CompTIA IT Fundamentals vs. A+
CompTIA is widely known for offering trusted and renowned certifications in the IT industry, which serve candidates a wide range of opportunities in different fields. If you want to enter into the world of IT, you have probably considered CompTIA’s IT Fundamentals or A+ since they are entry-level certifications. However, what is the difference between IT Fundamentals and A+?
CompTIA A+ is considered a great starting point for those who want to enter the IT industry and learn multiple IT areas. On the other hand, CompTIA IT Fundamentals certification offers the basic knowledge of IT and is perfectly suitable for those whose role is not connected to IT at all.
Below, I have made a comparison between CompTIA IT Fundamentals and A+ to help you understand what makes them different. Even though these certifications are entry-level and they do not require prior experience, they have points in which one might be more suitable than the other. Once you acknowledge the difference, you will be able to decide which certification works for you.
CompTIA A+
CompTIA A+ is considered a perfect starting point for those who decided to begin a career in the IT industry. The certification does not require any prior education or experience in the IT field, so if you belong to this group, you can rest assured that this exam might be suitable for you.
Candidates who take the A+ exam learn and acquire the knowledge and skills needed for a further career in the IT world. With the gained skills, the candidate can build a career in any IT sector and can continue to study further. This certification makes it possible to lead a career path to different fields, such as networking, IT security, mobility, cloud computing, and so on.
When it comes to the topics covered by CompTIA A+, it can be said that this certification is more focused on the skills needed for IT positions rather than terminology and theory. A+ is oriented towards managing and handling operating systems, maintaining secure areas in cyberspace, virtualizing and cloud computing, and understanding different hardware and software equipment.
For example, a candidate certified in A+ will know how to operate and resolve issues in different operating systems. Furthermore, they will gain the ability to detect security issues and control possible threats. Also, they will be able to understand how virtualization works and differentiate hardware from software issues while troubleshooting.
CompTIA IT Fundamentals
The IT Fundamentals certification offers the basics of the IT industry, but its primary role is not necessarily matched with the responsibilities of an IT professional. This certification is mostly used as a tool to demonstrate general IT skills in a company or an enterprise, even though a certain individual might not have a position that is related to the IT field.
Unlike the A+, IT Fundamentals is more focused on terminology rather than skills. It is concerned with theory, infrastructure, cybersecurity, database fundamentals, and software development. Once the candidate gets certified, they have the knowledge in the basics of the IT fields, and they can detect an issue in a certain area.
The objectives covered by IT Fundamentals are oriented towards the knowledge of operating systems, cybersecurity, virtualization and cloud computing, and computer hardware and software. When I say knowledge, I refer to the basics in these IT areas in theory. Since this certification is more concerned with the theoretical part, you should not expect to acquire any special skills in these areas.
For instance, after passing the IT Fundamentals exam, the candidate will understand how a certain operating system works and will be able to explain its functions. Also, the candidate will understand how cybersecurity works and how to detect security issues that involve integrity, confidentiality, and availability. Furthermore, the candidate will gain knowledge of cloud storage, and they will be able to differentiate the parts that make a PC, server, or mobile phone.
Exam Format
Before taking an exam, it is very important to familiarize yourself with the exam requirements and to know what to expect when the day comes. Usually, everything you need to know is explained on the official sites, and there are a lot of practice tests that help you prepare for the exam properly.
CompTIA A+ Exam
The CompTIA A+ is more concerned with practical knowledge. Therefore, you should expect questions that are related to resolving issues included in certain IT areas. This exam consists of two parts that have 90 questions each. The first part covers mobile devices, networking technology, hardware, and network troubleshooting, while the second part covers configuring operating systems, cybersecurity, and other operational procedures.
Since CompTIA A+ is trusted by employers around the world that hire IT staff, you need to expect that you will be required to answer questions related to performance. This exam tests your skills that are needed to support tech jobs. In relation to IT Fundamentals, this exam is on a higher level, i.e., it requires demonstration of skillful knowledge.
CompTIA IT Fundamentals
IT Fundamentals exam includes 75 questions that cover the basics in the IT industry. The candidate is required to answer related to features and functions of operating systems, identification of applications and their use, end-user security, and the best practices when it comes to browsing and using the web.
The IT Fundamentals exam questions are easier compared to the questions included in the A+ exam. IT Fundamentals includes only multiple-choice questions that assess a candidate’s theoretical knowledge in the IT industry.
A+ Or IT Fundamentals: How To Choose?
When it comes to choosing between these two, it is important to determine what you want to achieve out of them. For example, IT Fundamentals is a good starting point, and it might help you decide which career path to choose in the IT field.
On the other hand, A+ is more oriented to careers such as help desk technician or technical support specialist. If you already have some knowledge of IT theory, then you are probably ready to learn some skills and take your experience to the next level.
Although A+ and IT Fundamentals are entry-level and quite similar, they have different end goals and serve different purposes. Therefore, you have to determine your goals before you choose one.
