Established twenty-eight years ago, the Computing Technology Industry Association (or CompTIA for short) is a non-profit association. They've developed step by step and right now are world leaders in I.T. qualifications that are vendor neutral. This fundamentally means they are free to independently deliver & monitor exams & accreditations which are required by the IT industry, irrespective of a specific company's commercial interests. This really is excellent for trainees, as they can be taught about various platforms and how they 'inter-connect' and integrate with one another - a not unusual scenario now in industry. Every time new syllabuses are created, 'CompTIA' invites several educational & industrial groups to join them and confirm that each aspect has been regarded equally, & the programs are appropriate from a commercial perspective.

New starters in the I.T. market can look to CompTIA for quite a number of their initial study packages. Students thinking about getting into networking & support, or servers, security & systems should most often start with CompTIA, although it's fair to say that CompTIA certifications will boost any Resume targeted towards the IT market. 'CompTIA' are now also offering STRATA accreditations - these are not necessarily for men and women employed in the IT market, but for people whose roles need a basic understanding of computers.

The most famous of all the CompTIA accreditations are without doubt the 'A+' & Network+. An incredibly useful set considered as a package, they are the kick off point for quite a number of successful career-tracks. A+ training programs cover all the fundamentals of Computer maintenance, fault finding & repair; including security, installation and support. To help you to establish yourself in the IT marketplace, the 'A+' also handles various communication and personal skill-sets. The Network+ takes things further, by working on a more in depth understanding of how networks operate & communicate with one another. 'Security' is naturally vital, and wireless technology is dealt with to a certain degree. 'CompTIA' A+ and Network+ will give you a solid footing for a Systems career in I.T., & furthermore a very good basis for various other more senior accreditation programs.

On to the 2009 edition of the Network+ : 'N10-004' is currently the exam reference. As well as keeping its focus on network infrastructure & management, the updated 2009 exam places an increased emphasis on Security, wireless networking abilities and network-design principles.

For the A+ examinations allow yourself around 100 to 150 hrs to study & prepare, & a bit less for the Network+ exams (perhaps up to 75-100 hours). With the correct multi-media training that's supported by accredited exam preparation software, the two certifications could very well be accomplished inside six months for the student who is studying whilst holding down employment.