SYNOPSIS
CompTIA’s A+ certification is meant for entry-level computer technicians. The A+ certification is a vendor-neutral certification introduced in 1993 and is now held by over 600,000 IT professionals world-wide. It has no prerequisites and is widely used as a starting point for various system administration and network administration certifications. Reported salaries for A+ Certified Technicians vary based on job role, experience and other certifications the technician holds. PayScale.com, drawing from over 29,000 respondents, reports an annual salary between $40,700 and $43,250 (or an hourly rate between $15 and $17) for A+ Certified Technicians holding a job title of Computer Technician. Other surveyors, like Certification Magazine and Redmond Magazine, include responses from A+ techs with additional certifications and greater experience. These numbers tend to be higher and may best be used to illustrate the future potential for someone with their A+. In 2008, Redmond Magazine reported an average salary of $66,353 for technicians with the A+ certification. And the 2009 Certification Magazine Salary Survey reported an average salary of $69,000 for an A+ Certified Technician. Currently, to become an A+ Certified Technician, candidates must pass two exams:
220-701: A+ Essentials
220-702: Practical Application
This is a break with earlier formats of the A+ exam. The 701 exam covers theory while the 702 exam is mostly composed of questions dealing with, as the title suggests, the practical application of installation, troubleshooting and maintenance best practices. The exam objectives are as follows:
220-701: A+ Essentials
Hardware
Troubleshooting, Repair and Maintenance
Operating System and Software
Networking
Security
Operational Procedure
220-702: Practical Application
Hardware
Operating System and Software
Networking
Security
Additionally, candidates possessing an A+ certification based on the 600-series exams may take a single Bridge exam (BR0-003) to update their skillset. The official objectives for the bridge exam are the same as the 220-701 exam. Official exam objectives, in detail, can be downloaded from CompTIA.org. Please note that the 600 series exam will remain relevant and in-use until February 28th, 2010 in North America. Elsewhere, the 600 series will remain in use until August 31st, 2010. Helpful:Compare A+ with other certifications Search:Find Articles for A+
A+ Careers 1. Help Desk Support Analyst 2. Network Administrator 3. Network Engineer 4. PC Specialist 5. Systems Analyst More Careers Simplifying Branch Office Management
Branch IT managers face a very dynamic environment. The number of branches is rising, telecommuting is increasing, and the demand for applications is expanding. You need to take a proactive approach, classify branches, and establish SLAs that tie to each class and can then be met through the deployment of various technologies.
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