New Comptia A+ certified fixing PC's and MAC's

Not surprising that Comptia is finally on board and has changed their policies on how long certifications are good for. Not sure if I really like this or not. Obviously having all the certifications that they are now changing to a “renewal” policy I am looking at it from that aspect.

Now “Comptia” has changed their mind, or better yet clarified their position here. Seems now if you do or have done the A+, Net+ or Security Plus on or before 31 Dec 2011 then you are still good for life….

Many students willing to achieve the very effective and most in demand certification CompTIA A+ Training, Network+ Training and Security + Training are renewed, but having a difficult time with the A+ needing it. Many students mindset has always been that there is a progression path to certifications and it was:

There are a total of 4 specialist training sectors in the overall A+ programme, of which you'll need certification in two subjects to gain A+ competency. But restricting yourself to two of the specialized areas is likely to leave your knowledge base somewhat light. At least learn about all four - for greater confidence in the world of work.

Qualifying in CompTIA A+ without additional courses will mean that you're able to repair and fix stand-alone PC's and MAC's; ones that are generally not connected to a network - which means the home or small business market.

You might also choose to consider adding the CompTIA Network+ training as you'll then be in a position to work with networks, and have a more responsible working role.

One crafty way that course providers make a big mark-up is by charging for exams up-front and presenting it as a guarantee for your exams. This looks like a great idea for the student, until you think it through:

Everybody's aware that they're ultimately paying for it - obviously it has already in the overall price charged by the college. It's certainly not free - and it's insulting that we're supposed to think it is!

Students who go in for their examinations when it's appropriate, funding them as they go are much more likely to pass. They are aware of what they've paid and revise more thoroughly to make sure they're ready.

Then you could do the big boys such as MCSE or CCNP etc. I leave security certifications off my list because I believe they should come last. Reason I think that is because I believe you need to have a firm grasp of computers, networking and OS’s before you can really dive into “security”.

So now that it’s changed it looks like it’s back to the drawing table to renew the certs…or put some thought into it’s even worth dealing with Comptia exams anymore due to the bigger certifications are where the money is at. Maybe i’ll just concentrate on my Microsoft and Cisco exam renewals due to that are what employers are most concentrating on depending on where you are in your career.

In a nutshell, if you put as much hard work into securing your first job as into studying, you're not likely to experience problems. Some people strangely put hundreds of hours into their learning program and just give up once qualified and seem to expect employers to find them. Of all the important things to consider, one of the most essential is always full 24x7 support with professional mentors and instructors. Far too often we see trainers who only provide office hours (or extended office hours) support.

Avoid, like the plague, any organizations that use messaging services 'out-of-hours' - where an advisor will call back during office hours. This is useless when you're stuck and need an answer now.

The very best training providers have many support offices across multiple time-zones. An online system provides an interactive interface to link them all seamlessly, no matter what time you login, there is always help at hand, avoiding all the delays and problems.

Comptia A+ training is important if you plan on passing your on the first time so you can avoid multiple testing fees. Some people may already be working on the job in the profession that they desire, such as a Server Administrator, Desktop Support Technician or a PC Repair Technician. They may have had prior training before employment but have never acquired a certificate. They probably know their job and are very knowledgeable about their work and field but need a certificate because their employer requires it. They do not need any computer education. They only need certification exam preparation so they can pass their final. I hope you get the picture now.