by Jason Kendall
Four specialist training areas feature in the complete CompTIA A+ course, but you’re just required to achieve pass marks in 2 for your A+ qualification. We would advise however that only learning about 2 of the four specialities could leave gaps in your knowledge. At least learn about all four - for greater confidence in the world of work.
Passing the A+ exam on its own will allow you to mend and maintain computers and Macs; ones that are most often not part of a network - which is for the most part the home market. Perhaps you see yourself as someone who is a member of a large organisation - fixing and supporting networks, build on A+ with Network+, or follow the Microsoft route - MCP’s, MCSA or MCSE because it’s necessary to have a deeper understanding of how networks work.
One interesting way that training companies make a big mark-up is by adding exam fees upfront to the cost of a course and presenting it as a guarantee for your exams. It looks impressive, until you think it through:
We all know that we’re still paying for it - it’s not so hard to see that it’s already been included in the full cost of the package supplied by the course provider. It’s certainly not free - don’t think these companies are so generous with their money! Should you seriously need to pass first time, evidence suggests you must fund each exam as you take it, prioritise it appropriately and be ready for the task.
Why should you pay a training company at the start of the course for exams? Hold on to your money and pay for the exam when you take the exam, rather than pay marked up fees - and take it closer to home - rather than possibly hours away from your area. A lot of extra profit is secured by many companies who get money upfront for exam fees. A number of students don’t take them for various reasons but no refunds are given. Amazingly, providers exist who actually rely on students not sitting all the exams - as that’s where a lot of their profit comes from. Don’t forget, with most ‘Exam Guarantees’ - the company controls how often and when you can re-take the exam. You will have to demonstrate an excellent pass-rate before they’ll approve a re-take.
Shelling out hundreds or thousands of pounds on ‘Exam Guarantees’ is remiss - when a commitment to studying and the use of authorised exam preparation tools is what will really guarantee success.
Being a part of the cutting-edge of new technology really is electrifying. You personally play your part in defining the world to come. Computing technology and communication via the internet will dramatically change the direction of our lives over the coming years; to a vast degree.
Should lifestyle be high on your goal sheet, then you’ll welcome the news that the income on average for a typical IT worker is significantly better than with most other jobs or industries. Because the IT market sector is still increasing nationally and internationally, one can predict that the search for certified IT professionals will remain buoyant for the significant future.
Many commercial training providers will only offer support to you inside of office hours (typically 9am-6pm) and sometimes a little earlier or later; not many go late into the evening (after 8-9pm) or cover weekends properly. You’ll be waiting ages for an answer with email based support, and phone support is often to a call-centre which will take the information and email an instructor - who’ll call back sometime over the next 1-3 days, at a suitable time to them. This is not a lot of use if you’re stuck with a particular problem and only have certain times available in which to do your studies.
The very best programs opt for an online 24×7 package involving many support centres from around the world. You will be provided with an interface that seamlessly selects the best facility available no matter what time of day it is: Support when you need it. Never make the mistake of compromise where support is concerned. Most trainees who throw in the towel, are in that situation because of support (or the lack of).
If you’re like many of the students we talk to then you’re quite practically minded - a ‘hands-on’ individual. If you’re anything like us, the unfortunate chore of reading reference guides is something you’ll force on yourself if you absolutely have to, but it doesn’t suit your way of doing things. You should use video and multimedia based materials if learning from books is not your thing. Recent studies into the way we learn shows that we remember much more when we receive multi-sensorial input, and we get physically involved with the study process.
Find a course where you’ll receive a library of CD and DVD ROM’s - you’ll start with videos of instructor demonstrations, with the facility to use virtual lab’s to practice your new skills. You really need to look at some example materials from each company you’re contemplating. Be sure that they contain instructor-led video demonstrations with virtual practice-lab’s.
Select physical media such as CD or DVD ROM’s wherever available. Thus avoiding all the issues associated with broadband outages, failure and signal quality issues etc.
A study programme has to build towards a fully recognised major certification at the end - definitely not some ‘in-house’ diploma - fit only for filing away and forgetting. Only nationally recognised accreditation from companies such as Microsoft, Adobe, Cisco and CompTIA will open the doors to employers.
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