CompTIA Computer Training Clarified

CompTIA A+ consists of 4 training sections; you’re considered A+ competent when you’ve passed the test for half of them. This is the reason that the majority of training establishments only have two of the courses on their syllabus. In reality you’re advised to have the information on each subject as industry will demand an understanding of the whole A+ program. You don’t have to take all four exams, but we would recommend you study for all four areas.

CompTIA A+ without additional courses will set you up to fix and maintain computers and Macs; ones which are usually not part of a network – this generally applies to home use and small companies.

Perhaps you see yourself as a man or woman who works for a larger company – in network support, you should include CompTIA Network+ to your training package, or alternatively look at doing an MCSA or MCSE with Microsoft because it’s necessary to have a wider knowledge of the way networks work.

Those that are drawn to this type of work are often very practical, and don’t always take well to classrooms, and endless reading of dry academic textbooks. If this is putting you off studying, try the newer style of interactive study, where learning is video-based.

Memory is vastly improved with an involvement of all our senses – learning experts have been saying this for years now.

The latest audio-visual interactive programs involving demonstration and virtual lab’s will beat books every time. And they’re far more fun.

You really need to look at courseware examples from any company that you may want to train through. It’s essential they incorporate video demo’s and interactive elements such as practice lab’s.

You should avoid purely online training. You want physical CD/DVD ROM course materials where possible, as you need to be able to use them whenever it’s convenient for you – ISP quality varies, so you don’t want to be totally reliant on your internet connection always being ‘up’ and available.

You should look for authorised exam simulation and preparation programs as part of your course package.

Make sure that the simulated exams aren’t just asking you the right questions on the right subjects, but additionally ask them in the way the real exams will ask them. This throws people if the questions are phrased in unfamiliar formats.

Ensure that you verify your knowledge through tests and simulated exams prior to taking the real thing.

An important area that is sometimes not even considered by trainees considering a training program is ‘training segmentation’. This is essentially how the program is broken down into parts to be delivered to you, which can make a dramatic difference to what you end up with.

Many companies enrol you into some sort of program spread over 1-3 years, and send out each piece as you complete each exam. This sounds reasonable until you consider the following:

What if you don’t finish each and every exam? And what if you find the order of the modules counter-intuitive? Without any fault on your part, you may go a little slower and consequently not get all your materials.

To provide the maximum security and flexibility, it’s normal for most trainees to make sure that every element of their training is posted to them in one go, with nothing held back. It’s then your own choice in which order and at what speed you want to work.

Locating job security nowadays is problematic. Businesses will drop us from the workplace at the drop of a hat – whenever it suits.

Whereas a marketplace with high growth, with a constant demand for staff (as there is a massive shortfall of commercially certified workers), opens the possibility of true job security.

A recent national e-Skills survey showed that over 26 percent of all available IT positions cannot be filled due to a chronic shortage of appropriately certified professionals. Basically, we can’t properly place more than 3 out of each four job positions in IT.

Properly trained and commercially educated new employees are consequently at a total premium, and it seems it will continue to be so for a long time to come.

Unquestionably, now, more than ever, really is the very best time to train for IT.

Copyright 2009 S. Edwards. Navigate to mcse-training-uk.co.uk or Comptia Certification.