Is a CompTIA A+ Certification Worth It? Employers Think So.

TL;DR: Is a CompTIA A+ certification worth it? In this guide, we will break down why this is a preferred credential for IT professionals. 

Aspiring IT professionals and active ones pursue certifications for the same reasons any specialist in any field would. Having a recognized organization give you its stamp of approval has long been a way for workers to land new roles, and ascend to higher paid positions. 

In the world of IT, The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is arguably the most recognized and influential certification organization. Its vast certifications offerings focus on network functionality, cloud computing, security, and more.

These specialty area certifications can be great for active IT pros looking to hone in on a niche service but where do newcomers start? 

The Benefits of a CompTIA A+ Certification

The CompTIA certifications page notes, "A+ is the starting point for a career in IT. The performance-based exams certify foundational IT skills across a variety of devices and operating systems." 

CompTIA gives prospective participants these examples of CompTIA A+ certification jobs among others: 

• IT Server Technician 
• Help Desk Technician
• IT Specialist
• Business Analyst 
• MSP Personnel
• Data Support Technician
• IT Support Manager
• Technical Support Specialist

Interesting fact: According to CompTIA, only 29 percent of companies are satisfied with their security posture.

This is why it's important to stay as educated on cybersecurity as you can. It's also a sign that there's a need for trustworthy and certified professionals throughout the workforce. 

What Does a CompTIA A+ Certification Cover?

To get a CompTIA A+ certification, which is known to be recognized and appreciated by major employers around the world, you need to pass two exams: Core 1 and Core 2.

All of its exams to stay compliant with ISO 17024 standards and approved by the U.S. DoD to meet Directive 8140.03M requirements.

Some examples of topics it covers are:

• How to keep multiple operating systems running properly
• Assessing how to fix common IT problems
• Keeping up with evolving core technologies in cloud virtualization
• Understanding remote workers' increased reliance on SaaS applications

How to Train for CompTIA A+ Certification 

If you can see the many benefits of a CompTIA A+ certification and are ready to pursue it, you can sign up to take the exam and find an abundance of training material on the official CompTIA A+ page. 

Whether it's a state bar exam or the SATs, successful exam-takers of all walks have proven over time that using an institution's study materials is helpful, and adding another resource on top of that can only increase your chances of success. 

For example, this CompTIA prep bundle is led by instructors from an organization named IDUNOVA, which has provided training for CompTIA and IT for over 20 years.

Studying With CompTIA vs Another Organization 

The success rate of the e-learning institution shows that there's a consistent flow of aspiring IT professionals who find its well-curated exam prep a worthy complement or alternative to whatever's offered by CompTIA itself. 

To compare, CompTIA's prep materials range from its Basic Package, which includes a voucher for the exam itself and a self-paced study guide for $369. This is the minimum requirement for anyone who wants a CompTIA A+ certification because it includes the cost of the exam itself. 

Beyond that, CompTIA's additional study materials range from a $475 prep bundle to a $3,999 live training course. Of course, these include exam vouchers, which the prep bundle from IDUNOVA does not. 

That being said, this CompTIA Course Super Bundle by IDUNOVA is only $50 (reg. $585) for lifetime access.

The bundle also includes courses on IT fundamentals, A+ exam prep, and courses for those training for certifications with network IT, servers, Linux, and other focuses. 

Signing Up for the CompTIA A+ Certification Exam

When you feel like you're ready to take the CompTIA A+ certification exam, you can head to this page to choose your exam voucher option.

Make sure to read through because some include more than one voucher and retake options. The Live Online Training option, for example, includes two exam vouchers plus retakes, CertMaster labs, practice exams, and live training. 

How to Expand on Your CompTIA A+ Certification

Looking beyond CompTIA A+, even within the CompTIA ecosystem it's clear there are a lot of areas to focus on. The same is true for the world of certifications. 

You never know what opportunities will present themselves to you. If you get a lead on an opportunity with a company that works heavily with Microsoft software, for example, then a Microsoft certification might serve you best. 

Whether taking steps to continuously improve your education in areas like cybersecurity, or with specialized focuses like AWS development, you can find endless ways to expand on a CompTIA A+ certification. 

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