Is A+ Worth It? 4 Reasons Why
A+ certification has been a topic of debate among several industry professionals in the past years. Some people believe earning the certificate is a must for people, especially beginners looking to get into the IT industry. However, there are also some set of people that think it’s a waste of time.
A+ certification is an entry-level computer certification for computer service technicians. But here’s a quick question; is getting the certificate as important as many people think?
By earning an A+ certification, there are many things that you stand to benefit from. First, the certificate will get you comfortable with the rudiments of information technology (IT). Apart from that, A+ certification will enable you to get hands-on experience, which will allow you to resolve common issues faster.
A+ certification is a type of certification that’s ideal for beginners. If you have no experience and are looking to start a career from the bottom in the IT sector, there are tons of reasons why you need to gain an A+ certificate. Read on to find out the top benefits of the certification below.
Here Are Four Reasons You Need A+ Certification
1. A+ For Entry-Level Jobs
One of the benefits attached to being A+ certified is that you’ll have an edge when you apply for entry-level jobs. First, A+ is pretty much inexpensive when you compare it to most other educational degrees. Apart from that, enrolling for the certification means you can always earn it quickly without waiting for years.
There are many entry-level jobs that you can get with a CompTIA A+ certification; one of them is to become an IT support specialist. With this type of job, you’ll be able to perform several functions, such as the following:
- Installation and configuration of PC hardware, software, printers, network, and scanners.
- Offering technical support across the organization in-person or via mobile phones.
- Running/testing of new technologies and training of new or junior members.
Apart from being an IT support specialist, you can also get a job as a help desk technician with A+ certification. Other entry-level jobs you can get with A+ include the following:
- Field service technician
- Desktop support administrator
- End-user computing technician
- Associate network engineer
- Data support technician
- Service desk analyst
- System support specialist
Most companies in the IT space often consider A+ certification for the job descriptions above. However, the likes of Intel, Dell, Ricoh, Nissan, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and HP will surely give CompTIA A+ certified people a chance when hiring for jobs.
2. Get Comfortable With IT Fundamentals
Apart from getting entry-level jobs, another reason why A+ certification is important for people looking to pursue a career in the IT space is to get comfortable with the rudiments of IT.
To pass an A+ certification, you need to enroll and pass two different exams; A+ Essentials (Core 1) and the practical application exam (Core 2).
Core 1 of A+ only covers the theoretical aspects of mobile devices, networking technology, and troubleshooting, hardware, virtualization, and cloud computing. As for the second part, Core 2, covers the practical aspects, such as installation and configuration of operating systems, software troubleshooting, and a few others.
Furthermore, both exams, which contain multiple-choice, drag & drop, and performance-based questions are designed to test your knowledge of IT. However, performance-based questions will test the conceptual understanding. That said, passing A+ certification proves that you have the basic knowledge of IT and are ready to begin a career in the industry fully.
3. Troubleshoot Like a Boss With A+
Another reason why getting A+ certification is a good idea is that it enables you to troubleshoot like a professional. Gone are the days when we all need to wait for companies to send out their service technicians to us when we have issues with our home gadgets. Today, especially during the current pandemic, resolving the issues only involves the company calling you to tell you where to touch and how to fix the issue.
Getting an A+ certification can help you know what the service technicians are saying and exactly what to do as you’re being instructed. The new A+ exams, as mentioned earlier, contain the practical aspect of operating systems, meaning you can be trusted with screwdrivers and little or no monitoring.
Bottom line, by enrolling and passing A+ certification, you’ll be able to troubleshoot like a professional with little or no help from others.
4. A+ Lets You Get Hands-On Experience
A+ critics will say that the certification isn’t that important and is a total waste of money. But, one thing you need to understand is that by enrolling and passing the exam, you’ll most likely get the hands-on experience necessary to start troubleshooting, repairing PCs, and working as an IT specialist and help desk technician.
As earlier stated, the latest CompTIA A+ exam requires that you pass the two exams Core 1 and Core 2, which involves testing your conceptual understanding of operating systems. Passing the exams proves you have hands-on experience to kick start your career in the IT industry.
Is A+ Certification Worth It?
There are lots of benefits attached to getting A+ certification. As earlier stated, one of the advantages of being A+ certified is you’ll be able to get entry-level jobs, such as help desk technician, from top companies like Intel and HP. Apart from that, you’ll also get the hands-on experience necessary to troubleshoot IT-related issues like a pro.
Furthermore, you need to understand that there’s more to A+ certification than just the four basic reasons stated above. For instance, being A+ certified means better pay for you.
If you’re interested in building a career in the IT space, getting an A+ is sure worth it. Interestingly, the certification isn’t less expensive when you compare it to a computer science degree. So, just go for it.
