The Value of CompTia Training

Archive for CompTIA certifications

The Value of CompTia Training

Not all IT certifications are created equal. Anyone who teaches anything can theoretically issue a certificate when their students have successfully attended whichever course had been created. Therefore, the worth of a certificate depends at least partially on the reputation and credentials of the person/organization/entity that has issued it.

CompTIA Certifications Can Bring You Further in Your Career

So, whether you are a freelancer or looking for employment: If you want to get ahead in your chosen career field, it helps to not only study and train in order to achieve the necessary skills but to get officially certified in order to reflect this. You also want the certification to be

  • done by a reputable source
  • with a high recognition value
  • vendor-neutral

These criteria – among other benefits – are all met by:

CompTIA – The Computing Technology Industry Association

CompTIA certifications rank among the information technology industry’s leading trade associations and issues vendor-neutral professional certification on for different levels – from entry- to expert-level. They are well established, having developed their own IT certification series as early as the 1990ies, and they are well-known by those people you want to review your credentials: future employers and clients.

They also know what kind of skill-set they can expect from a CompTIA certified candidate, which provides a sense of security when it comes to identifying the right people for the job.

Information Technologies – CompTIA Education, Training and Certification

When choosing CompTIA or a member of their CompTIA Authorized Partner Program, people interested in computer and IT have various options to develop and enhance their knowledge.

CompTIA certification covers the basics as well as various specialized, advanced options

  • IT Fundamentals
  • A+
  • Network+
  • Security+

The best choice of these options depend on whether the specialized interests/career plans lie more in the areas of IT infrastructure

  • Linux+
  • Server+
  • Cloud+

or cyber security

  • CySA+
  • CASP

There is also a selection of additional certificates in the areas of:

  • Project+
  • Cloud Essentials
  • CTT+

This means, that your set of IT-related skills, as well as your career path, can evolve by following a system of certificates that are built upon one another and provide you with a well-rounded IT education and corresponding advanced career chances.

It is not all about computer networks: With CompTIA alumni, there is also the opportunity for networking and staying connected outside the actual certification process – another important factor for IT specialists on their career path. There is even the possibility of opting for a career within the CompTIA team as such, by becoming one of their so-called “Subject Matter Experts” (SMEs).

CompTIA Certification Expiration

Another benefit of the CompTIA certifications, at least from an employer’s point of view:

While previously issued CompTIA certificates did not expire, they (i.e. those issued since 2011) meanwhile have an expiration time of three years and therefore need to be renewed after three years (or need a certain amount of documented practice/continued education that counts towards the certification renewal).

This ensures, that the individuals with these certificates stay up-to-date with their respective IT skills – something that is of particular importance in the area of computers and information technology – a field which is constantly and rapidly evolving.

 

 

https://techsherpas.com/technology/comptia/

https://certification.comptia.org/

https://www.comptia.org/about-us/our-story/certification

https://certification.comptia.org/certifications/which-certification

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CompTIA

 

Vendor-Neutral Certifications create a solid foundation to build upon – Get CompTIA Certified

It should no longer be a surprise that certifications hold weight, and can be the deciding factor in selecting the best candidate for the job or promotion. IT certifications continue to be key indicators of knowledge and skills sets required by the IT staff of successful organizations. Among the certifying IT entities, is CompTIA who strives to be the voice of thecomptia world’s information technology (IT) industry. CompTIA is the world’s largest provider of technology-neutral and vendor-neutral certifications, and the education and certification programs prepare individuals for a successful career in the IT field. These neutral certifications create a solid foundation for higher-level, and vendor –specific, and multi-vendor environments they will encounter on the job.

There are four different CompTIA IT certification series that test different knowledge standards, from entry-level to expert. Here, we will focus on four specific certifications within the Professional & Specialty series that are quite popular within the job market at this time:

CompTIA A+

This is the perfect certification for those who are looking to start a career in the IT field, and will help land you an entry level IT position. The A+ certification demonstrates your knowledge of the fundamentals of hardware, software and operating systems; system troubleshooting and repair; networking; security and operational procedures including communication skills that a helpdesk or remote support employee should have. Good candidates for this certification are:

  • Network Support Technicians
  • Field Service Technicians
  • PC or Support technicians
  • IT Administrators

CompTIA A+ is supported by top technology companies and organizations. In fact, CompTIA A+ is part of the certification track for corporations such as Microsoft, Hewlett Packard, and Cisco. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security requires CompTIA.

