- Topics Mentioned
- Certification(s):
- CompTIA A+
A couple of days ago I was asked by a friend who is trying to get his first job in IT, “Is A+ certification really worth it?”
I responded with a resounding, “Yes!” When it comes to entry level certifications, CompTIA’s A+ certification is definitely worth your time and money. A+ certification has been one of the most popular and well respected certs available for over 8 years now.
As a vender neutral certification, its focus is on truly understanding the inner workings of a computer and an operating system. With last year’s revamping of the certification, it now further emphasizes the professionalism and communication skills required to succeed in today’s workplace. As for worth, the CompTIA A+ brings value in a number of ways.
A+ Certification Tells the World You Know Computers!
The first is the value of knowledge and thought that the CompTIA instills in its certified members. Having an understanding of what is going on and how it is happening in a computer is vital when things aren’t working. This knowledge is vital when it comes to troubleshooting the issue.
A+ Certification Helps You Get Your Foot in the Door
The second value begs the question, “Will A+ certification help me get a job?” After recently looking over a couple of the major online classified websites, I noticed over 60% of the entry level posting I reviewed had the CompTIA A+ certification as either a required or recommended skill.
Want a Bigger Paycheck … Get A+ Certified!
The third A+ value to consider is the monetary value of the certification. According to Certification Magazine’s 2006 IT Salary Survey the average salary for a CompTIA A+ certified employee was $57,340.
Now that number is higher than what you should expect for a first job after getting you’re A+ certification, but it is a great measure to the value of the certification over the long term and what kind of opportunities it can lead to.
Additional monetary value can be given to the certification if you are already employed. Many companies will pay for the training and certification exam fees and offer raises or incentives to reaching a given certification.
A+ Certification Gives You Industry Standard Foundational Skills
CompTIA’s certifications have value because CompTIA is a respected organization that receives world-wide industry respect. And its certifications maintain that respect in the job market. By getting your A+ cert you are proving to prospective employers that you have a solid working foundation of computer knowledge and anything you need to learn on the job can be based off these fundamentals.
While the CompTIA A+ certification alone won’t land you your dream job, it is a very useful and marketable tool that any computer technician should have under their belt.
If you are looking for CompTIA A+ training check out Train Signal’s CompTIA A+ Training Videos.
I’ve Been a CompTia A+ Certified Technician for Several Years Now and I Would be the First to Say That This Certification Does Not Hold Any Weight in the Industry Like it Use to, Believe it or Not the A+ is a Good Starting Point Fundamentally Speaking, I personally Respect it, because I Have it, but in 2009-10, I Do Not Recommend Chasing This Cert to Break Into the Industry. Microsoft MCDST (XP) and MCITP: Enterprise Support Technician (Vista) is a Better Bet. Don’t Believe The CompTia Hype, Their Achilles Heel is the Fact That They are Vendor Neutral, Most Companies Won’t Know During the Interview Process How You and the A+ Fit in Without Any Additional IT Vendor Knowledge, i.e Microsoft, Linux, CCNA, VMware, etc. Good Luck.