Introduction:
These vendor neutral certifications are more entry-level than many others. While they are not necessarily easy, they are considerably less difficult than Microsoft or Cisco options. You do not need to recertify CompTIA certifications as they are valid permanently. With the exception of the A+ exams, all other CompTIA certifications consist of 1 exam. The most popular CompTIA certifications are outlined below.
Editor's Notes:
While CompTIA's certifications tend to be easier than many of the other options out there, they are getting harder. People taking the new A+ (2003 objectives) are finding these exams difficult, so do not underestimate them.
Designations:
The table below outlines the various certifications available from CompTIA.
| Certification |
Description |
| A+ |
The A+ certification consists of 2 exams which are the A+ Core Hardware and A+ Operating Systems Technologies. This certification is geared toward hardware technicians and those who work at a helpdesk.
|
| Network+ |
Network+ is ideal for those who wish to pursue a career in network support and administration. It is an excellent step to take before attempting Cisco's CCNA certification.
|
| i-Net+ |
This certification is for those interested in the Internet, web design and E-Commerce technologies. If you pass this exam, you can get your CIW Foundations certification from Trinity Learning (Prosoft Training) for a small fee.
|
| Server+ |
Server+ is for those who implement and maintain computer servers. It focuses on hardware, configuration, maintenance, troubleshooting and disaster recovery.
|
| Security+ |
With the recent security craze, Security+ has become a popular certification. It focuses on communication security, infrastructure security, cryptography, access control, authentication, external attack and operational and organization security.
|
| Linux+ |
Linux+ is for those who install, operate and maintain Linux systems. It is vendor neutral and significantly easier than the distribution vendors' exams.
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Official Resources:
From the link below, you can navigate to the exam objectives and FAQs for each of the exams. Or you can use the exam-specific links in the table above.
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