Cross-Platform
CompTIA designed the A+ certification as a benchmark for competence in basic computer repair. It has been very successful. While not everybody repairing computers today has the A+ certification -- some old-timers have never bothered -- it's a requirement for being hired -- or at least retained -- at nearly every major computer service and repair shop. (CompTIA recommends you have at least 6 months experience to take it). It's so basic that you should not take your computer to be serviced or repaired at any shop that does not require A+ certification from its service people.
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Standard disclaimer: Whether or not any certification is "worth it" is an individual decision. You alone must decide what your career goals and needs are. Look at certifications from a cost/benefit or Return On Investment (ROI) basis. If they help you get a better paying job or make more money at your current job, they are obviously "worth it." The problem is, there is no real way of measuring how much you can expect your income to go up as a result of any given certification. It also depends on non-related job search skills such as how well you network. |
Therefore, if you wish to have a job repairing/servicing computers, you must plan on getting your A+ certification as soon as possible. Although being A+ certified is not a requirement for higher level networking certification, passing the A+ certification is a good idea for anyone considering a networking engineer.
Having that basic understanding of computer hardware can only help someone who has to know how to design and use hardware to hook them together. Would you want to drive a car designed by someone who does not know how to tune an engine?
CompTIA stands for The Computer Technology Industry Association, a non-profit organization with the goal of encouraging cooperation within the computer industry. It was formed in 1982. The advantage it had in founding the A+ certification is that certifications to foster a company's own products were not so common years ago. Plus, the most fierce competition is in software and networking, not hardware. Repair of computers is not where the big money is in the IT industry.
There are two tests you must pass:
These tests are newly revised and effective January 31, 2001. Before that date, CompTIA went by standard tests established in 1998. Those are phased out and retired as of March 31, 2001. Those two tests were: the A+ Core Service Technician exam and the DOS/Windows Service Technician exam.
If you are considering repairing computers for fun or money, or changing to a networking career, you want to at least buy a good A+ book and possibly take a class. Also, buy a used computer cheap and learn by taking it apart and practicing everything you read about.