What is CompTIA used for?

 what is comptia

• with a consultant

About the CompTIA A+ certification 

A+ (A Plus) is an entry-level computer certification for PC computer service technicians. The exam is designed to certify the competency of entry-level PC computer service professionals in installing, maintaining, customizing, and operating personal computers. The A+ certification is sponsored by the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA). CompTIA is a large trade group, founded in 1982 and made up of resellers, distributors, and manufacturers. It sets voluntary guidelines dealing with business ethics and professionalism, and is involved with many issues including product returns, warranty claims, and price protection.

Historically, A+ Certification was a lifetime certificate, but as of 2011, the A+ certificate must be renewed every three years by retaking the A+ test. Otherwise, certificate holders must pay a CEU (Continuing Education Units) fee to maintain certification.

The A+ exam contains situational, traditional, and identification types of questions. All of the questions are multiple choice, and there is only one correct answer for each question. The A+ exam is open to anybody, although it is designed to be taken by those with at least six months of job experience as service technicians.

Currently, A+ is the only major non-vendor-specific hardware certification available for IBM-compatible computer systems. Increasingly, many help desk positions as well as service centers are requiring A+ certification or similar experience as a basis for hiring.

CompTIA also sponsors certification for document imaging (Certified Document Imaging Architech [CDIA]) and a network certification exam (Network+). The CompTIA certifications are in general more basic and less product-specific than other certifications, such as Microsoft's MCSE or a Novell CNE.

CompTIA formerly offered a Macintosh module and certificate in the repair and installation of Apple computer systems. This module has been discontinued for several years, and currently the only hardware certification for Macintosh computer systems is available through Apple. For more, see Apple's Training and Certification page.

For more about A+ Certification, visit CompTIA.

You can take the A+ certification exam, as well as exams for many other certifications, at a number of testing centers around the world. To register for an exam via one of these centers, see the Prometric scheduling page.

Intro to CompTIA Security+ Certification

 a plus certification salary

Intro to CompTIA Security+ Certification

The industry-wide benchmark of cybersecurity certifications, the CompTIA Security+ certification, covers six core fundamental security areas, including:

• Threats, Attacks, and Vulnerabilities
• Technologies and Tools
• Architecture and Design
• Identity and Access Management
• Risk Management
• Cryptography and PKI

Created by the leading computing technology association in the world, CompTIA, and accredited by ANSI in compliance with the ISO 17024 Standard, the Security+ certification is vendor-neutral, allowing candidates to focus on general security aspects rather than company-specific approaches. Because the test is so comprehensive and “flying by the seat of one’s pants” is not advised, individuals seeking Security+ certification are encouraged to review various study guides and video training materials to prepare thoroughly.

What the Security+ Certification Means for Your Career

Taking and passing the Security+ test is no easy feat. As such, achieving Security+ certification elevates your value to current and future employers because it underscores your ability to:

• Explain the security functions of common network devices and technologies across any architecture you encounter, making you highly valuable to virtually any employer.
• Apply and implement secure network administration principles and procedures in nearly all environments you face.
• Implement and configure a wireless network in a safe and secure manner, including Internet-of-Things devices and networks, making you a vital player as the proliferation of devices continues to spread.
• Identify security threats and perform risk mitigation activities in an expeditious fashion, thus limiting the damages.
• Understand applicable policies, laws and regulations of IT security, whether dictated locally or globally, and thus reducing potential fines from compliance authorities.
• Explain the impacts and proper use of environmental controls.
• Understand and apply cryptography and Public Key Infrastructure.
• Explain the concepts of user authentication, authorization, and access control, helping raise the importance of security among fellow employees and making security a part of everyone’s job.
• Exemplify the concepts of data confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
• Identify and analyze common attacks, e.g., social engineering, malware, application & wireless attacks.

How much can you make with an IT certification?

 how much can i make with a comptia a+ certification 

Yeah, you, with the freshly minted computer science degree. Or you, who took a break and are ready to get back on the IT job market. Or you, who just decided on a tech-based career change.

