CompTIA A+ Certification (220-1001) Training

CompTIA A+ 220-1001 has been retired from October 20, 2022. The new, updated series, called the CompTIA A+ 220-1101, has replaced it. So, from October ’22 onwards, the CompTIA A+ 220-1101 is ready for taking up.

Interestingly, this question has multiple answers.

-       CompTIA issues vouchers for every exam you have to take. Each voucher entitles you to take up one exam. When a coupon is all you need, you can sit for the CompTIA A+ 1001 for $246.

-       To retake a test that you may have failed, you have to take a fresh voucher for the same price. 

-       And then, if you want to enroll for exam preparation, CompTIA has different packages. These come in three options:

-       Basic Bundle: $359;

-       Exam Prep Bundle: $462;

-       ELearning Bundle: $720.

If a candidate wants to take up classroom training, CompTIA partners with select academic institutions and training centers for both individuals and groups from organizations. These rates are not fixed and are decided on a case-to-case basis, depending on the location of the study, the duration, the number of trainees, and other factors. This price can vary from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars.

Yet another factor needs to be mentioned regarding the CompTIA fee structure. CompTIA works with county governments and non-charity programs to ensure that special groups are offered training for various CompTIA certifications at very nominal prices. These are the groups that come under this category:

-       Unemployed or under-employed individuals

-       Displaced workers

-       Military veterans

-       Ethnic minorities

-       Women

Yes, you can study for the CompTIA A+ on your own, but be aware of these facts:

-       The CompTIA A+ is a competitive exam, to complete it, you should be focused and dedicated

-       You should access the right resources to make it to this exam

-       You should allocate time for preparation.

If you are confident that you can meet these conditions, you can study for the CompTIA A+ independently.

Well, this is entirely up to the individual taking up the exam, but, considering the level of difficulty of this exam and your expected basic knowledge, we would say 2-3 months should be a realistic timeframe for studying for the CompTIA A+.

A big yes. CompTIA does not give any added weightage to a formal degree from any of its professionals. In fact, you will be surprised that seven out of 10 professionals that take up the CompTIA certifications come without a degree. So, you don’t have to worry about the lack of your degree for taking up your CompTIA A+.

Yes. A certificate like the CompTIA A+ puts you on the road to a strong career in IT by helping you get jobs in areas/roles such as:

-       Service desk

-       Desktop support

-       Technical support

-       Help desk

-       Network technician/engineer

-       System support

-       Data maintenance

Yes, you can. The CompTIA A+ is an entry-level certification, and hence, does not require any job experience.

There is no limit to the number of times you can take up the CompTIA A+.

However, candidates failing multiple times should keep these rules on exam spacing in mind:

-       No space is required between the first and second attempts;

-       If the candidate fails on the second attempt, there should be a gap of fifteen days between the second and third attempts, and the same gap between the subsequent attempts.

This depends entirely on the individual. Some find the prospect of having to memorize small items like voltage and clock speeds, and pin layouts, which, when viewed in the overall context of the syllabi, may seem hard to keep in mind.

That said, there is no part that is really hard in the real sense of the term for anyone who wants to study seriously and make a career in IT.

When going for IT certification, we suggest that you earn it from CompTIA, for these reasons:

-       CompTIA has considered the leading IT certifying association globally;

-       A certification from CompTIA, such as the CompTIA A+, is highly valued in over 120 countries;

-       A CompTIA certification is vendor-neutral, meaning that these can be put to use in just any vendor environment;

-       Courses such as the CompTIA A+ are created by industry experts, which means that your learning is in sync with the industry needs;

-       You join a community of over a million IT professionals who have been certified by CompTIA since its inception in 1982. 

Luckily for CompTIA A+ aspirants, CompTIA itself has listed an elaborate, yet practical plan for exam preparation on its blog. It suggests this set of steps, which can go a long way in helping candidates prepare for the CompTIA A+:

-       Weigh your aspirations with your candidature, i.e., whether you qualify for the exam by meeting the requirements;

-       Download the CompTIA A+ Exam Objectives, which has complete details of the exam;

-       Start the study: decide whether you want to study on your own or want to enroll for training;

-       Refer to the CompTIA CertMaster Learn, an eLearning solution that is designed to help with preparation for the exam;

-       Access the abundant study material that CompTIA itself makes available, from its CompTIA Live Online Training and the CompTIA Career Tech Academy. These contain very interesting and engaging learning that is taught in the classroom environment;

-       Keep engaging in hands-on work on the topic.

So, as can be seen, CompTIA offers a lot of support for those who want to take up the CompTIA A+.

Anywhere between two and three months is a reasonable timeframe for preparing for the CompTIA A+.

The fact is, today’s IT arena does not attach too much importance to academic degrees. It values certifications more, because they are more relevant, more focused on the specific learning needed, and are current with the industry trends.

In fact, as many as 96 out of 100 hiring managers consider appropriate certifications as a criterion for hiring candidates. So, the CompTIA A+ certification is certainly worth it.

That depends on the individual. For someone who wants to make a career in IT, this is a good first step, so, one can consider it a fairly easy certification to attain.

675 on a scale of 900 is the set score for passing the CompTIA A+ 220-1001.

It is easy to understand the difference between CompTIA A 220-1001 and 1002. At a very basic level, the CompTIA A+ 220-1001 certification has the following subjects:

-       Cloud computing and network troubleshooting

-       Networking technologies

-       Mobile devices

-       Virtualization

-       Hardware.

On the other hand, the CompTIA A+ 220-1002 certification offers an understanding of these:

-       Software troubleshooting

-       Expanded security

-       Operational procedures

-       Installing and configuring operating systems

CompTIA A+ is a certification that is aimed at those who want to start a career in IT. It is the gateway to higher positions, in that those having the CompTIA A+ can take up any entry-level position.

Towards ensuring this, the CompTIA A+ familiarizes candidates with basic knowledge of computer systems, networks, and hardware.

No. Usually, the level of difficulty of an exam is determined by the skills the candidate possesses and the qualification she carries. From both of these perspectives, the CompTIA A+ is not difficult to pass.

Again, this too depends on the candidate. However, from most experiences, it is generally true that the CompTIA A+ is not hard, although particular candidates my find certain parts comparatively harder.

Undoubtedly. It is the most popular entry-level IT certification in the world.

The CompTIA A+ is a beginner-level certification with which one can kickstart a career in IT.

The CompTIA A+ is for anyone who is taking the first step toward a career in IT.

No. It can be had by following these very simple steps, all of which can be done online after you have decided on your eligibility criteria and interest in it:

-       Plan your preparation

-       Register for the certification exam on the CompTIA webpage

-       Pass your exam and obtain your certification.

The CompTIA A+ certification is good to help you begin your journey in the IT field. Starting with this certification, you can move into the subsequent levels with the requisite higher certifications on a subject of your choice.

The CompTIA A+ is good to place you on the road to a career in IT. It gives your employer the guarantee and confidence that you are interested in making a career in IT.

The CompTIA A+ is valid for three years from the date you get your certificate.

Let us face it. A candidate could have the aptitude and the interest in IT, but to make a splash in the field, a certification is the only credential that validates the candidate’s strength. Candidates with certification are any day, anywhere, preferred to those without one. So, we would say, yes, the CompTIA A+ certification is necessary as a stepping stone for a career in the vast field of IT the world over.

Yes, it is possible to land a job with just a CompTIA A+. IT support roles are in high demand in almost every job market in the world, in varying positions.

Depending on the job functions and level, a CompTIA A+ certified candidate can expect to earn between $45,000 and $60,000 at the starting level.