CompTIA A+ Certification: What’s in It

It seems that new IT certifications are popping up every day. It makes it difficult for IT professionals and job seekers to sift through and determine which certifications to earn. A simple place to start is to consider whether a vendor-specific or vendor-neutral certification would best suit your interests and situation. If you are currently in a role that demands knowledge of a specific vendor’s technology, you may want to follow that path. For example, if you are working on Microsoft servers or Cisco® routers, there are certifications specific to those technologies. If you prefer to keep your options open to work on any vendor’s technology, then a vendor-neutral certification may be better suited to your interests.

The most recognized vendor-neutral certification for technical support and IT operational roles is CompTIA A+. It requires competency in nine domains, so employers know that you are a well-rounded professional that can take on a variety of roles. The domains are:
Mobile Devices
Networking
Hardware
Virtualization and Cloud Computing
Hardware and Network Troubleshooting
Operating Systems
Security
Software Troubleshooting
Operational Procedures

It prepares you for roles like desktop support, field technician, service desk analyst, systems engineer, and more. Workers with CompTIA certification are sought by employers like NCR, NTT Data, and Fry’s Electronics. A search on indeed.com and monster.com turned up a total of over 5,000 jobs in the United States where CompTIA A+ certification was either required, preferred, or “a plus” (no pun intended).

More Info: comptia a+ job