CompTIA A+ Certification: A Successful IT Career

4 min readOct 7, 2020

Successful, long-lasting IT careers often depend on strong foundations and a never-ending process of learning. When it comes to establishing a career in IT, CompTIA A+ is widely regarded as one of the more preferred, entry-level credentials for IT operational, and technical support roles. It lets you understand a variety of issues ranging from networking, operating systems to mobile devices, and security.

“CompTIA A+ acts as a foot in the door and an introduction to a never-ending process of IT learning. When you earn your CompTIA A+ certification, you join more than 1 million other IT professionals who have built their IT career on this certification.”

As per PayScale, the average annual salary for a CompTIA A+ certified service technician in the US is $60,000. Some work experience and additional qualifications or certifications can take this amount as high as $100,000.

Let’s find out more about the CompTIA A+ certification, necessary exams, and other details. We’ll explain its business, career benefits, how you can prepare and pass these exams. We’ll also understand how CompTIA A+ Certification Preparation Training course and CompTIA A+ eLearning courses from NetCom Learning; a CompTIA Authorized Platinum Partner, could be highly beneficial for you.

CompTIA A+ Certification

The new CompTIA A+ (or CompTIA A+ 2019 with core series) certification ensures technicians are sufficiently prepared for troubleshooting and problem-solving. It supports your ability to connect users to the data required for effective execution of tasks, irrespective of the devices being used.

Global organizations like Intel, RICOH, NISSAN, HP, Dell employ and use CompTIA A+ certification. Common job roles that use A+ certification: Support Specialists, Field Service Technicians, Desktop Support Analysts, and Help Desk Tier 2 Support professionals.

Validates the following skills:

Identify, use, and connect hardware components and devices.
Explain networks and connections types (TCP/IP, WIFI, and SOHO).
Install, configure laptops and other mobile devices.
Install, support Windows OS (command line and client support).
Troubleshoot device, network issues.
Understand Mac OS, Mobile OS, and Linux.
Troubleshoot mobile device and PC issues (application security support).
Identify, protect against devices and network connections’ security vulnerabilities.
Utilize safety, environmental impact, communication, and professionalism best practices.

Certification exams:

The earlier CompTIA A+ 220–901 and 902 exams have retired on July 31 (English language).

These CompTIA A+ exams have been replaced by new CompTIA A+ 220–1001 (Core 1) and 220–1002 (Core 2).
Both must be completed to earn the certification.
220–1001 covers mobile devices, hardware, networking technology, network troubleshooting, cloud computing, and virtualization.
220–1002 covers installing, configuring operating systems, software troubleshooting, operational procedures, and expanded security.
Each exam has a maximum of 90 multiple-choice, drag and drops and performance-based questions.
Duration: 90 minutes/exam.
Must score 675 (100–900) for the exam: 220–1001 and 700 (100–900) for 220–1002 to pass.
CompTIA recommends 9 to 12 months of hands-on lab or field experience.
Exams are available in English, German, Portuguese, Japanese, Spanish, and Simplified Chinese.
Exam cost: $219/exam in the US, may vary for other countries.

Renewal options:

CompTIA A+ certification retires after 3 years.

Can keep your certification up to date with the help of CompTIA’s Continuing Education (CE) program.
Lets you extend your certification in three-year intervals through training and activities related to the content of the A+ certification.
Can take part in multiple programs, higher certifications, to renew the CompTIA A+ certification.
May complete CertMaster CE or collect at least 20 Continuing Education Units in three years, upload them to your certification account, and your A+ certification will automatically get renewed.

CompTIA A+ Certification: Business & Career Benefits

Business benefits:

CompTIA certified employees lead to increased productivity, improved customer satisfaction, and lower employee turnover.
While performing critical tasks at higher levels, certified professionals show up to 53% better performance as compared to the uncertified ones.
Certified professionals with less than 1 year of experience show 52% more domain knowledge as compared to the uncertified IT support professionals with 3 years of experience. Those with 10 years of experience show 25% more core domain knowledge.

Career benefits:

CompTIA A+ is the most appropriate starting point for a career in IT.
The certification has ISO/ANSI accreditation status; it does not focus on any vendor-specific hardware and software.
Lets you understand the fundamentals of computer software, hardware, and technology vocabulary.
Acts as evidence of your commitment to your career and willingness to stay up to date with the latest IT industry developments.
Provides you the knowledge that matches actual employers’ expectations.
Allows you to access careers opportunities with work-from-any location options.
Enables you to get your first job and opens up options in computer networking and cybersecurity.
Earning the CompTIA A+ certification provides you with a powerful professional credential.

CompTIA A+ Certification Exam Preparation

Go through the CompTIA A+ certification exam objectives.
Try to build your desktop computer or one for a friend to familiarize yourself with hardware and components.
Set up a CompTIA A+ test lab, fix a computer and run it through the operating system.
Choose a suitable A+ certification study guide and a training course.
Explore YouTube channels, Professor Meyers videos, and take practice tests.

Alternatively, you can explore the CompTIA A+ Certification Preparation Training course and CompTIA A+ eLearning courses from NetCom Learning; a CompTIA Authorized Platinum Partner.

Sources: An IDC study, PayScale, and CompTIA.