When scouting for a job in the field of IT, the fact that you have no certification might play against you. If you are not certified, it can be seen as though you lack something because many people have various certifications listed in their CVs nowadays. A critical point you have to keep in mind is that it doesn’t matter how many certifications you have, the only thing that matters is the quality and standards they represent. Below we will discuss IT certifications offered by one of the most reputable vendors in the industry – CompTIA.

About CompTIA certifications

CompTIA is a non-profit organization that offers vendor-neutral credentials to individuals who are interested in improving their IT skills. Certifications created by CompTIA act as an accepted skill validation standard and are accepted in various areas of the IT field.

Some of the most sought-after CompTIA certifications are:

  • CompTIA Security+
  • CompTIA A+
  • CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+)
  • CompTIA Network+
  • CompTIA Server+

Why are CompTIA credentials so popular?

Why does anything become popular? It is because someone has studied it, tested it, and found it worthy of appreciation. Likewise, CompTIA certifications have become popular worldwide and accepted by many renowned organizations because they meet high standards.

CompTIA is always on the lookout for new solutions. In order to keep up with modern standards, the company constantly upgrades their certifications. This is a major reason why CompTIA is approved by many organizations and employees alike.

Below we will take the CompTIA A+ credential as an example and see how you can benefit from getting certified.

Benefits of becoming CompTIA A+ certified

A person with the CompTIA A+ certification receives several benefits:

 

  • Advanced skills

 

You may learn new skills or refresh your existing skills to receive an edge over your uncertified colleagues.

 

  • Validation

 

Certification gives a validation that you actually possess the knowledge you claim to have. You will receive a unique digital badge that can be shared via social media, email, CV, online portfolio, website, and more.

  • Highersalaries

Certified individuals are guaranteed higher pay. For example, service technicians with basic CompTIA A+ credential can earn up to $123,000 according to PayScale.

 

  • More job opportunities

 

Having certification gives you access to more job titles than you might have had if you weren’t certified.

How to become CompTIA A+ certified?

There are four simple steps you have to go through in order to obtain your CompTIA A+ credential. They are:

  1. Find out which certification complements your aspirations the most

CompTIA offers several types of certifications; some specializing in cybersecurity, some in networks, some in IT fundamentals, etc. So, you have to obtain the certification that will best aid your venture.

  1. Learn the necessary skills by going through training courses

CompTIA themselves and several other organizations offer training courses for the whole range of CompTIA certifications. By going through them, you will gain or polish your skills in a particular IT field and learn the content that you will be tested on in your exam.

  1. Practice and perfect your knowledge by using the resources available

Just going through a training course might not be enough. You will also have to familiarize yourself with the exam structure so that you can be better prepared and not be too surprised at the actual exam. To do so, use practice tests that can be found at reliable online platforms.

  1. Register and sit for the required exam

You can buy an exam voucher for A+ certification on the CompTIA official site. Then, you will have to face the exam to earn your credential.

Below are some resources to help you pass your certification exams:

Books

Books are abundantly available for purchase and for free download. Among these many books, there are ones written by experts like Professor Messer. Professor Messer’s publications are highly recommended when it comes to the CompTIA exam preparation. His books and video tutorials will help you pass CompTIA exams without a hitch. Also, you can refer to the CompTIA A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide by Mike Meyers to prepare for your 220-901 and 220-902 exams.

Online forums

Online forums are a great place to socialize with people who share your interests. By joining a forum dedicated to CompTIA exams, you will surely be able to get in touch with people who have had experience facing CompTIA tests. You can learn the tips and tricks that helped them pass and also find out reasons why they failed. This way, you will be able to avoid making those mistakes. Through forums, you can also get a firsthand opinion about resources available online and know if they are actually useful and reliable.

ExamSnap

ExamSnap is a site packed with materials to help you pass any popular IT certification test. It has the following resources:

 

  • Training courses

 

The platform offers reliable training courses for CompTIA exams which are created by professionals in the field. The content offered by ExamSnap training courses covers everything you will need to score great marks.

 

  • Practice tests

 

Practice tests are a must when it comes to any exam. ExamSnap offers a whole bunch of paid and free practice tests packed with real exam questions.

 

  • VCE Exam Simulator

 

The VCE exam simulator creates a virtual environment that makes you feel like you are sitting the actual exam. It allows you to create, edit, and take the exam on your own accord. This helps you become familiar with the environment and structure of the exam. And with a premium subscription, you can gain access to all the VCE files available.

Conclusion

Gaining recognition in the field of IT can be tough because of the increasing competition. You can pick a person out of a million people and there’s a high chance that you’d pick someone related to IT. In order to grab the attention of a potential employer, it is necessary to have something that tempts them. You need to set up your game; you need to get certified. It can be a simple task if you go about it the right way. With all the resources available at hand nowadays, you can easily overcome the barriers in your path to a good certification. CompTIA credential is the right way to gain validation and recognition in IT.

Author

Founder of Paisley.org.uk in 1998 and constantly strives to change peoples attitudes to the town, Brian is a self described Paisley Digital Champion who promotes Paisley via any means necessary. You can also follow me on X