Help with choosing which A+ exam to take.

[Bizkitkid2001]

With the A+ exam changing back in June 2006, there are now 4 different exams instead of 2.

A+ Essentials (220-601)
A+ IT Technician (220-602)
A+ Remote Support Technician (220-603)
A+ Depot Technician (220-604)


Each of them are $158. I would like to know which of the two are closely similar to the older 2003 style exams. I will be using this to help find a job as a computer repair technician. (Geek Squad, Altex, Exidiom, ect...)

I have the 6th edition of CompTIA's A+ exam book, and it talks about the new exams. However, it does not give a good comparision of the old and new style making it difficult to choose which of the 4 I need to take. I would take all 4, but it seems that all 4 are not necessary to take to become A+ Certified.


Thank You,
-Biz

[GroundZero3]

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/A%2B_Certification

Maybe this would help? I thought you would want to do the IT technician. Does the A+ expire? I got it like 6 years ago, and not that i don't need it for what im doing. I'm curious if it is still valid?

[RicheemxX]

http://certification.comptia.org/a/

basically the same info gz gave, to get the certs you take the 601 and either of the other three. In your case the 601 and 602 would be all you'd need. AFAIK the other two are more specialized but you might search them and see.

[Bizkitkid2001]

Ok, so it seems the 603 and 604 exams are just for specialized areas? I may still be interested in taking the Depot Technician one as I would ideally like to work behind the scenes in a more pronounced hardware environment rather than dealing with people.

[usslindstrom]

rather than dealing with people.

Made me smile.

But in all honesty, aren't our highest salaries from when we have interaction with the end users? Just wondering. - With the exception of the true network engineers that run the cabling and stuff in the buildings.

Never even thought about the depot level tech...

But with the A+, yeah - I find it kinda' funny too. When those of us that got the "old" version, with the two tests (OS and Hardware), CompTIA was claiming that it was a "lifetime qualification" and that it'd never expire. BUT about a year or so after I get certified, there it is in the mail: "RECERTIFY with CompTIA."

A never ending war I guess.

I'm not even gonna' look back at a second go-around of the A+ - gotta' keep goin' forward.

Regardless of what version of A+ you test out in, I'm sure all of the fundamentals are the same. I couldn't imagine learning about electricity and stuff in a warehouse is any different than an office complex. (Might have more things like hazardous waste or whatever) - but the concepts are all the same. Interesting they broke it up into different sections, prob. a way to chizzle more money in the pockets of the organization and PearsonVue.

[GroundZero3]

I think when they say re certify it means with the newer technology.

Granted im in the same boat, i don't work on computers anymore so its not important just curious.

[famosbrown]

Yeah...the new A+ 2006 exams are a WHOLE lot easier than the 2003. I took a beta exam before it came out and I have some friends who flew thorugh it recently as well. The A+ Essentials exam is both the hardware and software tests combined, so there aren't many questions compared to the separate tests in the 2003 objectives. Since their are less questions, you might only run into a FEW legacy hardware or OS questions that you have no clue about. The 3 specialization courses are different. YOu have a lot of situational questions which are good. They are not really asking you what IRQ 0 and IRQ1 is designated for, but are asking questions like "A user reports that his wireless mouse doesn't work anymore, what will you do first?" - Check the batteries (best answer).

CompTIA exams never expire and unless your job is willing to pay for recertification, I wouldn't bother. The exams are beginning to grow more into developing the technician job role rather than just having the technician memorize how many pins are on a serial connector or memory I/O addresses...although they still will, but not as much anymore .

[GroundZero3]

Thanks, i wasn't gonna bother with the A+ again or network+ but i leave it on my resume and didn't want it coming back to bite me in the ass.