The non-profit institution CompTIA - Computing Technology Industry Association - was established in 1982. The organisation offers vendor-neutral accreditations that have made it a global leader in its industry. What this means is they can supply and over-see independent industry-recognised IT exams & qualifications that don't reflect any one organisation's interests over another. With today's shift towards inter-connectivity and systems convergence, this is seen as a great move for the I.T. trainee, because it gives cross-platform learning & a comprehension of 'integration'. CompTIA gathers together different business and academic industry groups when designing or up-dating an examination, to make sure that all things are thought about and the most commercially related syllabuses are created.

For a new trainee to I.T., 'CompTIA' offers the preliminary foundation training courses in many sectors. Wherever a trainee opts to build a career in I.T., there are 'CompTIA' certifications that will enhance their skills. Individuals who are especially interested in Networks, Support, Systems, Security, Servers & Communications are especially well served. CompTIA are now also offering 'STRATA' qualifications - these are not designed for men and women working in the IT sector, but for people whose positions need a basic knowledge of computers.

The two examinations have quite recently undergone a 2009 update in-line with the company's move towards 'ISO' standardisation. Worldwide the 2006/2007 editions of 'A+' (those with exam prefix number 600) will be retired over the coming 12 months. Come the end of August 2010, the exams will retire in Britain. Since both these, & the new 700 examinations at the moment are available to sit in Prometric and 'Vue' test-centres, it's sensible to study the 700 exams now, & not have to re-certify later on. A+ 2009 is currently presented as 220-701 'CompTIA' A+ Essentials & 220-702 'CompTIA' A+ Practical Application. The main modifications were an entire re-structuring of the preceding 4 examinations in to only 2 examinations, & the inclusion of some teaching on more recent relevant technologies. The previous format was 1 required Essentials exam & 3 'electives', of which only one needed to be sat. Over the last 4 years, the market has evolved to the stage where all 4 examinations are actually considered essential - hence the reformatting in to two required examinations. Anybody who has previously achieved the 600 exam is allowed to bring their qualification up to date by sitting an upgrade exam - 'BR-003'. This could almost definitely necessitate additional learning, although less so if you studied all of the original exams, as opposed to only the two that were required. The extra subject areas will of course need some extra studying.

The employment roles that follow are all feasible for the candidate with a 'CompTIA' 'A+' qualification: Depot Technician, Call Centre Technician, Remote Support Technician, Field Service Technician, Help Desk Technician, IT Administrator and PC Technician . CompTIA Network+ unwraps opportunities for Network Technicians & Administrators, IT Cable Installers and Network Installers.

As for the '09 edition of the 'Network+' - N10-004 is currently the exam reference number. A larger emphasis is placed upon Security in the 2009 N+ exam, alongside network design & wireless networking. This obviously is in addition to the core aspects of network-management and infrastructure.

The A+ training & the 'Network+' training are 'CompTIA's' flagship accreditations. These two, as a pair, create the foundation for many contemporary I.T. career-tracks - and justly so . 'A+' training covers all of the fundamental basics of PC maintenance, fault-finding and repair; including installation, security and support. In addition, the 'A+' deals with several relationship-building skillsets to help you communicate better with other people. 'Network+' takes things further, by working on a greater knowledge of how networks function & communicate with each other. The critical matter of 'Security' is underlined, & Wireless technologies are reviewed at a basic level. 'CompTIA' A+ and 'Network+' will give you a solid foundation for a systems career in I.T., and also an excellent basis for various other more senior certification programs.

These certifications and job roles are often done on the way to a much more senior IT placement. Before you decide to opt for a particular training program, consider exactly where you prefer your ultimate destination to be. Take the opportunity to go through every little thing with a training & IT professional - it will help safeguard you from any set-backs as time goes on. It's often a good suggestion to think about customised career-training packages that feature the 'A+' & Network+ programs. Bundling a number of course materials into one is usually quite cost effective.

For the 'A+' examinations give yourself around 100-150 hours to study and prepare, & slightly less for the N+ exams (maybe close to 75-100 hours). This means obtaining them both in 6 months part-time study entirely viable, as long as good quality multi-media training products are used, along with good exam preparation-software.

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