Established 28 years ago, the Computing Technology Industry Association (or 'CompTIA' for short) is a not-for-profit association. They've built through the years to become the number one in vendor-neutral I.T. accreditation. So they can independently develop and control a whole collection of I.T. industry examinations & produce their own certifications which don't apply to just one specific vendor's solutions. As systems regularly 'converge' & inter-connect in industry, this provides the I.T. student with a much more wholesome knowledge and understanding of cross platform 'integration'. Whenever a new syllabus is created, 'CompTIA' invites several academic and industrial groups to come together & confirm that each aspect has been thought about equally, and the training programs are commercially appropriate.

Anyone who is new to IT will benefit from programs and certifications produced by CompTIA. Usually, trainees who are interested in careers within Networking, Security, Servers, Systems, Communications & Support should probably start out with 'CompTIA', although in fact trainees in any sector could find a 'CompTIA' accreditation a helpful component of their Resume. CompTIA are now also promoting STRATA qualifications : they're not especially for men and women working in the IT market, but for those whose jobs require a fundamental knowledge of computing.

Many of these jobs are often starting points for higher-level IT careers, therefore, as with all career tracks, its vital that you first consider what your end-goals are, and which learning-style suits you. The way to optimise your career path fully is always to receive guidance from an I.T. expert before getting started on your training. it is often beneficial to consider personalised career training packages that include the 'A+' & 'Network+' programs. 'Bundling' various program materials into one can be quite financially attractive.

In 2009 each program under-went upgrades, & new examinations are actually in existence for each of them. A+ exams which began using the prefix '600' (that is the 2006-2007 edition) are now being phased-out globally. In the United Kingdom, they cease being offered on 31.08.2010. As 2009 exams (700) are already available at test-centres regionally, these newer learning programs are probably a more valuable choice for anyone who is just starting out. 'A+' '09 is currently presented as 220-701 'CompTIA' A+ Essentials and 220-702 'CompTIA' A+ Practical Application. The four original exams have been stream-lined in to two brand new examinations, and some further updated information has been added. Even though the old 'A+' had four exams within the whole program, only 2 were required for the qualification. Over the last four years, the marketplace has evolved to the stage where all four examinations are actually regarded as necessary - hence the re-formatting into 2 essential exams. CompTIA also have released the 'BR-003' 'up-grade' examination, for students qualified under the 600 exams who want to update to the current 700 exams. Supplemental training will undoubtedly end up being needed, especially for many who just initially worked on 2 of the four electives. Enough study time need to be allowed for the new elements however.

The CompTIA 'A+' exams are primarily designed for anybody planning to start a job in any of these roles: Depot Technician, Call Centre Technician, Help Desk Technician, Field Service Technician, PC Technician, IT Administrator & Remote Support Technician. CompTIA 'Network+' unwraps opportunities for Network Administrators and Technicians, IT Cable Installers and Network Installers.