Is the A+ Certification even worth it?
Many IT newcomers want to know about the Comptia A+ certification, and have many questions about it.
Is the A+ certification even worth it? Should you even bother studying for the Comptia A+? Should you just go for a more specialized certification like Cisco or Microsoft? Will an A+ Certification get me a job in IT? Do A+ holders get paid well?
And these are all valid questions. The short answer is YES, in most cases it is always a good idea to obtain your A+ certification if you can.
In this article I am going to go into greater detail in explaining WHY you should obtain your A+ certification, as well as the few instances when you may want to skip it.
But before I go into deeper detail, you should understand what exactly the Comptia A+ Certification is.
What is the Comptia A+ certification
The Comptia A+ Certification is the ideal and sought-after credential for those looking to break into the IT industry and prove they have the skills needed troubleshoot, maintain and configure IT systems.
The A+ is a vendor neutral certification, meaning it’s not a certification made by one of the big Tech companies like Cisco or Microsoft that only test on vendor specific information. Instead, the A+ focuses on the technology as a whole.
The exam covers a wide variety of IT topics over two exams such as PC hardware, mobile devices, networking, and operating systems. It even covers virtualization, cloud computing and troubleshooting.
There are no prerequisites to the exam, anyone can take it but there is a small cost to sit for each of the two exams ($219 per exam for a total cost of $438). Both parts of the exam cover different material and you will need to pass both exams in order to receive your certification and become a Comptia A+ Certified Technician.
In layman’s terms… the Comptia A+ certification is perfect for IT newcomers because it proves their competency in ALL things IT, especially hardware, making A+ certification holders great candidates for Help Desk, IT Technician, and support roles.
The common misconception
Many people think that if you are already working a Help Desk or similar role, that obtaining the A+ certification is useless because you already have the job, therefore you should pursue a higher level certification like CCNA or MSCE.
While I do understand the thought process behind this theory, I couldn’t disagree more…
This theory assumes that the entire reason for obtaining certifications is so that you have the credentials needed to get a new job, or get promoted. And yes, certifications can definitely help you get a job; in fact, the A+ certification is the ONLY certification that by itself is enough accolades to get you hired in an IT role such as Help Desk.
Why?
Because while Help Desk technicians are important, they are of less impact to the business if the technician does not perform well, making the barrier of entry to this IT position lower.
Passing the A+ certification proves you have the fundamental knowledge of a WIDE range of IT concepts, it proves you understand troubleshooting methodologies, it proves you can be trusted with a screwdriver and hardware, and above all it proves you have enough of an interest in IT to study for and pass an IT exam… ALL of which are qualities, skills and REQUIREMENTS of a successful Help Desk technician.
BUT… while this strategy can work for A+ and Help Desk; for higher level certifications, this strategy will not work because this is not where the value is in those certs lie.
Network and Systems Administrators generally hold higher level certifications such as CCNA or MSCE. But what they also have is Network and Systems experience to back up those credentials.
A Help Desk Technician with a CCNA, applying for a Network Admin role isn’t fooling anyone…
Sure, they would have solid theoretical Cisco Networking knowledge, but they do not have the experience of being responsible for a company’s network, which is what employers are looking for in those roles.
When it comes to being promoted to higher level IT positions, experience trumps EVERYTHING.
So should you get you’re A+ if you are already working in IT?
YES!
While the A+ can be a great asset for getting you that first IT job, even if you already have your first IT job it can still provide a ton of value.
Help Desk at one company can be ENTIRELY different at another company.
The level of IT exposure you have is limited to ONLY the technologies and job duties of the company you are working for.
The knowledge you will gain from obtaining your A+ certification proves you have the ability to at least hit the ground running with nearly ANY technology that could be thrown at you in a Help Desk role for ANY company.
Why is this important?
I firmly believe that in order to be a great Network Admin, Systems Admin or any other higher level IT role, that you NEED to be versed in the fundamentals of IT.
How effective can you really be at administering a network comprised of desktops, laptops, mobile devices, printers, Windows devices, and Mac devices if you don’t know how these devices work?
