Updates on CompTIA A+, Network+

and Security+ exams

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Updates on CompTIA A+, Network+ and

Security+ exams

http://www.pass4sureexam.co/SY0-401.html

A+ Certification
For IT Helpdesk and Remote Support Professionals

http://www.pass4sureexam.co/SY0-401.html

CompTIA product stack

http://www.pass4sureexam.co/SY0-401.html
5

Employment of U.S. Workers in Core IT Positions

SOC
code Computer and IT Occupations

Employment

Average
Annual
Salary

2010-2020
Employment 2010-2020
Change
Outlook

15-1150 Computer Support Specialists (A+ relevant here)

607,100

$46,260

110,000

18%

15-1132 Software Developers, Applications

520,800

$87,790

143,800

28%

15-1121 Computer Systems Analysts

544,400

$77,740

120,400

22%

15-1133 Software Developers, Systems Software

392,300

$94,180

127,200

32%

15-1131 Computer Programmers

363,100

$71,380

43,700

12%

15-1142 Network and Computer Systems Administrators

Information Security Analysts, Web Developers, and
15-1179
Computer Network Architects
15-1111 Computer and Information Research Scientists

347,200

$69,160

96,600

28%

302,300

$75,660

65,700

22%

28,200

$100,660

5,300

19%

15-1141 Database Administrators

110,800

$73,490

33,900

31%

--

$73,710

--

22%

70,000

$98,810

6,300

9%

307,900

$115,780

55,800

18%

Computer Occupations, All

17-2061 Computer Hardware Engineers
11-3021 Computer and Information Systems Managers
Total

3,954,100

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment Statistics, March 2012

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IT Hiring

Investments by Firm Size

% expecting to increase investment

Staffing Levels

On the hiring front, medium size IT firms

(100-499 employees) are most likely to
add new staff over the next six months.
With a range of new technologies sought
by customers (e.g. cloud, big data,
business process automation, mobility) IT
firms must be vigilant in maintaining high
levels of expertise through internal
training and/or new hires.

Source: CompTIA IT Industry Business Confidence Index Q3 Release, July 2012

Base: 445 U.S. IT industry executives
8

Case Study

Chuck Cooper, program director for certification at IBM believes:

To be Proficient in Technology. you need to build your
skills and take training
Certifications - are a baseline measurement of skills and
a consistent measure that validates the skills you achieve

Certifications - build confidence on the part of

prospective customers, sellers and business partners
Certifications - listed on a proposal denote people with
whom you can collaborate

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CompTIA A+ Certification

Vendor Neutral
Certification

2 exams
220-801
220-802

A+ Knowledge and Skills

Installation, configuring and troubleshooting of
the following:
PC hardware (including laptops and mobile
devices, and custom configurations

ISO Certified
ANSI Accredited
Kept current via
Continuing Ed
program

Measures
Necessary
Competencies
for todays Entry
Level IT
Professionals

Printers

Networking components
Operating systems including Windows 7
Enterprise
Operational procedures including safety,
environment and customer communications
Security (22% of exam 802)
10

Career Advancement for

IT Professionals
Target Audience
Individuals working in or planning to work in technical support roles such as:

Field
Support
Technician

Desktop
Support
Technician

Bench
Technician

Helpdesk
Technician

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2011 IT Technician
Job Role Survey
Survey respondents chose the following job
roles for which A+ is most often required
PC Technicians (71%)

Field Support Technicians (65%)

Help Desk Technicians (64%)
Customer Service Technicians (48%)
Network Support Technicians (41%)
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Why A+

Over 900,000 A+ Certified IT Professionals

Among Top 10 certifications in the industry (DICE
TechRepublic, New Horizons)
Companies such as Ricoh, Dell and CompuCom Have
Made A+ Certification Mandatory
U.S. DoD 8570.1 Mandates A+ Certification for
Level I Technical Personnel in Information Assurance

CompTIA A+ Certified by ISO and Accredited by the

American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
13

Organizations that Require

or Mandate A+ Professionals
Government Organizations

Corporate Organizations

14

POLLS

http://www.pass4sureexam.co/SY0-401.html
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CompTIA Website:
Companies that use A+

There is a page on the CompTIA website that lists

companies that use CompTIA certifications, with specific
certifications that they use.
http://certification.comptia.org/ExploreCareers/whohires.aspx

16

A+ Exam Details
Certification
Requirement
Exam Numbers
Length
Recommended
Experience

Passing Score

2 exams
220-801
220-802

Maximum of 90 questions for each

exam; 90 minutes to take each exam
12 months hands-on lab or field
experience
220-801: 675
220-802: 700
(Scale of 900)
17

CompTIA A+ Objectives

A+ 220-801

A+ 220-802

PC Hardware

Operating Systems

Networking
Security
Laptops
Mobile Devices
Printers
Operational
Procedures

Troubleshooting

18

Changes from the 700 series A+

1. Windows 7 Enterprise has been added to the covered Windows operating

systems
2. Mobile Devices (802: 3.0) is a new subject matter domain. It includes Apple
iOS and Android. Coverage includes just what a helpdesk technician would
be expected to do: Establish network connectivity for the device, configure
email, set up security, and troubleshoot.
3. Virtualization (802: 1.9) is new
4. All troubleshooting is in one exam (802: 4.0), more extensive, and organized
by specific hardware/software area (e.g. hard drives, display, etc.)
5. Troubleshooting wireless (802: 4.5) is new
6. There is more coverage of troubleshooting security issues (802: 4.7)
7. SOHO-specific security is new (802: 2.5,2.6)
19

Exam objectives and

other information
For exam objectives and other information, go to this Netcomm
page: http://www.netcomlearning.com/packages/8000/A+-and-Network+-Certification-BootCamp-training.html

20

Performance Based Questions

For performance based items, the A+ candidate will

be given a scenario/problem, and will be prompted
to push a button to launch a simulated environment
that is created via software.

PerformanceBased Question
Description

The simulated environment should be familiar to a

PC support professional with the level of hands-on
experience recommended for the A+ exam.
Once the simulation is launched, the candidate will
need to perform whatever tasks s/he believes
appropriate, based on the given scenario and the
tools/information that are provided in the question.

21

Performance based questions in

Network+, Security+

Timeframe and notes

Performance based questions will be added to
Network+ and Security+ on this schedule:
Network+: November 2012
Security+: January 2013
Same objectives
Same number of questions on exam (multiple choice will
be reduced to accommodate performance based)
Hands-on training or experience becomes much more
important
23

New demo video of CompTIA

exam experience
Video demonstrates what a candidate can expect, from the beginning of a
CompTIA exam to the end.

YouTube Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NsbJLkHuuo

Performance based questions section

Begins at roughly the 5 minute mark

CompTIA website (performance based portion only)

http://certification.comptia.org/news/12-1009/What_Is_A_Performance-Based_Question.aspx

24

Why performance based questions?

A better measure of skills, not just memorization

Represents CompTIAs interest in using the latest in testing
technologies to the benefit of the industry
Intended as a better indication of a certified candidates readiness
for the job. In the words of a member of the CompTIA Security+
Certification Advisory Committee from the U.S. Navy:
A certification is not intended to be the introductory training tool for an
inexperienced and untrained individual.....a certification is intended to attest that
the individual has already attained the requisite training and experience and has
proven it with an industry-recognized standard (certification exam).

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