There are a total of 4 specialist training sectors in the A+ syllabus, of which 2 passes are needed for your A+ qualification. Be aware though that limiting yourself to 2 of the specialised areas could expose flaws in your knowledge when applying for a job. Choose a course with all 4 subjects – employers will notice the difference.
If you decide to become a student on the A+ training program you will develop an understanding of how to work in antistatic conditions and build and fix computers. You’ll also cover fault-finding and diagnostic techniques, both remotely and via direct access.
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.
We can guess that you probably enjoy fairly practical work – a ‘hands-on’ type. If you’re like us, the world of book-reading and classrooms is something you’ll force on yourself if you absolutely have to, but you really wouldn’t enjoy it. Consider interactive, multimedia study if book-based learning really isn’t your style.
If we’re able to get all of our senses involved in our learning, then the results are usually dramatically better.
Courses are now available on CD and DVD discs, where everything is taught on your PC. Video streaming means you can sit back and watch the teachers showing you precisely how it’s all done, with some practice time to follow – via the interactive virtual lab’s.
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.
Plump for actual CD or DVD ROM’s if possible. You can then avoid all the difficulties of broadband outages, failure and signal quality issues etc.
You should look for authorised exam simulation and preparation programs as part of your course package.
As the majority of examining boards for IT tend to be American, you’ll need to be used to the correct phraseology. It isn’t good enough just understanding random questions – they must be in an exam format that exactly replicates the real thing.
It’s a good idea to have some simulated exam questions that will allow you to check your knowledge at all times. Mock exams add to your knowledge bank – so the actual exam is much easier.
Most people don’t even think to ask about a vitally important element – how their training provider actually breaks down and delivers the courseware, and into how many bits.
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:
Maybe the order of study offered by the provider doesn’t suit. You may find it a stretch to finalise each and every section within the time limits imposed?
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.
Security only exists now in a rapidly increasing marketplace, fuelled by a shortfall of trained staff. It’s this alone that creates the correct background for a secure marketplace – a more attractive situation all round.
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.
It’s unlikely if a better time or market circumstances is ever likely to exist for gaining qualification for this hugely expanding and developing sector.
(C) 2009 – S. Edwards. Pop over to or .
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