The CompTIA A+ training program covers four areas of training; you’re seen as competent at A+ when you’ve achieved certifications for two of the four areas. This is why the majority of training establishments offer only two of the training courses. The truth is you will need the training for all four areas as many jobs will be looking for the skills and knowledge of each specialist area. Don’t feel pressured to take all four exams, but we would recommend you study for all four areas.
As well as learning how to build PC’s and fix them, students of A+ will be taught how to operate in antistatic conditions, as well as diagnostics, fault-finding and remote access.
In addition, you could look to think about doing Network+ as you’ll then be in a position to take care of computer networks, and have a more responsible working role.
Proper support is incredibly important – locate a good company providing 24×7 full access, as anything else will annoy you and definitely hold up your pace and restrict your intake.
Be wary of any training providers which use messaging services ‘out-of-hours’ – where you’ll get called back during normal office hours. It’s no use when you’re stuck on a problem and could do with an answer during your scheduled study period.
Top training companies have many support offices from around the world. Online access provides the interactive interface to link them all seamlessly, at any time you choose, there is always help at hand, with no hassle or contact issues.
Don’t compromise when it comes to your support. Many IT hopefuls that throw in the towel, are in that situation because they didn’t get the support necessary for them.
A typical blunder that students everywhere can make is to concentrate on the course itself, instead of focusing on where they want to get to. Universities are stacked to the hilt with direction-less students that chose an ‘interesting’ course – rather than what would get them their end-goal of a job they enjoyed.
Don’t let yourself become one of those unfortunate students who select a program that sounds really ‘interesting’ and ‘fun’ – and end up with a plaque on the wall for an unrewarding career path.
Stay focused on what it is you’re trying to achieve, and create a learning-plan from that – not the other way round. Keep your eyes on your goals – making sure you’re training for a career that’ll reward you for many long and fruitful years.
Sense dictates that you seek guidance and advice from an experienced industry advisor before embarking on a training path, so you can be sure that the chosen route will give you the skills for the job being sought.
Exam ‘guarantees’ are sometimes offered as part of a training package – they always involve paying for the exam fees up-front, before you’ve even made a start on the course. However, prior to embracing a course with such a promise, why not look at the following:
Thankfully, today we have to be a little more ‘marketing-savvy’ – and usually we grasp that it is something we’re paying for – they’re not just being charitable and doling out freebies!
Qualifying on the first ‘go’ is what everyone wants to do. Going for exams one by one and paying for them just before taking them makes it far more likely you’ll pass first time – you prepare appropriately and are mindful of the investment you’ve made.
Sit the exam at a local pro-metric testing centre and hold on to your money and pay for the exam when you take it.
Why tie up your cash (or borrow more than you need) for exam fees when you don’t need to? A great deal of money is made because training colleges are charging upfront for all their exams – and then cashing in when they’re not all taken.
Additionally, many exam guarantees are worthless. Many training companies won’t pay for you to re-take until you have demonstrated conclusively that you won’t fail again.
Splashing out often many hundreds of pounds extra on an ‘Exam Guarantee’ is naive – when study, commitment and preparing with good quality mock and practice exams is what will really see you through.
A top of the range training course package should have accredited exam preparation systems.
Ensure that the exams you practice are not just posing the correct questions in the right areas, but ask them in the way the real exams will ask them. This really messes up trainees if they’re faced with unrecognisable phrases and formats.
Always have some simulated exam questions in order to test your knowledge along the way. Practice exams prepare you properly – then you won’t be quite so nervous at the actual exam.
(C) 2009 – S. Edwards. Hop over to Job Qualifications or Career Retraining Courses.