CompTIA A + has a total of four exams and areas of study, but you’re just expected to get your exams in 2 of them to be considered A+ competent. As this is the case, most training colleges simply offer two. But giving you all four options will give you a far greater perspective of the subject, which you’ll find vital in industry.
Passing the A+ exam on its own will give you the ability to mend and maintain computers and Macs; ones that are most often not part of a network – essentially the domestic or small business sector. If you would like to be a man or woman who is a member of a large organisation – supporting, fixing and maintaining networks, you’ll need to add CompTIA Network+, or consider an MCSA or MCSE with Microsoft to give you a wider knowledge of how networks work.
Every program under consideration has to build towards a widely recognised accreditation at the finale – and not a worthless ‚in-house‘ diploma – fit only for filing away and forgetting. From an employer’s viewpoint, only the big-boys such as Microsoft, Adobe, CompTIA or Cisco (for example) will get you short-listed. Anything less just doesn’t cut the mustard.
It’s likely that you probably enjoy fairly practical work – the ‚hands-on‘ person. Typically, the trial of reading reference books and manuals is something you’ll make yourself do if you have to, but you really wouldn’t enjoy it. So look for on-screen interactive learning packages if learning from books is not your thing. Memory is vastly improved when multiple senses are involved – this has been an accepted fact in expert circles for many years.
You can now study via self-contained CD or DVD materials. Instructor-led tutorials will mean you’ll absorb the modules, one by one, through the expert demonstrations. Then it’s time to test your knowledge by using practice-lab’s. You really need to look at the type of training provided by the company you’re considering. It’s essential they incorporate full motion videos of instructors demonstrating the topic with lab’s to practice the skills in.
Avoiding training that is delivered purely online is generally a good idea. Ideally, you should opt for CD and DVD ROM courseware where offered, so you can use them wherever and whenever you want – it’s not wise to be held hostage to your broadband being ‚up‘ 100 percent of the time.
It’s important to understand: the course itself or an accreditation isn’t what this is about; a job that you want is. Far too many training organisations put too much weight in the piece of paper. Don’t let yourself become one of those unfortunate students that choose a course which looks like it could be fun – and get to the final hurdle of an accreditation for a career they’ll never really get any satisfaction from.
Take time to understand your leanings around career development, earning potential, and how ambitious you are. It makes sense to understand what will be expected of you, what particular exams are needed and in what way you can develop commercial experience. Have a chat with someone that understands the work you’re contemplating, and who’ll explain to you detailed descriptions of what you actually do in that role. Contemplating this well before you start on any learning path will prevent a lot of wasted time and effort.
A key package of training will undoubtedly also include accredited exam simulation and preparation packages. As a lot of IT examining boards tend to be American, you’ll need to be used to the correct phraseology. You can’t practice properly by just going through the right questions – they must be in an exam format that exactly replicates the real thing. Mock exams can be invaluable as a resource to you – so that when you come to take the real thing, you will be much more relaxed.
The way a programme is physically sent to you isn’t always given the appropriate level of importance. How is the courseware broken down? What is the order and what control do you have at what pace it arrives? Individual deliveries for each training module stage by stage, as you pass each exam is the typical way that your program will arrive. This sounds logical, but you should take these factors into account: Maybe the order of study prescribed by the provider doesn’t suit you. It may be difficult to get through every element within the time limits imposed?
To be honest, the very best answer is to have their ideal ‚order‘ of training laid out, but get everything up-front. You’re then in possession of everything if you don’t manage to finish at their required pace.