CompTIA A_ Certification All-In-One Exam Guide, Seventh Edition - Michael Meyers [9]
The Path to Other Certifications
Most IT companies—big and small—see CompTIA A+ certification as the entry point to IT. From CompTIA A+, you have a number of certification options, depending on whether you want to focus more on hardware and operating systems or move into network administration (although these aren’t mutually exclusive goals). The following three certifications are worth serious consideration:
CompTIA Network+ certification
Microsoft Certified Professional certifications
Cisco certifications
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NOTE CompTIA A+ is the entry point to IT, though definitely not the only route for learning about computers and having certifications to prove that knowledge. Several certifications cover computer literacy or digital literacy, the phrase that means “what every person needs to know about computers to survive in the 21st century.” The most popular computer literacy certification is Certiport’s IC3 certification that tests on general computer knowledge; office productivity applications, such as Word and PowerPoint; and Internet applications such as Web browsing and e-mail.
CompTIA has a pre–CompTIA A+ exam (not a certification), called the CompTIA Strata IT Technology exam, that’s geared a bit more to a user preparing to become a tech. It’s designed to check basic knowledge levels for people getting into IT.
CompTIA Network+ Certification
If you haven’t already taken the CompTIA Network+ certification exam, make it your next certification. Just as CompTIA A+ certification shows you have solid competency as a PC technician, CompTIA Network+ certification demonstrates your skills as a network technician, including understanding of network hardware, installation, and troubleshooting. CompTIA’s Network+ certification is a natural step for continuing toward your Microsoft or Cisco certifications. Take the CompTIA Network+; it’s your obvious next certification.
Microsoft Certified Professional Certifications
Microsoft operating systems control a huge portion of all installed networks, and those networks need qualified support people to make them run. Microsoft’s series of certifications for networking professionals are a natural next step after the CompTIA certifications. They offer a whole slew of tracks and exams, ranging from simple specializations in Windows Vista to numerous Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) certifications and beyond. You can find more details on Microsoft’s learning Web site at www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/cert-overview.aspx.
Cisco Certification
Let’s face it, Cisco routers pretty much run the Internet and most intranets in the world. A router is a networking device that controls and directs the flow of information over networks, such as e-mail messages, Web browsing, and so on. Cisco provides five levels of certification for folks who want to show their skills at handling Cisco products, such as the Certified Cisco Network Associate (CCNA), plus numerous specialty certifications. See the Cisco certification Web site here for more details: www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/learning_career_certifications_and_learning_paths_home.html.
How Do I Become CompTIA A+ Certified?
You become CompTIA A+ certified, in the simplest sense, by taking and passing two computer-based, multiple-choice exams. No prerequisites are required for taking the CompTIA A+ certification exams (although there’s an assumption of computer literacy, whether or not you have one of the computer literacy certifications). There is