A+ Certification for entry-level PC Support

Updated: 02/18-2021

Among the IT certifications that are available for computer professionals, A+ is the one that comes up more often than any of the others as an entry-level certification in Information Technology (IT). Over one million people have received A+ certification. No other IT certification comes anywhere close to that number. This is of course related to the fact that it is entry-level as there are more people there than in the rarefied atmosphere of the high-level experts. Nonetheless, if this was not a certification considered highly relevant, it would never have reached this far.

A+ is sponsored by CompTIA, the Computing Technology Industry Association”. As stated above, A+ certifies skills for entry-level PC Support. It is a vendor-neutral certification, meaning that it does not make you an expert on any given product but certifies that you have the skills to be a productive PC support technician. Many companies and government agencies recognize and/or require A+ Certification for their PC support technicians.

One of the biggest misconceptions that have developed about A+ certification is that because it is entry-level, it is easy. Another one is that as long as you know how to assemble and configure computers you are ready for the exam. Very little could be further from the truth. Anyone who takes the most cursory of looks at the A+ Certification exam objectives will rapidly understand that any underestimation of the required knowledge is a guarantee of failure.

Is A+ certification a good starting point for an IT career?

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The answer is an absolute “maybe”. The IT world is one of a wide variety of job tasks and required skills. However, if you know you want to start in tech support then, yes A+ will facilitate you finding a job in tech support or servicing computers.

Am I required to take a class in order to sit for the A+ exam?

No. There is no formal prerequisite to sit for the exam. All you have to do is pay the test voucher and the A+ exam will be available to you at any Pearson VUE testing center. To become A+ certified you actually have to sit for two tests — one focusing on PC hardware issues, the other on software mostly operating systems. So what do you need to succeed? Over the years the “conceptual” prerequisite for A+ has grown quite a bit. Initially, with no prerequisite at all, it became six months and now 12 months of “equivalent knowledge of hands-on experience”. Now, this is not a formal requirement, and here is the kicker, the hands-on experience can be acquired either in the lab or on the field. The lab can be your desk where you assemble and disassemble computer parts or even a series of virtual online labs. CompTIA further states that: “Successful candidates will have the knowledge required to assemble components based on customer requirements, install, configure and maintain devices, PCs, and software for end-users, understand the basics of networking and security/forensics, properly and safely diagnose, resolve and document common hardware and software issues while applying troubleshooting skills. Successful candidates will also provide appropriate customer support; understand the basics of virtualization, desktop imaging, and deployment.” Basically, this reinforces the message that you have to be up to snuff on the exam objectives and there are over 40 pages of those for the two exams.

With A+ certification in hand, what jobs can I apply for?

The jobs targeted by A+ are relatively entry level support and maintenance functions on PCs such as:

Installation

Repair

Configuration

These jobs can be either as a roaming-, bench- or help desk technician.

You could consider A+ a “gateway certification”. After A+ you could be looking to Network+, then Security+ or MCSE or CCNA. By the time you get into the higher certifications and secure the experience and jobs that go with you are well on your way to six-figure pays. The IT world has almost an infinity of career paths in so although the A+ path starts in support nothing says that’s where you’ll have to end up.

Although you can go up for the A+ exam cold if you feel you have the experience or knowledge, CertBlaster A+ practice test can be a really good tool for you to 1) figure where you stand (self-assessment, and 2) just plain old practice as we all know that “makes perfect”.