The non profit organisation CompTIA - Computing Technology Industry Association - was formed in 1982. They've built through the years to become the number one in vendor neutral IT certification. Which means they're able to freely develop & be in control of an entire range of IT industry exams & produce their own certifications which don't apply to just one particular company's goods. Because systems regularly 'converge' and inter-connect in the business world, this supplies the I.T. trainee with a much more wholesome knowledge & idea of cross-platform integration. When a new examination is being assembled (or a previous one updated), CompTIA consults with top members of the commercial & educational world in order to create balanced and extremely relevant material.

In 2009 each programme under-went updates, & new exams are actually to be found for them both. A+ exams which commenced using the number 600 (i.e. the 2006-2007 version) are being phased out worldwide. After 31st August 2010 they will not be available in Britain. Because both these, and the recently released '700' exams are now available to sit in Prometric and 'Vue' test centres, it makes sense to study for the '700' exams now, & not have to re-certify later. CompTIA 'A+' Essentials & 'CompTIA' A+ Practical Application are the new examination titles (220/701 and 220-702 respectively). As well as some more material on more recent technologies, there are now two examinations that cover components of all four of the preceding exams. The previous format was one required Essentials exam and three 'electives', of which just one was required to be sat. But as the industry has developed, the know-how from all four examinations is actually considered crucial, and so has been fine-tuned into two essential exams. An up-grade exam has been created by 'CompTIA' for anyone who have the old certification. BR-003 is the reference number. Extra training will almost certainly be required, particularly for those who just originally studied for two of the four 'electives'. The extra subjects will of course require some fresh study.

Of course these job opportunities frequently lead to far more senior assignments if the right qualifications are in place. That is why it's very important to look at your long term plans before selecting your career training path. Do take the opportunity to discuss everything with a training and IT advisor - it will safeguard you against set backs as time goes on. The best companies also offer discounted career tracks which can include these certifications, and so investing in a career 'bundle' can offer significant financial savings.

Anyone starting in IT will benefit from training and qualifications produced by 'CompTIA'. Students looking to get into networking & support, or security, systems & servers should usually begin with CompTIA, though it's reasonable to say that 'CompTIA' accreditations will enhance virtually any CV geared for the IT industry. A new package of starter-level programs named STRATA have been put together by CompTIA. These are designed for people who could do with a better understanding of fundamental IT information, but do not always work with I.T. themselves.

The A+ program & the 'Network+' training are 'CompTIA's' most widely recognised accreditations. Jointly they encompass the first step toward many career paths in I.T., & consequently are frontrunners in their industry. 'A+' courses cover all the basics of PC maintenance, fault-finding & repair; including installation, security and support. Additionally, the A+ teaches specific relationship building skill-sets that may help you communicate better with others. The CompTIA 'Network+' certification extends this knowledge to a more thorough comprehension of networking, servers and routers, & how they communicate. 'Security' is needless to say vital, & wireless technology is dealt with to some extent. Having these two accreditations will provide a good platform for anyone seeking to get into the systems area of the IT marketplace, along with a platform of knowledge for additional accreditation.

On to the 2009 version of the Network+ : 'N10-004' is now the examination number. A greater importance is placed on Security in the '09 Network+ exam, alongside network-design & wireless-networking. This of course is as well as the key aspects of network-management and infrastructure.

For the 'A+' examinations allow yourself more or less 100 to 150 hours to train and prepare, & somewhat less for the 'Network+' exams (perhaps close to 75-100 hours). With the best multimedia training package that's supported by accredited exam preparation software, the two accreditations could very well be achieved in half a year for the individual who's learning around employment.

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