Introduction
The CompTIA A+ certification is offered by Chicago’s Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA). CompTIA issued more than 2 million certifications to professionals worldwide. They also provide certification exams for networking, security, cloud, mobility, and open-source development.
CompTIA A+ certified professionals can handle the most demanding technology challenges related to installation, networking, preventive maintenance, security, and troubleshooting. They are equally adept at solving critical endpoint management and technical support issues.
According to the 2022 Dice Tech Salary Report, the average technician salary has increased by 6.9% from 2021 to 2022 – with average tech salaries breaking six figures for the first time in the 17 years the report has been in production. Organizations are responding to the need for increased technical talent, which is why a CompTIA A+ certification is beneficial today.
Whether it’s technical support or IT operations, the certification is the preferred qualification guaranteed to help jump-start your career.
Here are seven more reasons you should get CompTIA A+ certification:
1) Improves your basic security skills:
CompTIA A+ certification offers hands-on experience with cutting-edge computer software and hardware fundamentals. With this certification, you’ll gain in-depth expertise in troubleshooting devices such as desktops, laptops, printers, and mobile phones. CompTIA A+ certified professionals are also competent in PC installation, system upgrades, configuration, preventive maintenance, problem diagnosis, IT infrastructure and networking.
2) Offers rewarding pay
Being an industry-recognized certification, the CompTIA A+ certification can bridge your journey with multinational and established companies such as HP, Nissan, Dell, and Intel.
The pandemic has accentuated the demand for more IT professionals. You can earn, on average, $59,000 per annum. Your salary will depend on your experience and responsibilities; you can earn an even higher salary with additional skills and relevant IT certifications.
3) Makes you eligible for different job roles
CompTIA A+ training prepares you for various basic IT positions. Some examples include the following: Support Specialist, Information Technology Specialist, Network or Service Technician, Desktop Support Analyst, Field Service Technician, Associate Network Engineer, End User Computing Technician, Data Support Technician, Technical Support Technician, Desktop Support Manager computers, and much more.
As a top IT certification, CompTIA A+ acts as a guarantee of competence for employers by confirming your ability to learn and develop in an IT environment. Functioning in such roles fosters the work-life balance essential to a great career.
4) Teaches the basics of supplier agnosticism
CompTIA A+ certification helps you learn vendor-neutral basics. It strengthens your technical knowledge. This is crucial when working in multi-vendor environments.
Solving problems under SLAs can be challenging, especially when manufacturers ask you to solve problems over the phone. While many organizations send their service technicians onsite to fix hardware issues, it’s best to know how to work in different situations. This is where the CompTIA A+ certification comes in handy, of course.
5) Connects with the growing community of CompTIA A+ certified professionals
CompTIA A+ certification holders are part of a community of professionals you can contact for career advice and technical troubleshooting. Access to this community also helps you stay informed about the latest developments.
Joining the CompTIA IT professional association, AITP, nationally and locally is also a great way to meet and interact with other certification holders. Being part of such a large community will enrich your learning process and help you overcome barriers many professionals face, such as gaining access to practical advice.
6) It costs less than a degree
Many people enter a degree program before starting a career in IT. That’s not always necessary. The average cost to enter a two-year Computer Science Associate Program is $20,784. On the other hand, the CompTIA A+ certification costs you $232.
It’s not about whether a CompTIA A+ certification is better than a degree. The degree is useful for candidates pursuing careers in complex mathematical computing or CPU design. However, if you plan to work in technical support or IT operations for an organization, your best bet is to get the CompTIA A+ certification.
7) Accelerate your career with additional CompTIA certifications
Once you’ve passed your CompTIA A+ certification, it’s easy to recover your credentials and keep them updated. You can also opt for advanced certifications like CompTIA Security+, CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Server+, CASP+ (CompTIA Security+ Practitioner), etc., to get higher-paying jobs.
Conclusion:
CompTIA is one of the most recognized names in certification and has created a portfolio of certifications that cover different fields and career stages in technology. If you want to break into the information technology (IT) industry, it’s worth it. CompTIA A+ certification is the industry standard foundational certification that proves you have the fundamental knowledge to start a career in IT.
