600' examinations who want to update to the new 700 exams. This will probably call for additional learning, although less so if you covered all of the older exams, instead of just the two that were required. Adequate study hours should be factored in for the new aspects though.

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