CompTIA (Computing Technology Industry Association) is a non-profit operation that was formed in 1982. The company produces vendor-neutral accreditations that have made it a world number one in this field. So they can independently produce and control an entire collection of I.T. industry exams & produce their own certifications which don't just apply to one particular vendor's solutions. This really is excellent for IT students, because they can be taught about different platforms and how they inter-connect & 'integrate' with each other - a common circumstance in industry today. Whenever a new syllabus is created, CompTIA invites several academic & commercial groups to join them and confirm that every aspect has been considered equally, and the packages are commercially appropriate.

The 'A+' program & the Network+ program are 'CompTIA's' flagship certifications. Jointly they constitute the first step toward many career-paths in I.T., and therefore are leaders in their industry. 'A+' training covers all of the basics of Computer maintenance, fault finding and repair; including installation, security and support. To help you to establish yourself in the IT market, the A+ also covers a number of communication and personal skill-sets. Advancing this knowledge, the 'Network+' accreditation looks at networks, (including routers and servers) & shows how they communicate with each other. 'Security' is needless to say vital, and wireless technology is covered to some degree. The two certifications complement each other well, and collectively form a good starting platform for other examination packages, or a good career in I.T. support.

If you are excited about any of the following careers, the A+ will definitely work for you : Remote Support Technician, Call Centre and Depot Technician, Field Service Technician, Help Desk Technician, PC Technician and IT Administrator. With the CompTIA Network+ on top of that, you could look at becoming a Network Installer, an IT Cable Installer, a Network Administrator or a Network Technician .

In 2009 each programme under-went updates, and new examinations are actually to be found for each of them. The former 'A+' (edition 2006-2007) exams that were categorised with the 600 pre-fix are now being retired internationally through 2010. After the 31st August '10 they will no longer be obtainable in the United Kingdom. As 2009 exams (version 700) are already available at test-centres across the country, the newer learning programs would be a more valuable solution for someone just starting out. The individual A+ 2009 exams are now: CompTIA A+ Essentials (exam 220-701) and CompTIA 'A+' Practical Application (examination 220/702.) Together with some more material on newer technologies, there are now two exams that cover components of all 4 of the previous exams. Initially, the A+ was broken into four exams: one essential & 3 elective specialisations. Right now the industry demands workers with know-how that was in all four previous exams. Individuals can get that subject matter from the 2 new essential 'A+' programs. 'CompTIA' have also released the 'BR-003' 'up-grade' examination, for trainees qualified under the '600' examinations who need to update to the current '700' exams. Successfully passing the bridging exam will usually take more study, but it shouldn't be too much of a challenge for those who formerly studied all 4. Adequate study hours really should be allowed for the new technology elements though.

These accreditations and job roles are in many cases done en-route to a much more senior IT position. Before you go for a training course, think about where you would like your career destination to be. This means a discussion with a skilled IT training advisor to make sure that the path you decide on is appropriate & cost effective. Many companies offer packaged career-tracks which incorporate these accreditations, & so buying in a career bundle can give you substantial cost-savings.

New entrants into the I.T. industry can look to 'CompTIA' for a good deal of their preliminary training courses. Generally, students who are aiming for employment opportunities in Networking, Servers, Systems, Security, Support & Communications will begin with 'CompTIA', although trainees within any IT sector would find a 'CompTIA' accreditation a helpful component of their Resume. There is certainly also now a thrust within 'CompTIA' to deliver their beginner-level 'STRATA' programs to those people who don't work in IT, but would benefit from a comprehension of the basics of IT and how it impacts their job.

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