Starting a career in the IT industry can be both exciting and challenging at the same time. This is particularly true if you have a minimal background. However, if you know what to take, then you might be able to get a head start and begin climbing the career ladder right away. Companies are always on the lookout for qualified candidates with demanded skills that are going to be an excellent fit for certain IT positions. Read this post and find out how to prove that you are one of them!
IT Certifications: The Best Route to Take
There is a variety of opportunities that can help you put yourself ahead of others when you want to enter the IT industry. One of the most popular ways is obtaining a certification. Now, there are plenty of badges available and if you’re looking for one that’s going to give you the necessary skills and is trusted by organizations, the A+ Practice Test – 220-1001 credential is undoubtedly something that you need to consider. But why exactly CompTIA and what does it offer? Let’s find the answers in the section below.
All About CompTIA Certification Program
CompTIA is an organization that focuses on providing candidates with the knowledge and skills required to become an IT professionals. One notable feature is that their badges are vendor-neutral, so they put more emphasis on skills and roles rather than specific technologies. As a result, you’re going to be more versatile since you’re not limited to a particular product or solution.
CompTIA certifications are grouped by level of proficiency and IT areas. Their Core credentials ( CompTIA A+ Practice Test – 220-1001) focus on foundational IT skills to get your career off the ground.
There are also certifications related to Infrastructure and Cybersecurity that will make you efficient in these spheres. CompTIA Network+ certification validates the knowledge and skills needed to troubleshoot, configure and manage both wired and wireless networks.
And lastly, the Additional Professional section includes great complimentary badges that can help you get promotions and become a highly valuable employee.
Zooming in on A+
Now we know the options that CompTIA offers in their certification program. Let’s take a closer look at one of the Core badges that’s surely going to help you jumpstart your career in IT. This is anentry-level A+ credential that grants candidates the opportunity to advance their knowledge when it comes to the fundamentals such as computer hardware and software.
Even if you have only 9-12 months of experience or just basic skills, A+ will teach you everything needed to get a job as a help desk specialist, technical support administrator, and even associate network engineer to name a few. And this is not a myth: for example, the giants like Dell, Intel, and HP require this badge for their service technicians to ensure their quality of work.
Earning Your A+ Certification
As with most IT credentials, you need to go through a few challenges before you’ll earn your A+ badge. In this case, the path includes taking and passing both 220-1001 and 220-1002 exams. These tests cover topics in hardware, software installation, and operating systems. They also assess some advanced skills like software and hardware troubleshooting, virtualization, networking, and security. You can surely treat it as a springboard to build your career and specialize later on.
220-1001 or Core 1 exam mostly focuses on mobile devices, hardware, networking, virtualization, and cloud computing. On the other hand, 220-1002 or Core 2 covers the installation and configuration of operating systems, security, and software troubleshooting. These two together will surely give you the fundamental knowledge and skills that you need to tackle real-life IT issues.
All You Need to Know About A+ Exams
Now, you know about the exams you need to pass to gain your A+. But then the question appears, what are the things that you should expect with these tests?
The first one is that there is a maximum of 90 items per exam. So sometimes you’ll get less, but expect it to go the distance. Next is that you’ll have 90 minutes to answer all of the items, giving you about a minute per task. Lastly, the types of questions are multiple-choice and performance-based.
For you to achieve a passing mark, you’ll need to get at least 675 out of 900 on 220-1001 test and 700 out of 900 on 220-1002. No one knows how the exams are scored, but it’s safe to say that you’ll need to get most of them right to get a passing grade.
There is also a registration fee for these tests for every attempt. It is $226 per exam, which amounts to $452 to get both and earn your A+ credential. That’s why it is crucial to prepare well so you can pass them on your first try and begin your professional journey.
What’s Next After Earning Your A+ Certification?
Obtaining the CompTIA A+ badge is just the first step in your IT career. Having it is a great accomplishment, and since it’s an entry-level certification, it also opens up a lot of various ways to further grow in like security, networking, and others. Also, A+ allows you to explore advanced courses in these fields and enhance your skills with other CompTIA badges like Security+ and Network+. These two credentials are respected by companies and recruiters, allowing you to skyrocket your IT path.
Wrap Up
If you are passionate about IT and are willing to do the work, earning a certification, particularly the CompTIA A+, is the way to go. A+ is an excellent jump-off point for your career, so you’ll also have the potential to earn a lot more. According to PayScale.com, specialists with this certification acquire a lucrative pay, between $48,000 to $73,000 per year. So, get ready to pass the two required exams, obtain your A+, and climb the IT career ladder with ease.