I’m willing to bet you want your resume to stand out. And for the beginners in the group, I’m sure you’d like to have a way to demonstrate relevant industry knowledge to a prospective employer.

But when you’re just starting out, it seems like even entry-level jobs ask for things like, “five years of experience,” or, “must have been to Mars,” or some other seemingly impossible qualification.

Getting an IT certification is one way to prove that you have knowledge in your field, even if you’ve never held a job in tech.

But the requirements for getting an IT certification can sometimes feel like those ridiculous entry-level job descriptions. You go to sign up for an exam or a class when you discover that, to get certified at one level, you need to hold three other certifications already.

And many certifications require a certain number of years of experience in your field before you can sit for an exam.

Below I’ve outlined a handful of valuable entry-level IT certifications that could help jumpstart your career in tech. You’ll find information on:

• Vendor-neutral certifications
• OS-specific certifications
• Computer networking certifications

While there are obviously other areas of certification in IT, these areas are some of the few where you can receive certification with little to no previous formal experience.

Vendor-neutral certifications

Since you are just starting out, you might not be quite sure of the direction you want your IT career to go. You might also be worried about pigeonholing yourself.

While specialization implies expertise in a specific subject, beginners are often expected to be generalists. You don’t want to limit your job options too early on in your career.

Below are some certifications based on a general IT skill set.

average salary in houston by age

 average salary in houston by age

ow are you doing, earnings-wise, compared to other people the same age? Of course, the answer largely depends on where you live and what you do. But knowing the median salary of people the same age can tell you if you’re generally keeping up, pacing ahead or lagging behind your peers. And knowing what older generations earn can give you a sense of what to aim for – and look forward to.

Are you under-earning for your age group? Read on for a closer look at the median salary by age for full-time workers in the U.S. in the second quarter of 2020. (With the higher unemployment rate of lower-income sectors, these numbers are slightly higher than before the pandemic.) We got this data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which tracks Americans’ earnings by several demographic factors, including age. However you compare to other people your age, remember that what you save is more important than what you earn – and how you invest it can be even more significant. For help growing your savings, talk to a financial advisor. 

The Average Salary 16-19

As you may imagine, age group with the lowest salary is the one comprised entirely of teenagers, many of whom typically only work summer jobs. According to BLS data, the median salary of 16- to 19-year-olds is $506 per week, which comes out to $26,312 per year. That’s the median across all races, genders and education levels. (The BLS provides medians rather than averages, since an average can be skewed by very high and very low numbers.)

The Average Salary 20-24

Earnings increase beginning in one’s 20s, an age group that includes some new college graduates. The median salary of 20- to 24-year-olds is $640 per week, which translates to $33,280 per year. Many Americans start out their careers in their 20s and don’t earn as much as they will once they reach their 30s.

The Average Salary 25-34

For Americans ages 25 to 34, the median salary is $918 per week, or $47,736 per year. That’s a big jump from the median salary for 20- to 24-year-olds. As a general rule, earnings tend to rise in your 20s and 30s as you start to climb up the ladder. Also, this set includes many people who received professional degrees from graduate schools, further bringing up salaries.

The Average Salary 35-44

The median salary of 35- to 44-year olds is $1,135 per week, or $59,020 per year. That said, the number conceals considerable variation by gender. For example, male 35- to 44-year-olds earn a median salary of $1,239 per week while women in the same age bracket earn a median $1,011 per week.

How much does CompTIA A+ cost?

 comptia a+ price.

How Long Should You Study for Your Next IT Certification?

Scheduling your exam is the most important step in preparing for any IT certification. Study plans with a solid end goal commit you to a date, which introduces good stress into the process.Yet, timing is the trickiest part of studying for an IT certification, particularly for entry-level exams. You don’t want to spend too much time studying for your IT certification. You also don’t want to hurry the learning process. There’s a lot to consider when planning to take an IT certification.

For instance, if you’ve been a sysadmin for five years, you might take a month to brush up on subnetting for CompTIA Network+ and then pass the exam. That same entry-level exam might consume a brand new IT pro for months.

