The Value of CompTIA A+ Certification

How do you define value? Most people define value as getting more than you put in. Value is frequently associated with getting a good bargain on a house or purchasing a car below market value. Return on Investment, or ROI, is sometimes used to quantify value. Sometimes value has a harder attribute to define. For instance, an unpaid internship gives you experience instead of money, which is frequently priceless in and of itself.

The CompTIA A+ certification is a topic. Is it priceless? Is taking the CompTIA A+ exam and studying for it worth your time and money? Find out by reading on.

Is CompTIA A+ Worth It?

Making a decision to get an IT certification is a big one. It’s important to identify what you want to learn and your ultimate career goals. You may ask yourself: How useful is CompTIA A+?

Well, if you’re looking to break into the information technology (IT) industry, it’s worth it – here’s why. You can’t build a house without a foundation. CompTIA A+ is the industry standard entry-level certification that proves you have the foundational knowledge to begin a career in IT. And a career in IT is the way to go in 2022.

Case in point, while other industries were making budget cuts during the pandemic, many high-demand IT pros proved they had the skills needed to make themselves indispensable. And now, according to the 2022 Dice Tech Salary Report, the average tech salary increased by 6.9% from 2021 to 2022 – with average tech salaries breaking the six figure mark for the first time in the 17 years the report has been conducted. Organizations are responding to the need for heightened tech talent.

Those looking for a first job in IT likely have aspirations to move up the ladder and eventually specialize in something they are passionate about like cybersecurity, cloud computing or software development. But everybody has to start somewhere. And the first step to launching that career is landing an entry-level position. That’s where CompTIA A+ becomes valuable.

Is CompTIA A+ Enough to Get a Job?

Even if the value is there, people still ask if CompTIA A+ is enough to get a job? It can be, but it depends on what kind of experience you have as well. Did you know that CompTIA A+ appears in more tech support job listings than any other IT credential? Simply having CompTIA A+ on your resume can place you above non-certification holders in line for an interview. And when you’re trying to win your first IT job, that’s a big deal.

But there are other things to consider. For example, employers are going to want to know how many years of experience you have. Having the intel is one piece of the puzzle, showing that you’re able to act on that knowledge is the other.

There are a few ways to get that all-important hands-on experience. You can offer your technical expertise up to friends and family, you can ask to take on some tech support duties at your current job (even if that’s not your primary responsibility) or you can simply ask the IT department if they need help with anything. The IT community is known for sharing information and collaborating on projects. When the IT professionals at your company learn about your career goals, they’ll be more inclined to teach you when they’re able.

One of the reasons the CompTIA A+ exam is trusted for launching IT careers, is because it validates your foundational knowledge via performance-based questions. This means as you prepare for your exam you are thrown into simulated real-life scenarios that you will encounter on the job. In order to earn CompTIA A+, you have to actually perform tasks during your certification exam versus just answering questions to gauge your knowledge. Employers who look for (or require) CompTIA A+, like Blue Cross Blue Shield, Dell, HP, Intel, Nissan and Ricoh, understand this value.

What Experience is Required to Sit for the CompTIA A+ Exams?

While there aren’t any official prerequisites to sit for the CompTIA A+ exams, we do recommend that candidates have 12 months of hands-on experience in a help desk support technician, desktop support technician, field service technician job role or equivalent knowledge. Having this type of experience under your belt will set you up for exam success.

Is the CompTIA A+ Exam Hard?

This is a subjective question. If you come from virtually zero IT experience, then yes, you may find preparing for the CompTIA A+ exam harder than some. But that’s the great thing about CompTIA exam preparation: You pick your starting point and you pick your learning style.

The CompTIA A+ core series validates that certification-holders are able to troubleshoot across all operating systems including Windows 10, Windows 11, macOS, Chrome OS, Android and Linux OS. Because CompTIA A+-certified technicians often have to configure advanced consumer networks and set up small office environments, IT infrastructure concepts are covered as well, including the basics of IP addressing, network configurations and networking tools.

You’ll be tested on these concepts (and more) via a combination of multiple-choice questions (single and multiple response), drag and drops and performance-based questions.

Is CompTIA A+ Right for Me?

If your goal is to start a new career in the IT industry – CompTIA A+ may be for you. There are many other popular certifications available. The best choice for you is the one that will get you where you want to be.

The following entry-level job roles align with CompTIA A+:

• IT support specialist
• Help desk technician
• Field service technician
• Tier I support specialist
• Desktop support specialist
• Associate network engineer
• Systems support technician
• Junior systems administrator

If your future job is on this list, then yes, CompTIA A+ is right for you.

What About Cisco Certifications?

Cisco certifications like Cisco Certified Technician (CCT) and Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) are considered entry-level or associate-level certifications. CCNA is more closely associated with CompTIA Network+. However, whereas CompTIA certifications are vendor neutral – which means the skills covered can be applied to any vendor’s platform and equipment – Cisco certifications are vendor specific. They teach only the technical skills needed for Cisco solutions.

What About AWS Certifications?

Amazon Web Services (AWS) certifications validate cloud expertise for initiatives using AWS. More closely associating with CompTIA Cloud+, AWS is a vendor-specific certification for those in roles such as cloud practitioner, cloud architect and cloud developer. It bears repeating that all CompTIA certifications are vendor neutral, which means the skills covered can be applied to any vendor’s platform and equipment.

What About Microsoft Certifications?

Microsoft certifications are categorized by fundamentals, job role and additional learning. Fundamental options in the Microsoft world include Azure Fundamentals, Microsoft 365 Fundamentals and Power Platform Fundamentals. Like the other certification options, these are vendor-specific credentials that validate the skills necessary to operate within the specified Microsoft platform.

How Long Will it Take to Prepare for the CompTIA A+ Exam?

Preparing for the CompTIA A+ certification exam requires focus and dedication, but how long it takes depends entirely on where you’re starting from. We recommend you start your CompTIA A+ journey by downloading the exam objectives. This gives you an opportunity to take inventory of your competency on each topic and determine where to focus your energy.

How Long is CompTIA A+ Good for?

CompTIA-certified professionals understand that the technology world evolves at a breakneck pace – and CompTIA certifications evolve with it. Your CompTIA A+ certification is good for three years from the day of your exam. The Continuing Education (CE) program allows you to extend your certification in three-year intervals through activities and training that relate to the content of your certification. Like A+ itself, CompTIA A+ CE also carries globally-recognized ISO/ANSI accreditation status.

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