CompTIA A+ Certification: Step-By-Step Guide to Become an Accredited Help Desk Specialist or Technical Support Analyst
CompTIA A+ is a great way to start an IT career and grow further in this sector. It is among the most important credentials you need to earn as an IT professional. The certification shows that you have the relevant expertise and experience in the field. For some people, A+ is the first step of getting into the field of IT because it showcases their potential clients and/or employers that they are well versed in various tasks and skills, such as troubleshooting, security, and networking.
CompTIA A+ is recognized worldwide and is fully supported by the Information Technology industry. Whether you are a veteran or a novice in the field, this is a great badge to have. It gives the recruiters confidence and reason to trust you completely when it comes to software troubleshooting, networking technology, mobile devices, and OS configuring.
Obtain CompTIA A+ Certification in 5 Steps
The major step to earning CompTIA A+ is to pass the prerequisite exams. There are two of them in total, which means that you will have to pay a double price to get this credential. To ease the pain, we take you through the key steps you need to take to obtain your A+. Follow them and you will surely succeed.
Step 1: Prepare for the first CompTIA A+ exam
The first qualifying test for this certification is known as 220-1001 (Core 1). And it all starts with preparing for it. This exam basically covers the fundamentals of computer technology. During your preparation, you should explore all the details regarding this test. Precisely, know the exam objectives and study their subsections. Basically, CompTIA 220-1001 comes with the following topic areas:
- Hardware and Network Troubleshooting – 27%;
- Hardware – 27%;
- Networking – 20%;
- Virtualization and Cloud Computing – 12%;
- Mobile Devices – 14%.
In addition, you should know all the other essential details of this test, such as how many questions you will be expected to answer, passing score, time duration, and so on. Basically, the 220-1001 certification exam contains a maximum of 90 questions that you should complete within 90 minutes. To pass this test, you need to get at least 675 points.
Step 2: Register for the CompTIA 220-1001 exam
When you feel that you have understood everything that the 220-1001 test entails and you studied all its topics in detail, you can go ahead and apply for it. First of all, you need to pay the fee of $226. This price may differ from country to country because it does not include applicable taxes. To register for this exam, you should visit the Pearson VUE platform.
Step 3: Prepare for the second CompTIA A+ exam
The next step is to prepare for the second test, which is 220-1002 (Core 2). As you already know, you should start with going through all the exam subjects and then master all of them. The topics of this test are as follows:
- Operating Systems – 27%;
- Software Troubleshooting – 26%;
- Security – 24%;
- Operational Procedures – 23%.
Besides covering these areas, you also need to dive deeper into other important details. For example, you should know about the format, as well as the number of questions, and so on. So, please note that CompTIA 200-1002 has a maximum of 90 questions. The length of the test is 90 minutes and it can be taken in the English language, just like the first exam. You can also pass it in German, Spanish, Thai, Japanese, and Portuguese.
Step 4: Register for the CompTIA 220-1002 exam
After studying for the 220-1002 certification test and knowing everything about it and its topics, it’s high time to take the challenge and sit for the real exam. Start by paying the fee and then register via Pearson VUE. Try to score at least 700 points. To get this mark, as well as the one for CompTIA 220-1001, you need to learn all the topics with great deliberation.
After passing these two exams and achieving the passing score, you will definitely be awarded CompTIA A+.
Step 5: Ensure you recertify
After taking the above-mentioned exams and earning your credential, you should know that the badge doesn’t last for a lifetime. CompTIA A+ is basically valid for 3 years. You can renew it through its Continuing Education (CE) program. You need to get 20 or more Continuing Education Units (CEUs) within the course of 3 years for the renewal.
Enjoy Benefits of CompTIA A+ Certification
Obtaining the A+ certificate is the right way to build a career in the IT industry. This credential demonstrates that you understand computer software and hardware. Once it helps you get into the field, you will be able to apply the skills you have gained through the certification program to other career opportunities in the related areas.
CompTIA A+ can open the doors of opportunities for you in many ways. Even without any practical experience, this credential can help you secure the entry-level positions. With this popular badge, you can qualify for various job roles. They are as follows:
- Help Desk Specialist;
- Desktop/IT Support Specialist;
- Technical/Desktop Support Analyst;
- Technical Support Specialist;
- Field Technician or Field Service Technician.
Apart from applying for these great positions in the IT field, you can also get the ones in other realms because all the skills you gain are widely used in almost all types of businesses. This means that with the CompTIA A+ certificate, you can find work in manufacturing, education, finance, retail, or any other area of your choice.
Conclusion
You can start building your IT career that promises lots of benefits and better pay by earning the CompTIA A+ credential. Many well-known companies and organizations require that their employers to be the holders of this certification. So, if you really want to be in high demand by many big IT firms, then this certificate will be your own-way ticket to success.