CompTIA Security+

The Security+ certification demonstrates proven knowledge of security concepts, tools, and procedures to proactively guard against IT security risks and quickly react to security breaches. It helps ensure competency in:

  • Network security
  • Compliance and operational security
  • Threats and vulnerabilities
  • Application, data and host security
  • Access control and identity management
  • Cryptography

Good candidates for CompTIA Security+ certification include:

  • Security Architect
  • Security Engineer
  • Security Consultant/Specialist
  • Information Assurance Technician
  • Security Administrator
  • Systems Administrator
  • Network Administrator

CompTIA Security+ is regularly required in organizations such as Hitachi Information Systems, Trendmicro, Lockhead Martin, the U.S. State Department, and U.S. government contractors such as EDS, General Dynamics, and Northrop Grumman.

 CompTIA Cloud Essentials

The CompTIA Cloud Essentials specialty certification demonstrates that an individual knows what cloud computingmeans from a business and technical perspective, as well as, at a high level, what is involved in moving to and governing the cloud .The CompTIA Cloud Essentials certification will target candidates in IT and non-IT job roles who could benefit from cloud education and testing on the high level business and technical concepts that make up the cloud computing landscape. The certification can also credential the ‘cloud brokers’—those who sell cloud services or whose strategic business plans include cloud technologies for their organization.

Target candidates include:

  • Business analysts and business process owners
  • Managed Service Providers
  • New data center staff
  • Sales/marketing staff in cloud product or service environments

“By 2015, public cloud services will make up 46% of net new growth in overall IT spending” – eWeek 2011.

CompTIA Network+

The Network+ certification proves a technicians competency in managing, maintaining, troubleshooting, operating and configuring basic network infrastructure. Certified professionals have proven knowledge of networking features and functions, including wiring standards and how to use testing tools. CompTIA

Network+ certification is the first step toward a job as a network engineer or manager, and maps to vendor-specific certifications such as Cisco’s CCNA. Candidates for CompTIA Network+ certification:

  • Network Administrator
  • Network Support Technician
  • Wireless Network Installer/Specialist
  • Help Desk Technician
  • Network Solutions Architect
  • Network Engineer, Managed Services

Network+ is recognized by Microsoft as part of their MS program. Other corporations, such as Novell, Cisco and HP also recognize CompTIA Network+ as part of their certification tracks. Department of Defense (DoD) approves CompTIA Network+ to fulfill certification requirements for Technical Level 1 positions. The average starting salary of network engineers can be up to $70,000.

CompTIA Linux+

CompTIA Linux+ is a great first certification to develop your educational and career path in Linux administration. Linux platforms are becoming a popular alternative to commercial operating systems. Government agencies, corporations and academic institutions are turning to Linux to manage their IT needs, primarily in server support and storage. CompTIA Linux+ proves you have the knowledge and skills to work at the Linux command line, perform maintenance tasks, assist users, and install and configure workstations.

Certified professionals have a proven knowledge of Linux system architecture; Linux installation and package management; GNU and Unix commands; Linux file systems, and the Filesystems Hierarchy Standard. Candidates for CompTIA Linux+:

  • Junior Network Administrator
  • Systems Administrator
  • IT Helpdesk Support
  • Linux Database Administrator
  • Web Administrator

The U.S. Navy recognizes CompTIA Linux+ as an option to fulfill the DoD Operating System certification requirement.

CompTIA Certifications will prepare you for any IT career path 

 

Any of these vendor-neutral certifications will prepare you for a successful career in IT, regardless of which path, technology, vendor, or organization you chose to work for or specialize in. These certifications provide a solid foundation in which you can build upon, and can serve as a stepping stone to more advanced and vendor-specific certifications such as Microsoft, Cisco, Oracle, and VMware. To begin your path to the IT career of your choice, get the competitive edge businesses are looking for. Get certified today. TechSherpas is a CompTIA Authorized Partner. Follow the links to view the courses, dates available, and register to prepare for the certification exams: