What Next After the CompTIA A+ Certification?

The CompTIA A+ certification acts as the first building block of your knowledge. It will teach you practically everything needed to be a technician, however, it is not a specialist qualification, rather it is generalist. After taking the A+ certification, it may be to your advantage to go onto a more specialist course, such as the CompTIA Networking+.

The CompTIA Networking plus extends beyond the generalist area of the a plus certification by focusing on how a technician would manage, maintain, troubleshoot, install and configure a basic network infrastructure. It will validate your knowledge and demonstrate your practical understanding of the concepts, which should be backed up by around 9 months experience in appropriate fields or further academic training, plus the A+ certification. To apply, you will then need to have already taken the a plus certification and have experience in the I.T field, or have taken a degree or equivalent in a relevant course.

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Important Information Concerning Your CompTIA Certification

As a follow-up to our announcement in January, CompTIA is updating its certification policy for CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+ and CompTIA Security+ certifications. Starting Jan. 1, 2011, individuals will need to complete continuing education to maintain certification.

The new policy will only apply to candidates who:

• Certify on or after Jan. 1, 2011
• Certified prior to Jan. 1, 2011 and choose to enroll in the continuing education program

So why did CompTIA change the policy?

Changing the policy brings CompTIA certifications in line with the practices of other major providers of certifications for IT professionals, such as Cisco, Microsoft, Project Management Institute (PMI) and Linux Professionals Institute (LPI).

Additionally, CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+ and CompTIA Security+ are accredited by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), a standard-setting institution which approves the procedures used by personnel certification bodies. ISO requires that CompTIA provides candidates a way to renew the currency of their certification on a regular basis. In CompTIA’s case, that renewal will occur every three years from the date the certification is earned.

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Important Things to Know About CompTIA Network Plus Certification

1. Why should you even consider doing the Network plus certification?

The Network plus certification is a natural continuation from the A+ certification. A+ teaches you about computers (hardware and software), the net+ teaches you about networking. This is another entry certification a lot of people take to broaden their knowledge base before tackling the more advance certifications.

2. CCNA vs Network+ confusion

As both these certifications are about networking, new people in the industry feel confused on which will give them more value for money. The truth is, you can’t compare them. The only thing they have in common is that they deal with networking. The Network+ is an entry certification which broadens your foundation. It is vendor neutral. The CCNA is not. It concentrates on Cisco Routers.

Network+ although an entry cert has a lot of information – and I mean ALOT. By the time you finish studying for it, you will be sick of network terminology. The CCNA is even more difficult. After studying for this one, you will be subnetting in your head – even when you don’t realize it. Know how you hear a song and it sticks in your mind and you can’t get it out? Same thing with subnetting.

If you are new to the industry, go for the network+ first.

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Stepping Into a Career in Network and System Administration

Are you planning to develop a career in Network and system administration? These are certainly quite sought after positions in today’s professional world. However, you should not take the plunge before doing some good research about the field, no matter how lucrative the offers may seem. Positions for network and system administration are highly sought after, and you should expect stiff competition. However, a solid educational background and good knowledge about technological advancements in the field should see you through. Here are some pointers on how you can prepare yourself from an early stage.

Step – 1: Get proper education

First off, get proper education in the field, along with good knowledge in the advancement of related technologies. Getting a four-year college degree will be a great way to start your preparation. It is even better if the degree is in one of the fields among computer science, information systems, or communications science. Augment your skills even further by getting some online certifications in the field you wish to specialize in.

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How To Start A Career In The Computer Field

By Chris Bryant

If you’re considering a career working in Information Technology – a fancy way of saying “working with computers” – congratulations! I can tell you from personal experience that it’s one of the best decisions you’ll ever make. I can also tell you from personal experience that it is never too late to begin!

I started my IT career 10 years ago, and it was a tough decision. I was 34 years old, and really knew next to nothing about computers. I decided to attend a technical school to get my career started, and it was the best decision I’ve ever made. Ten years later, I write ebooks and teach classes dealing with different facets of networking, I’ve earned the most difficult computer certification in the world, and I’ve never been happier. The same thing can happen for you.

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