CompTIA A+ consists of 4 training sections; you’re considered A+ competent when you’ve passed the test for half of them. This is the reason that the majority of training establishments only have two of the courses on their syllabus. In reality you’re advised to have the information on each subject as industry will demand an understanding of the whole A+ program. You don’t have to take all four exams, but we would recommend you study for all four areas.

CompTIA A+ without additional courses will set you up to fix and maintain computers and Macs; ones which are usually not part of a network – this generally applies to home use and small companies.

Perhaps you see yourself as a man or woman who works for a larger company – in network support, you should include CompTIA Network+ to your training package, or alternatively look at doing an MCSA or MCSE with Microsoft because it’s necessary to have a wider knowledge of the way networks work.

The age-old way of teaching, involving piles of reference textbooks, is usually pretty hard going. If all this is ringing some familiar bells, look for learning programmes that are on-screen and interactive.

Memory is vastly improved with an involvement of all our senses – learning experts have been saying this for years now.

Courses are now available on CD and DVD discs, where everything is taught on your PC. Video streaming means you can sit back and watch the teachers showing you precisely how it’s all done, with some practice time to follow – via the interactive virtual lab’s.

You’ll definitely want a study material demo’ from the training company. The materials should incorporate expert-led demonstrations, slideshows and fully interactive skills-lab’s.

You should avoid purely online training. You want physical CD/DVD ROM course materials where possible, as you need to be able to use them whenever it’s convenient for you – ISP quality varies, so you don’t want to be totally reliant on your internet connection always being ‘up’ and available.

Validated exam preparation and simulation materials are vital – and really must be obtained from your course provider.

Sometimes people can get confused by practising exam questions that don’t come from the authorised examining boards. It’s not uncommon that the question formats and phraseology is startlingly different and you should be prepared for this.

Mock exams can be very useful in helping you build your confidence – so when it comes to taking the proper exam, you won’t be worried.

Most people don’t even think to ask about a vitally important element – how their training provider actually breaks down and delivers the courseware, and into how many bits.

Often, you will join a program requiring 1-3 years study and get sent one module each time you pass an exam. It seems to make sense on one level, but consider these issues:

Maybe the order of study offered by the provider doesn’t suit. You may find it a stretch to finalise each and every section within the time limits imposed?

To provide the maximum security and flexibility, it’s normal for most trainees to make sure that every element of their training is posted to them in one go, with nothing held back. It’s then your own choice in which order and at what speed you want to work.

Does job security truly exist anymore? In the UK for instance, with industry changing its mind at alarming speeds, it seems increasingly unlikely.

We’re able though to reveal security at the market sector level, by searching for high demand areas, together with a lack of qualified workers.

The Information Technology (IT) skills deficit in the United Kingdom is standing at approx 26 percent, as noted by the latest e-Skills survey. To put it another way, this highlights that the UK can only find three qualified staff for each four job positions that are available now.

This disturbing truth reveals the requirement for more properly qualified IT professionals throughout the UK.

It’s unlikely if a better time or market circumstances is ever likely to exist for gaining qualification for this hugely expanding and developing sector.

Author: Scott Edwards. Pop to www.learninglolly.com/Comptia_Unsung_Heroes.html or MCSE Training.