You might have thought you’d taken your last exam back in university, but if you’re looking to break into the IT field, there’s one more test (at least) you’ll need to pass. What is CompTIA, and how can you prepare for it?
What Is CompTIA
CompTIA — an exam for serious IT professionals, people of technology and cybersecurity. You need it to apply for jobs or internships in IT and information security as proof of your knowledge and skills.
It is organized by Computing Technology Industry Association a nonprofit trade association that issues professional information technology (IT) certifications.
If you never heard about it, you may have a lot of questions. Why there are so many types of this exam? What is CompTIA a+ certification? Who needs it? What is CompTIA security+? Let’s clarify everything.
There are different types of certifications for professionals of various levels and in different fields of IT.
Some of them are:
- CompTIA A+: Focuses on foundational IT skills, including hardware, software, networking, and security basics. It’s a common starting point for IT professionals. What is CompTIA A+ is actually one of the most popular IT exams.
Recommended experience: 9 to 12 months of hands-on experience in the lab or field.
- CompTIA Network+: Focuses on networking concepts, including designing, configuring, managing, and troubleshooting networks.
Recommended experience: a minimum of 9-12 months of hands-on experience working in a junior network administrator/network support technician job role.
- CompTIA Project+ : covers the essential project management concepts and skills that apply across various industries and job roles, making it a vendor-neutral certification suitable for both IT and non-IT professionals.
Recommended experience: at least 6–12 months of hands-on experience managing projects in an IT environment
Together CompTIA offers 17 types of certifications for IT professionals.
There is another field that might be interesting for those who want to be like a hero of fantastic movies. It is CompTIA Security+. If you want to pursue a career in IT security it is for you and is often considered a starting point for more advanced certifications and roles in cybersecurity.
What is CompTIA Security+ actually? It is a way into a very interesting field that will allow you to build a successful career in cybersecurity.
Recommended experience: two years of experience working in a security/ systems administrator job role.
Why CompTIA Is Valuable?
In short, CompTIA proves your knowledge and experience and makes your CV better.
In more detail:
Career Start for Beginners
Certifications like CompTIA A+ and Network+ are ideal for people just starting their IT careers, providing them with essential skills in hardware, networking, and troubleshooting. If you’re new to the industry, what is compTIA it is something that can help you get your first solid position or get a promotion after the internship!
Well Recognized
CompTIA certifications are well-recognized and respected across the IT industry, especially in entry-level to mid-level positions. Many employers use them as a baseline requirement, so having these certifications on your resume can open doors to interviews and job opportunities.
Careerist Bonuses
If you are already in the IT field, more advanced CompTIA certifications like Security+, CySA+, or Cloud+ can help you specialize in areas like cybersecurity, cloud computing, or network administration, which are in high demand.
This can lead to promotions, salary increases, or new job opportunities.
If You Want to Work for the Government
Many government jobs, especially in the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), require certifications like CompTIA Security+ (we discussed what is CompTIA Security+ above) for certain roles, making them essential if you want a government IT position.
You Know What to Do
CompTIA offers a clear learning path, starting from basic IT skills (A+), networking (Network+), and then security (Security+), so it’s easy to map out a path for career growth in the IT industry.
You Can Afford It
Compared to other certifications, CompTIA exams tend to be more affordable and accessible, with straightforward study materials and practice exams available. This makes them a good option for someone looking to improve their skills without a huge investment.
Universal
CompTIA exams focus on foundational skills and technologies that apply to many systems and platforms, rather than specific vendors like Cisco, Microsoft, or Amazon. This makes them versatile and useful for a range of IT environments.
How to Prepare for CompTIA
Preparing for CompTIA differs from preparing for university admissions exams as it is more about professional terms and skills. You need to have a lot of specific and practical knowledge in a particular field, as well as on-site experience.
As mentioned, some CompTIA tests are for professionals with several years of experience, and some are for very beginners. Here, we will discuss more about CompTIA A+ preparation.
What Is CompTIA A+ Certification
CompTIA A+ consists of two exams:
- Core 1 (220-1101): Covers hardware, networking, mobile devices, virtualization, and cloud computing.
