{"id":1565,"date":"2024-06-14T12:00:15","date_gmt":"2024-06-14T16:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onlc.com\/blog\/?p=1565"},"modified":"2024-06-05T11:20:15","modified_gmt":"2024-06-05T15:20:15","slug":"what-is-a-comptia-a-certification","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onlc.com\/blog\/what-is-a-comptia-a-certification\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is a CompTIA A+ Certification?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201c<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is a CompTIA A+ certification<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">?\u201d is a common question among people who want to pursue a career in information technology (IT). <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The CompTIA A+ certification is an industry standard, entry-level qualification given to professionals who pass exams that validate their knowledge and skills in computing, hardware, and network technology, as well as software, operating systems, and cybersecurity basics. People with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.onlc.com\/comptia-aplus-certification-training-classes.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CompTIA A+ training<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and a certification are better prepared to solve problems and troubleshoot various IT issues, making it a requirement for many employers looking to hire IT professionals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What Is CompTIA A+?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before getting into the certification, it\u2019s important to understand what CompTIA even is. CompTIA is short for the Computing Technology Industry Association, a global leader in the IT industry. This is why the A+ certification has become a vital notch in any IT professionals belt.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CompTIA A+ is the best starting point for anyone yearning for an IT profession. It\u2019s a vendor-neutral certification designed to acknowledge the competency of entry-level IT professionals. As mentioned, it&#8217;s an industry standard and the only recognized credential with performance testing. More than a million CompTIA A+ certificate holders are in the field, as it&#8217;s required for many technicians and those in cybersecurity jobs, so those who are not qualified are behind the curve and at a disadvantage when it comes to the job market.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Who Is the CompTIA A+ For?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CompTIA A+ is suited for professionals with at least nine months to a year of hands-on IT experience in the lab or field (or equivalent training) and who are looking to start a career in the industry. The certification prepares candidates for the following job roles:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IT or technical support specialist or technician<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Helpdesk analyst, specialist, or technician<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Field technician<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tier 1 support specialist<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Desktop support specialist or administrator<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Associate network engineer<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Systems support specialist or technician<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Junior systems administrator<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depending on the role and other factors like location, education level, and previous experience, a CompTIA A+ certified professional could earn between $45,000 to $72,000 more or less as a base salary annually, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">which makes the CompTIA A+ Certification costs well worth the investment.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The CompTIA A+ Exam<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The exam, offered by CompTIA, is a two-part assessment that broadly tests one\u2019s knowledge of various IT basics in categories such as hardware, software, networking, operating systems, and security.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Because the exam covers a number of categories, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.onlc.com\/blog\/how-hard-is-the-a-exam\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the exam can be difficult<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for those who haven\u2019t done their due diligence with studying, but ONLC\u2019s training classes give you the tools you need to tackle the different topics. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are several ways you can<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.onlc.com\/blog\/best-way-to-study-for-comptia-a\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> prepare for the CompTIA A+ exam<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. You can take online, instructor-led courses such as ONLC\u2019s CompTIA A+ Training or take preparatory courses in education centers that offer them (you\u2019ll typically find these in community colleges). You can of course study on your own and learn through online videos or books without an instructor.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whichever method you choose, it\u2019s recommended that you complement your study with at least nine months to a year of hands-on IT experience. It\u2019s also best to have at least 120 hours to prepare for the test. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here\u2019s a list of the domains generally touched on in the CompTIA A+ exam:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Installing and configuring mobile devices<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Types of networks and connections<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Identifying, connecting, and using hardware devices and components<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Comparing cloud concepts and setting up client-side virtualization<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Troubleshooting hardware and network issues<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Installing and configuring operating systems (Windows OS, Mac OS, Linux, mobile OS)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Identifying and protecting against security vulnerabilities in devices and networks<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Resolving software issues with applications on desktop and mobile devices<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Providing security support<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Best practices for IT-related operational procedures<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can take the CompTIA A+ exam either online or at any Pearson VUE test center located around the world.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to Get a CompTIA A+ Certification<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now the question is <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.onlc.com\/blog\/how-to-get-a-comptia-a-certification\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">how to get a CompTIA A+ certification<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. For detailed information on this, visit our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.onlc.com\/blog\/how-to-get-a-comptia-a-certification\/\">How To Get a CompTIA A+ Certification<\/a> article. In short, a series of multiple choice exams must be completed with a passing score, which is where the hands-on experience in the field and hours of studying come into play. <\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Launch Your IT Career with ONLC\u2019s CompTIA A+ Training<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A CompTIA A+ certification can boost your career and open you to many entry-level IT opportunities. However, to obtain this credential, it\u2019s crucial to have a strong foundation of the basics, which you can build with CompTIA A+ certification training classes from ONLC, a CompTIA-authorized partner. ONLC\u2019s exam-focused CompTIA A+ course will teach you everything you need to get certified via convenient learning options (either instructor-led or on-demand live).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The training also includes exam prep, an exam voucher, and an exam pass guarantee to ensure success. So launch your IT career with ONLC\u2019s CompTIA A+ training!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cWhat is a CompTIA A+ certification?\u201d is a common question among people who want to pursue a career in information technology (IT). The CompTIA A+ certification is an industry standard, entry-level qualification given to professionals who pass exams that validate their knowledge and skills in computing, hardware, and network technology, as well as software, operating [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":1971,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[45,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1565","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-a","category-comptia"],"aioseo_notices":[],"modified_by":"blogadmin","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onlc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1565","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onlc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onlc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onlc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onlc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1565"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.onlc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1565\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1910,"href":"https:\/\/www.onlc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1565\/revisions\/1910"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onlc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1971"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onlc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1565"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onlc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1565"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onlc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1565"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}