CompTIA Certifications Training

CompTIA certifications for IT careers

CompTIA's IT certification program covers all angles of information systems administration and management, and covers the range of generalist to specialist skill levels. A dozen certification exams validate skills in areas ranging from entry-level IT support to project management and professional-level specialist roles. CompTIA-certified IT professionals are likely to find opportunities in any industry in which information systems play an important role, which is to say, all sectors of the economy. Specialist CompTIA certifications, however, do lend themselves to particular industries. The PDI+ and CDIA+ certifications, for example, target careers in printing and document imaging.

A sampling of IT careers accessible with CompTIA certifications include:

• Project manager
• Network administrator
• Systems engineer
• Website administrator
• Security analyst
• Technical trainer
• Server technician
• RFID field technician or solutions architect
• IT compliance specialist

CompTIA certifications are widely recognized in the IT sector, often yielding professional advancement and salary boosts. Certification Magazine's 2009 Salary Survey includes several CompTIA credentials among its list of Top Certifications by Salary. CompTIA A+, Linux+, Network+, Project+, Security+ and Server+ made the ranking with salaries ranging from $69,470 for A+-certified IT technicians to $82,450 for security professionals. According to the 2011 IT Skills and Salary Report published by Global Knowledge, these certifications continue to command salaries at or above $70,000.

CompTIA certification paths

CompTIA certifications span the varied skills of the information technology sector, from general IT support to specialized technology implementation and management:

• A+ certification covers critical computer technician competencies. Intended for IT professionals with 500+ hours of work experience, the A+ exam covers IRQs, computer hardware installation and direct memory access and management.
• Network+ certification tests for proficiency in network hardware installation and maintenance, including knowledge of LAN and WAN protocols and the OSI Reference model. Network+ is a first step toward Cisco and Microsoft networking certifications.
• Security+ certification focuses on skills such as cryptography, access control, disaster recovery and risk management. Most Security+ candidates take the exam after two years of IT security work experience.
• Linux+ certification covers all aspects of Linux operating systems, including system architecture, installation and package management, GNU and Unix commands, Linux file systems and data management.
• Server+ demonstrates knowledge of server hardware and software, including disaster recovery and troubleshooting. Candidates generally have 18 to 24 months' server-related work experience.
• Project+ validates a project management skill set, including project setup, planning, execution and delivery, change management and communication.
• CTT+, Certified Technical Trainer, covers the skills necessary to teach technical courses, including preparation, presentation, communication, facilitation and evaluation, in both classroom and online learning environments.
• CDIA+, Certified Document Imaging Architect, ensures the knowledge critical to careers in document imaging and management. Canon, Ricoh, Konica and Kyocera all endorse CDIA+ certification.
• PDI+, Printing and Document Imaging, covers the skills necessary for careers in document imaging and printing services.
• RFID+, Radio Frequency Identification, validates crucial skills for work in RFID engineers and field technicians, including interrogation zone basics, testing and troubleshooting, standards, site analytics and radio frequency physics.
• CTP+, Convergence Technologies Professional, demonstrates an understanding of convergent technologies, including data and telephony networking.

CompTIA offers a certification for every IT professional, from apprentice technicians to seasoned professionals. These high-profile credentials offer validation for the most relevant and valued skills in the IT sector today.

CompTIA boot camps

IT pros looking for a quick route to CompTIA credentials might find that boot camp training courses can get them there in a hurry. CompTIA authorized training partners provide the CompTIA-approved curriculum and certified instructors.

Boot camps are available for different certifications, and the CompTIA website shows which certification is appropriate for a candidate's skill levels and areas of expertise. Training providers may also provide a skills assessment to make sure students have the correct preparation for the course.

It's important to be aware of prerequisites for a particular CompTIA boot camp. For these in-depth courses, a variety of background knowledge is essential. Those seeking to prepare for the A+ cert should have basic, entry-level IT knowledge, while those aiming at the Network+ accreditation should have more advanced experience in network architecture and administration. IT pros interested in Security+ training will likely find a varied background with administrator experience is required.

Some boot camps offer packages for more than one certification. For example, one seven-day boot camp training package is targeted at both the CompTIA A+ Essentials and Technician exam and the Network+ exam.

With CompTIA boot camps, those seeking certification can gain intensive training designed to prepare them for the exams quickly. The goal is total immersion and distraction-free training, with all the materials provided so candidates can focus on learning.