- Core 2 (220-1102): This course focuses on operating systems, security, software troubleshooting, and operational procedures.
To get a certificate you must pass both of them. Download and read exam objectives from the CompTIA website to learn more about the specific topics for both exams
Each part will take 90 minutes to complete. There are three types of questions:
- Multiple-choice questions (single answer and multiple choice)
- Performance-Based Questions (PBQs) — These are scenario-based or simulated tasks that require hands-on knowledge. You will interact with a simulated environment or complete specific tasks (e.g., configuring a network, troubleshooting an issue, etc.).
- Drag-and-Drop Questions — In these questions, you’ll need to drag items from one area and drop them into the correct category or sequence.
- Fill-in-the-Blank Questions — These questions require you to type an answer rather than selecting from multiple choices.
- Matching Questions — You’ll be asked to match items from two lists, such as device names with their descriptions or network protocols with their port numbers.
- Scenario-Based Questions — These are real-world scenarios where you are asked to choose the best solution based on your understanding.
How Much Is the CompTIA A+ Exam
As of 2024, the cost for each exam is typically around $246 USD, meaning the total cost for both exams would be $492 USD.
How to Study for CompTIA A+
If you were asking about what is CompTIA A+ certification, you probably serious and ready to start your studies. Let’s discuss in more detail your preparation process.
Decide, Will You Prepare on Your Own or Take a Preparatory Course
When you join a good IT training center for CompTIA A+ prep, you’ll find that you can complete the course more quickly since the instructors will guide you through everything.
Plus, you’ll have access to audio-visual materials that break down the tougher topics, making things like software troubleshooting and network configuration easier to grasp. This way, you’ll spend less time struggling with difficult concepts and finish your CompTIA A+ training faster.
With classroom-based training, you’ll regularly take practice exams, so by the end of the course, you’ll feel fully prepared for the CompTIA A+ exam.
Take a Free Practise Test to Understand Your Level
CompTIA provides free practice questions for the A+ certification that you can easily request online. These are great for getting a sense of the topics covered and the types of questions you’ll face. If you find certain subjects challenging or notice you didn’t do as well in some areas, it’s a good idea to focus more on those topics. This way, you’ll feel more confident and prepared when it’s time to take your certification exam.
Choose Study Materials
If you study on your own, rely on study materials with a good reputation. We can recommend some of them.
Books: Start with official study guides and trusted resources, such as:
- CompTIA A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide by Mike Meyers.
- CompTIA A+ Core 1 and Core 2 Study Guide by Sybex.
Video Tutorials:
- Platforms like Udemy, Pluralsight, or LinkedIn Learning offer CompTIA A+ video courses.
- Professor Messer’s A+ Training Videos (available for free on YouTube) are widely recommended for clear, easy-to-understand lessons.
Official CompTIA Resources: Consider CertMaster Learn and CertMaster Practice for structured e-learning and practice questions.
Study with Flashcards
Flashcards are one of the most effective tools to memorize a lot of technical information (and you need a lot of it for the exam). You can create your own flashcards or use pre-made sets that are available online. Both methods are helpful, but creating your own can give you a better understanding of the material as you write down the information. Use Anki Pro to study with the spaced repetition method which is a proven technique for memorizing information. You can also study with flashcards for what is CompTIA Security+.
Decks to Help You
Some of the pre-made decks you may want to use during your preparation.
Comptia A+ pictures
Deck with pictures of technical details and computer accessory ies. It helps you to learn all the details and how they look so during the problem-solving part or another task you will easily describe any small details you will need to use.
Explore the deck: Comptia A+ pictures
CompTIA A+ 220-1001
There are examples of test questions you may need to answer during the exam. The first side of the card consists of a question, the other one — an answer.
Explore the deck: CompTIA A+ 220-1001
CompTIA A+ 220-1002
The continuation of the previous deck but for the second part of the exam that focuses on operating systems, security, software troubleshooting, and operational procedures.
Explore the deck: CompTIA A+ 220-1002
So now we discussed how to study CompTIA A+, what is it and briefly covered what is CompTIA Security+.
Good luck with your preparations and job hunting!
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