I’ve seen Network Engineers come to a screeching halt when they get hit with UAC on a Windows computer, or don’t know how to UNC to a shared directory. What if their computer is running low on memory… Do they know how to increase the paging file? Do they even know what a page file is? What about if a printer is not working correctly and they think it is network related… Does the network admin know enough about troubleshooting printers to be able to determine if the issue actually IS network related?
The best Network and Systems Admins understand the bigger picture of how it ALL works because they are well versed in the fundamentals of IT…
Without these fundamentals, you will always be a couple steps behind those who do have them, hindering your progress as a Network or Sysadmin.
Other reasons you may want to obtain your A+ Certification
Whether you are new to IT or trying to break into the IT world, the Comptia A+ Certification is great starting point.
The Value
The A+ is considered to be “The I.T. Certification”. Not because it’s the most advanced certification out there, but because of the immediate AND potential value it provides to those who hold this certification.
There isn’t a path in IT that you could take where the A+ Cert won’t provide value or a set of skills to build upon. And frankly I don’t know if there is another IT cert out there that can say the same.
Whether it’s Development to Network Engineering, and everything in between, the A+ certification proves the cert holder has the foundational IT knowledge to succeed. And not only does the Cert provide value for ANY IT path you choose, it also affords you the credentials needed to work in an IT technician or support role IMMEDIATELY after obtaining it.
The Cost
The Comptia A+ Certificaiton costs less than a college degree.
A lot less in fact, we are talking a difference of $438 compared to $60,000 dollars, all the for credentials necessary to get an IT job…
In addition to costing less, the A+ takes less time to obtain than a college degree. If you put in the time to study every day, it’s feasible to take and pass both A+ exams within a few months, where a college degree can take anywhere from two to four years.
And last but not least, the A+ exam affords you practical on-job technical knowledge that most college degrees simply cannot… You cannot sleep your way through the A+ Exam and expect to pass like you can for some colleges. To be A+ certified you HAVE to learn something.
Being able to put a college degree on a resume looks great, and will often get you in the door for an interview… But I would argue than an A+ holder will have more relevant IT knowledge than a recent college grad, allowing them excel quicker because there is less of a knowledge gap to fill.
Confidence Boost
If you plan on pursuing a career in IT, you will undoubtedly find your self studying for and taking MULTIPLE certification exams.
Starting with your A+ certification is a great way to get your feet wet with IT certifications and even boost your confidence in taking IT exams. Learning the Best way to study for ANY IT Certification is something you will want to have down before you get to the more advanced certs, because in those certs, there will be a ton of information and concepts you need to understand. The last thing you want to be worried about is how to go about tackling these exams.
In addition to test taking confidence, studying for and passing your A+ will give you workplace confidence.
I don’t care how long you have been working in IT, or how much you think you know… Everyone who studies for the A+ exam learns something new. You can be confident in your technical knowledge knowing you are A+ certified.
You can create a business out of it
If you can use your IT knowledge outside of your normal day job to make a little more money and gain a little more experience, why wouldn’t you? And what better way to do that than by starting a business.
The Comptia A+ certification is the only IT certification that tests you on your hardware, PC, Mac and mobile troubleshooting knowledge. If you can expand on these skills, find some clients, and resolve their technical issues… Then you have yourself a solid side business, or even potentially a full time business if that is your thing.
You will be surprised the level of knowledge you have once you are A+ certified.. Sure you will need some hands-on practice but the best part is, you can always get this practice by working on your own or even family and friend’s computers before you start selling your services.
When you should skip your A+
As I discussed earlier, the A+ certification is ALWAYS a good idea if you are pursuing a career in IT. Obtaining your A+ certification can only help your career, but there are a few instances where skipping this certification may be appropriate.
Starting in IT later in life
One of the instances where you might consider skipping the A+ certification is if you are starting your IT career later in life.
The A+ certification is a great way to get your foot in the door to an entry level IT job such as Help Desk. And even working in that Help Desk role has a ton of benefits that will impact your overall IT career… The problem is, with that entry level job comes entry level pay.. And taking such a pay cut, may not be feasible for some people.
