A+ ® CERTIFICATION:

WORLDWIDE IT RECOGNITION

ComPTIA’s A+ certification is an internationally recognized validation of technical knowledge required of an entry-level computer service technician. It has been compared to passing other professional certifications in that it serves as credential for the general practice of one’s profession with the opportunity to acquire additional specialization.

Sponsored by CompTIA, the Computing Technology Industry Association, A+ certification is the industry-wide standard for measuring benchmark level, vendor-neutral technical certification skills expected of a technician with six months on-the job experiences. Since 1003, more than 300,000 technicians have chosen A+ certification to launch or enhance their careers.

A committee representative of the entire industry oversees the test, and enormous resources are contributed to assure its accuracy, validity, and reliability. The objective is to provide and maintain a test that serves to elevate the number and validate the competency of the service technician workforce. Additionally, the A+ examination was created to eliminate redundant training and reduce the associated costs of preparing service technicians for entry-level positions.

Although not a substitute for on-the job experience, the training that accompanies certification prepares you for quicker and higher levels of service in generating greater customer satisfaction. The rigorous and thorough work of the committee has resulted in the creation of a special and fast growing pool of certified technicians with the ability to increase productivity.

The skills and knowledge measured by this examination are derived from an industry-wide and worldwide job task analysis of A+ certified professionals. The results of the survey are used in weighting the domains and ensuring that the weighting is representative of the relative importance of that content to the job requirements of a service technician with six months

on-the-job requirements of service technician with six months experience. The intent is to certify a body of knowledge that is identified and accepted as the baseline or foundation of any entry-level PC technician.

TWO-PART A+ EXAMINATION TESTS

BASIC COMPETENCIES, VENDOR-NEUTRAL SKILLS

After an extensive survey of entry-level technology professionals worldwide, the precise content and relative importance to be given to each section of the two-part examination was determined. A group of hands-on subject matter experts then met to refine the exam content areas and specific weightings.

Besides passing a vendor-neutral Core Hardware examination, candidates must also pass a separate “platform specific” test on Operating System Technologies that demonstrates their aptitude with these specific operating systems. The hardware questions cover technology including multimedia, new memory types, new processors and news buses. The operating sections include questions about Windows 9x and Windows 2000 systems.

PART 1 – CORE HARDWARE

For A+ certification, the examinee must pass both this examination and the A+ Operating System Technologies (formerly known as A+DOS/Windows examination. The Core Hardware examination measures essential competencies for an entry-level C hardware service technician with six months of on-the –job experience. The examinee must demonstrate basic knowledge of installing, configuring, upgrading, troubleshooting, and repairing microcomputer systems at the standard defined by this test specification.

Listed below are the domains measured by this examination and the extent to which they are represented:

§ Installation, configuration and upgrading (30%)

§ Diagnosing and troubleshooting (30%)

§ Preventive maintenance (5%)

§ Motherboard, processors and memory (15%)

§ Printers (10%)

§ Basic networking (10%)

PART 2 – OPERATING

SYSTEM TECHNOLOGIES

For A+ certification, the examinee must pass both this examination and the A+ Core Hardware (formerly A+ Core) examination. This examination measures essential operating system competencies for microcomputer hardware service technicians with six months on-the-job experience. The examinee must demonstrate basic knowledge of Command Line Prompt, Windows 9X and Windows 2000 for installing, configuring upgrading, troubleshooting and repairing microcomputer systems.

§ OS fundamentals (30%)

§ Installation, configuration and upgrading (15%)

§ Diagnosing and troubleshooting (40%)

§ Networks (15%)

INDUSTRY LEADERS MANDATE A+ CERTIFICATION

FOR THEIR SERVICE TECHNICIANS

Manufacturers, distributors and resellers alike understand the need to improve the image and raise the standards of end-user support if they are to sustain industry growth. To improve their position in the market place, several industry leaders such as CompUSA, IBM and CompuCom Inc. have made A+ certification a mandatory requirement for all their service technicians. Additionally, more than 100 distributors now require A+ certification as a prerequisite to qualify for their corporate and vendor specific training programs

Here is what industry leaders say about A+:

“We require A+ certification before a technician can take our Warranty Authorization Training Program. When we ‘train up’ from the A= validated level of competence, we eliminate redundancy and save money.”

Dennis O’Leary, IBM, Manager of Global Education Programs

“ A+ certification is an important consideration for managers, technicians and technology instructors. Furthermore, this certification is a condition of employment with major resellers, and a foundation for those who wish to increase their technical knowledge in the IT industry.”

Aaron Woods, Director, Service Alliances, Xerox Office Printing Business

These and other leading companies are cognizant of an ever-growing public awareness that technicians with A+ certification know the procedures and technologies required to service their computers effectively and efficiently. Promoted worldwide to people looking for computer service, this recognized proof of professionalism symbolizes a level of competency valued by the technology community.

CORNERSTONE

PARTNERS

This program was established with support and financial assistance from the following industry leaders:

APPLE COMPUTER

AS RESEARCH

AT&T GOBAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS

COMPAQ COMPUTER CORPORATION

COMPUCOM SYSTEMS, INC.

COMPUSA

DATA TRAIN INSTITUTE

ENTEX INFORMATION SERVICES

EXIDE ELECTRONICS GROUP, INC.

G E INFORMATION

GTSLEARNING

HAYEY MICROCOMPUTER PRODUCTS

HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY

I B M EDUCATION & TRAINING

I B M PC COMPANY, N.A.

INACOM CORPORATION

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE (ITMI)

INGRAM MICRO, INC.

INTEL CORPORATION

LEARNING TREE

LOTUS DEVELOPMENT

MICROAGE INC.

ECHNOLOGY SERVICE SOLUTIONS

MICROSOFT CORPORATION

NEW HORIZONS COMPUTER

LEARNING CENTERS, INC

TECHNOLOGY SERVICE SOLUTIONS

TANDY SERVICES/RADIO SHACK

TOSHIBA AMERICA INFORMATIION SYSTEMS

WAVE TECHNOLOGIE S INC.

WURTS & ASSOCIATES