It's very common to start out as a customer service representative, sales associates, PC maintenance technicians, or sales cashier before moving on to being a computer technician, according to PayScale.com. If you are reading this because you started out in one of these positions and were drawn to computer technology either because of your interest in computers, or in helping people out by troubleshooting their problems with software or hardware, or a combination of both, you may find yourself at a crossroad. A crossroad that requires you to be certified in order to climb up the ladder at work, or find a better paying job.

The CompTIA A+ Certification course is a fundamental certification course that can help you get there. The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is an industry-neutral organization that certifies qualified candidates in many technical fields. It's A+ certification program is accredited by recognized standardization bodies like the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). In the CompTIA Professional Series, CompTIA A+ certification is the first step in a series of certificate programs offered that share knowledge and technical information with you in order to succeed in an IT career. You can find out more about CompTIA training directly from their website at certification.comptia.org/getCertified/certifications/a.aspx.

The course helps reinforce rudimentary knowledge in computer technology and sharpens the skills you'll require for a career in IT support. Before doing the course, you will require some prior knowledge and hands-on experience with personal computer software and hardware. You will acquire the skills and information you'll need to be able "...To install, upgrade, repair, configure, troubleshoot, optimize, and perform preventative maintenance of basic personal computer hardware and operating systems. The international, vendor-neutral certification proves competence in areas such as installation, preventative maintenance, networking, security and troubleshooting (from CompTIA.org)." The certification can be got by passing 2 exams-- CompTIA A+ Essentials and CompTIA A+ Practical Application. It measures and tests your abilities to troubleshoot problems that affect PCs, Operating Systems (Windows), network connectivity issues and implement security practices.

You can study at an online vocational school which offers preparation for CompTIA A+ certification in its computer technician school. Some great benefits that comes with studying online include:

• Self-paced programs, which means that you can train in 3 months, or stretch it to 6 months if you require more time.


• A midterm and final exam that mocks the CompTIA A+ Essentials and Practical Applications exams respectively.


• Vouchers for the CompTIA exams that are included in your tuition


• Cost can be as little as $1795 for the entire program.

If you're looking for a bump up in your professional career as an IT industry entrant, or want to sharpen your troubleshooting skills for the job, you should consider formal training primarily because it gives you the structure needed in order to prepare for A+ exams, is an affordable and flexible option that will allow access to coursework for 6 months after training is officially over, train using comprehensive curriculum tools devised by industry professionals, and also connect (via live chat methods) with other students and graduates for questions and help with coursework. If you're looking to beef up your resume as a computer technician, this is it. Think about CompTIA A+ certification because it's nationally recognized and will give you a clear advantage over everyone else in line, and help you solidify your understanding of computer fundamentals which is essential for career growth.