For people in this situation, they will want to forgo the experience and knowledge they would gain from working Help Desk, and skip right to a higher level IT role such as Systems or Networking that would pay more.
It is not easy to get a job in Networking without experience, but with enough effort and creativity it can be done.
In addition, you can always go back and study for your A+ exam even after you are working in a higher level IT role. Though it easier to put that A+ knowledge to work every day in your job, but even if you can’t, the knowledge itself is beneficial.
Complacent in where you are
If you feel you have reached your peak in your IT career, and are comfortable with your job, skills and the success you currently have; then obtaining your A+ certification may not be for you.
I think we all strive for comfortability in our careers and workplace, but this complacency can put you far behind the curve if you are not careful. Even if you love your job and what you do, in IT you should always continue to learn, because technology is always changing.
Even if the A+ certification is not for you, you should continue to challenge yourself and learn new things to keep it exciting and keep your skills fresh.
What type of job can you get and how much it pays
As we discussed earlier, the most common and best fitting role for Compta A+ Certification holders is Help Desk or IT support positions where you are handling end-user issues, taking apart computers, fixing printers and more.
Help Desk is a great starting point because you get to get your hands in many different areas of IT such as Systems, Networking, Security and even Development and applications. Having to be a jack of all trades allows you to really figure out what area of IT you like best so you know what path you want to pursue.
Help Desk jobs can also pay well depending on the company you work for. According to Glassdoor, the average Help Desk Salary in the United States is $44,402.
Though Help Desk is most common role for A+ holders, there are also other roles that A+ holders can be qualified for as well.
1. Telecommunications Technician
Telecommunications Technician’s are responsible for communications systems by installing, operating, and maintaining voice and data telecommunications network circuits and equipment. This can include telephone, fax, video conferencing, and computer equipment for businesses.
Telecom Technicians can be found working for Internet Service Providers, and even smaller private companies doing work for home and businesses.
According to Glassdoor, the average Telecommunications Technician Salary in the United States is $46,503
2. Low voltage Cabling Technician
Low Voltage Technicians are responsible for installing and maintaining low voltage wiring systems such as network cabling, speaker wire, alarm systems, security systems, and even fire alarms. Low voltage is generally considered to be less than 50 volts, with little or no risk of fire or shock. Examples include telephone, local area network, and on-site fiber optic network systems.
Low Voltage Technicians typically work for a company in the IT department or a small business that does low voltage cabling. Sometimes electricians will have low voltage cabling as a part of their business as well.
According to Glassdoor, the average Low Voltage Cabling Technician Salary in the United States is $33,800.
3. Electronics and Computer Repair
An Electronics and Computer Repair Specialist is someone who installs and fixes problems with computer hardware and software. Typical duties include running diagnostic tests, disassembling hardware, replacing defective components, scanning for and removing viruses and spyware, or uninstalling and reinstalling programs. These technicians work with individual computers, computer networks, mobile devices, gaming consoles and other electronics.
You can often find these positions in Electronics stores such as Best Buy and the Geek Squad.
According to Glassdoor, the average Electronics and Computer Repair Salary in the United States is $32,606.
4. Technology Sales Representative
A Technology Sales rep connects consumers with innovative tech products, technology sales is all about identifying the customers who can benefit from a particular solution and showing them how that solution can meet their needs. This can include hardware, software and even services (applications, big data and cloud computing).
These positions are very common in companies like Staples and Best Buy.
According to Glassdoor, the average Technology Sales Representative Salary in the United States is $23,000.
So is the A+ even worth it?
Yes!
Whether you are trying to get into IT, already an IT professional or simply just want to expand your IT knowledge, the A+ exam is worth its weight in gold because of the immediate value it provides to those who hold this certification.
The A+ certification is the ONLY certification that by itself is enough to get you hired in an IT role such as Help Desk, IT Support and many more WITHOUT a degree or other IT experience.
In addition to the immediate value this certification provides, it also affords the cert holder the foundational IT skills to build their entire IT career on. Whether it’s Development to Network Engineering, and everything in between, the A+ certification proves the cert holder has the foundational IT knowledge to succeed.