Similarly, that same sysadmin might spend four months studying for the MCSA, but walk into the CCNA after just eight weeks.To settle this question, we did highly scientific testing to determine how long it typically takes to prepare for the most popular IT certifications. We polled our Facebook and Twitter audiences and asked how long it took them.

Here’s how long some random people on the internet prepared for (and passed) five popular IT certifications.

computer tech salary in usa

 computer tech salary

You’ve no doubt heard that certifications can boost your salary. And to a large extent, that’s true: For example, Foote Partners LLC has conducted annual studies that show certain certifications in security and systems administration can boost their holders’ market value by roughly a third within a period of six months.

for more: computer tech salary

But does that mean every tech pro should spend enormous amounts of time, money, and sweat to earn certifications? According to the Dice Salary Survey, some 47 percent of tech pros have a certification. But another 24 percent said that a certification wasn’t needed for their role, and 29 percent said they didn’t have one for other reasons (for example, a portion said their company refused to pay for one).

Over the years, various pundits have argued against certifications. Some say that software evolves at a rapid pace, quickly rendering technology platforms obsolete. Others question the time and cost relative to the benefits of actually possessing certain kinds of certifications. Still others think the testing around certifications only shows that people can do tests—not that they can respond to the variable, often weird situations that tech pros encounter on a regular basis.

“Recruiters sometimes have trouble determining a developer’s degree of technical experience, and so insist upon certificates or tests to judge abilities,” Dice writer David Bolton wrote in an article about the worthiness of certs. “If you manage to get past them to the job interview, the interviewer (provided they’re also a developer) can usually get a good feel for your actual programming ability and whether you’ll fit well with the group.” In other words, companies can often get a sense of your skills without a certification.

All that being said, there are highly specialized jobs that definitely require a certification; in these cases, employers simply won’t hire tech pros who don’t have one. For example, a company with a tech stack that’s mostly Cisco-based will want network professionals with Cisco certs.

Even if their job doesn’t demand a certification, tech pros certainly want training and education, according to the Salary Survey. Some 71 percent told Dice that they thought education and training benefits were important, even though 40 percent actually received such benefits from their companies (a stunning gap). Tech pros realize that more education and skills can translate into raises and better benefits—whether at their current company, or another one.

In other words, certifications are worth it for specialized tech pros—but not having a certification isn’t an impediment to a successful career in tech for many. If you’re interested in advancing your career, ask your employer if they’re willing to foot the bill for training and classes; you might luck out.

What is an A+ certification?

 it a+ certification

About the CompTIA A+ certification

A+ (A Plus) is an entry-level computer certification for PC computer service technicians. The exam is designed to certify the competency of entry-level PC computer service professionals in installing, maintaining, customizing, and operating personal computers. The A+ certification is sponsored by the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA). CompTIA is a large trade group, founded in 1982 and made up of resellers, distributors, and manufacturers. It sets voluntary guidelines dealing with business ethics and professionalism, and is involved with many issues including product returns, warranty claims, and price protection.

Historically, A+ Certification was a lifetime certificate, but as of 2011, the A+ certificate must be renewed every three years by retaking the A+ test. Otherwise, certificate holders must pay a CEU (Continuing Education Units) fee to maintain certification.

The A+ exam contains situational, traditional, and identification types of questions. All of the questions are multiple choice, and there is only one correct answer for each question. The A+ exam is open to anybody, although it is designed to be taken by those with at least six months of job experience as service technicians.

Currently, A+ is the only major non-vendor-specific hardware certification available for IBM-compatible computer systems. Increasingly, many help desk positions as well as service centers are requiring A+ certification or similar experience as a basis for hiring.

CompTIA also sponsors certification for document imaging (Certified Document Imaging Architech [CDIA]) and a network certification exam (Network+). The CompTIA certifications are in general more basic and less product-specific than other certifications, such as Microsoft's MCSE or a Novell CNE.

CompTIA formerly offered a Macintosh module and certificate in the repair and installation of Apple computer systems. This module has been discontinued for several years, and currently the only hardware certification for Macintosh computer systems is available through Apple. For more, see Apple's Training and Certification page.

For more about A+ Certification, visit CompTIA.