CompTIA A Plus Networking Training Examined

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.

Those that are drawn to this type of work are often very practical, and don’t always take well to classrooms, and endless reading of dry academic textbooks. If this is putting you off studying, try the newer style of interactive study, where learning is video-based.

Years of research and study has always verified that connecting physically with our study, is proven to produce longer-lasting and deeper memory retention.

The latest audio-visual interactive programs involving demonstration and virtual lab’s will beat books every time. And they’re far more fun.

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.

Don’t accept anything less than the current Microsoft (or relevant organisation’s) accredited exam simulation and preparation packages.

Sometimes people can get confused by practising exam questions that don’t come from the authorised examining boards. It’s not uncommon that the question formats and phraseology is startlingly different and you should be prepared for this.

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?

The ideal circumstances are to get all your study materials delivered to you right at the start; the complete package! This way, nothing can happen down the line which could affect your ability to finish.

We’d all like to believe that our jobs will remain safe and our future is protected, but the growing likelihood for most jobs in the United Kingdom currently appears to be that security may be a thing of the past.

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.

Offering the IT market for example, the 2006 e-Skills analysis highlighted a skills shortage throughout Great Britain of around 26 percent. Showing that for each four job positions in existence throughout IT, we’ve only got three properly trained pro’s to fulfil that role.

This disturbing truth reveals the requirement for more properly qualified IT professionals throughout the UK.

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) S. Edwards 2009. Visit Comptia Certification or mcse-training-uk.co.uk.