What is the CompTIA A+?
The CompTIA A+ is an industry-standard IT certification that validates the fundamental skills of IT professionals. This certification covers topics such as troubleshooting, hardware, networking, security, cloud computing, and professionalism. It is separated into two exams: Core 1 which focuses on hardware and Core 2 which focuses on software. Anyone is allowed to take the certification, and it is a popular choice for beginners looking to get into the IT field. So, how can you get started on the A+? In this article, we will cover our impressions of the A+ certification after taking the exam ourselves, and also provide guidance and resources for those looking to tackle the Core 1 and Core 2 exams.
Thoughts on the Certification
Elyssa's Experience & Thoughts on the A+
The A+ exam is not to be underestimated! You may hear many people online claiming the exam is a waste of time or too easy, but this is far from the truth, especially if you are a beginner in IT looking to learn your fundamentals. The exam is a right of passage for many joining the IT field and I highly recommend the certification if you are looking for a place to start.
The best part about this certification in my opinion is that it gives you a chance to explore many different areas of IT and choose which path is right for you. Maybe after taking the certification you found interest in cloud and virtualization and want to become a cloud engineer, or maybe you enjoyed the security section and want to become a cybersecurity analyst. It really gives you a sample of everything which in turn will make you a better IT professional.
Another great thing I loved about this certification is you will learn about the most current technologies, and also the technology we have used in the past. For example, some things you will learn about are network protocols, 802.11 Wi-Fi standards, CAT cabling, hardware components, and security which have all advanced throughout time up until what we use currently. The A+ really helps you understand that our technology is ever-changing and evolving, and will also inspire you to look into the future advancements of technology.
Lia's Experience & Thoughts on the A+
The A+ certification was a great start into the world of IT! Although I had some experience in the field through building my own computer and working in a Help Desk team, I still needed to cover some topics on the exam, especially for Core 2 (which is more focused on the differences between Windows & Apple computers). Therefore, I started with Core 2, studying a whole week for it. It is up to you which Core you'd like to start with! As previously mentioned, the A+ is the basis for basically all the other certifications you could get from CompTIA. Don't underestimate it just because they are fundamentals. You will be building your learning blocks with each exam, especially if your goal is to work in a more technical area of Cybersecurity or IT.
CompTIA questions can be a bit tricky (they are scenario-based), so make sure to pay attention to what is being asked. Expressions that you will see a lot are "the best solution," "the first step," and such. It is very likely that you will be able to eliminate two answers and decide between the other two. CompTIA also has partial scores, so if you end up selecting only one right answer among two or three that you have to select, you will be rewarded for the correct one!
Resources and Advice
Elyssa's Resources & Advice for the A+
My advice for those looking to take this certification is to first believe in your abilities! It can be quite intimidating as a beginner to dive into so many topics and foreign concepts, but you first need to envision and have hope in yourself achieving the goal.
Next, I would advise you to print out the A+ exam objectives and find a good video series that explains all the concepts listed in the objectives. The video series I watched were Mike Meyer's A+ series and Professor Messer's A+ Youtube Playlist. You will want to watch the videos and actively take notes or write flashcards to ensure you are learning the information. Make sure you can fully understand and explain every topic in the objectives.
Lastly, you'll need to assess yourself by doing practice questions, and I mean HUNDREDS of practice questions. For each exam, you should complete 500 or more to ensure you are fully prepared. Some resources I recommend are Professor Messer's Practice Exams and also Jason Dion's Practice Exams, which cover the entire scope of the exam while providing fantastic explanations for test answers. It is important to go over these answers and understand why they are correct or incorrect. Do not just memorize the correct answers! Once you are scoring high marks on these exams, you should be ready to pass your exam!
Lia's Resources & Advice for the A+
First, come up with a study plan! I prefer to watch videos rather than read books, but Sybex books are a great source to learn about the content for the certification! Jason Dion's videos helped me a lot throughout my BSCIA, especially toward the end when Mike Meyers and Professor Messer didn't cover other exams like the PenTest+. My strategy was to watch Professor Messer first and have an overview of the topics, and then I would watch Meyers' or Dion's videos on Udemy if I needed more explanation. The great thing about Messer is that he followed the order in the CompTIA objectives! By the way, make sure to check which topics you have already learned or topics that you need to review to keep track of your studying.
As previously mentioned, practice exams are extremely helpful for the content to stick in our minds! Another source of practice questions is the IT Pocket Prep app (downloadable on both Android and Apple phones). I would advise you to invest in the pro version because you will need those questions! And it offers a huge list of certifications, all of which were in WGU's BSCIA.
Lastly, don't worry about the PBQs (practice-based questions). It's just another way of asking questions on the same topics. There are some videos on YouTube that you could watch to get a better feeling for what CompTIA requires you to know/do. If you're attending WGU, however, you will have access to CertMaster, which is the official study material from CompTIA and has all kinds of resources, from practice questions, to flashcards, to PBQ examples, you name it!
You got this! If you put time and effort into it, you will be able to pass. And don't be upset if your score is barely above the passing grade. A pass is a pass! You actually know more than you would give yourself credit for. And the more you practice, the more you get used to the terms, the topics, and the techniques. We can't wait to hear about your success. And if you don't pass the first time, review what you're doing and in which topics your weaknesses are. Don't give up. You will get there!
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