A+ Certification

**Adamdc** · September 1st, 2006, 11:13 PM

I'm planning on taking the A+ test most likely some time in early 2007. I've been studying with a guide that is based on the current (2003 version) of the test. I just read on some website that they are going to revamp the test in late 2006.

Just wanted to know, is it even worth studying with this 2003 book? Obviously the material that the test is going to cover isn't going to change drastically.

Just wondering if anybody knows anything about the test.

thanks

adam

**RobRich** · September 1st, 2006, 11:15 PM

Thread moved to certification forum.

**MadMan2k** · September 1st, 2006, 11:37 PM

Sure it's worth studying. Then you can just brush up on the new stuff and take the test without having to completely study after the new one is out.

If you already read about the new stuff a lot (I admit I don't anymore), it'll probably be easier, and you might not even need to buy a new study guide.
On the other hand, when I took mine in 2003, the book the class was using wasn't exactly up on the cutting edge stuff at the time, so some of the really old stuff you can probably skim over...

**GroundZero3** · September 2nd, 2006, 07:29 AM

I would just get the new guide when it comes out.

**SeanC** · September 2nd, 2006, 04:31 PM

Is there any way you can take the exams before they change?

**GroundZero3** · September 2nd, 2006, 04:35 PM

Yup if he wants he can cram before they change it and get the A+ under the old exam. The A+ and the network+ dont expire.

**famosbrown** · September 3rd, 2006, 08:02 PM

The new exam is available this month and the old exam will expire at the end of the year.

If you want the 2003 certification, you have until the end of december to get both tests taken.

www.comptia.org/certification/a/new_A%2B.aspx

Will there be a beta exam?
CompTIA will not be releasing a beta exam for this offering.

When is the new offering going to be available?
Updated CompTIA A+ exams are expected to be available in late Q306.

I’ve already begun studying for the current offering. What do I do now?
You are encouraged to continue and complete training and testing toward the currently available CompTIA A+ exams. Candidates have enough time to move through the certification process and should not put off adding the knowledge and skill sets of the valuable CompTIA A+ credential to their experience and resume.

[:In addition the the A+ Essentials exam (no exam code...) you need to pass one of the following:]

Target candidate for the second CompTIA A+ exams:
The CompTIA A+ 220-602 examination is targeted toward individuals who work or intend to work in a mobile or corporate technical environment with a high level of face-to-face client interaction. Job titles in some organizations which are descriptive of the role of this individual may be: Enterprise technician, IT administrator, field service technician, PC technician, etc. Ideally, the CompTIA A+ 220-602 candidate has already passed the CompTIA A+ Essentials examination. Individuals in some non-technical roles such as student, sales personnel or small business office managers may also find the validation of skills associated with the CompTIA A+ credential to be valuable.

The CompTIA A+ 220-603 examination is targeted for individuals who work or intend to work in a remote-based work environment where client interaction, client training, operating system and connectivity issues are emphasized. Job titles in some organizations which are descriptive of the role of this individual may be: Remote support technician, help desk technician, call center technician, specialist, representative, etc. Ideally, the CompTIA A+ 220-603 candidate has already passed the CompTIA A+ Essentials examination.

The CompTIA A+ 220-604 examination is targeted for individuals who work or intend to work in settings with limited customer interaction where hardware related activities are emphasized. Job titles in some organizations which are descriptive of the role of this individual may be: Depot technician, bench technician, etc. Ideally, the CompTIA A+ 220-604 candidate has already passed the CompTIA A+ Essentials examination.

Famos

**yamanx** · September 12th, 2006, 11:39 AM

I'm taking A+ cert. class right now and we are in the 03' version, they say it's basically the same, just a couple of changes that are obvious.

**msterzer** · September 12th, 2006, 04:00 PM

I just took both parts of the test and I can tell you for sure it covers a lot of old stuff. Win 95 to present. Old modems old busses and their related speeds, old memory, dos command line stuff, etc. So keep going with what you have and try to keep up with some of the later stuff. It seemed to me that the test material was 2-3 years behind the times. There were questions about differing connection speeds between the 802.11 thru 802.11G and security. That was about the latest information on the tests I saw. Know all your connectors and their various names and how they pass data and the speeds they pass data and what they are used for. Quite a bit of printer questions, especially laser jets and how they work. Anyway have fun. One question that threw me was can you intall Windows Server 2003 on a computer that doesn't have a NIC installed in it? I guessed yes, but I don't know if thats right or not. None of the material I studied mentioned server OS's. Thought that was a little chicken $hit but thats the way it goes.