CompTIA gives some the most acknowledged entry-level certifications for IT professionals, together with its A+, Network+ and Security+ certifications. This certification information will enable you to get began with CompTIA's certifications and profession paths. Headquartered close to Chicago, CompTIA is a non-profit commerce association comprised of over 2,000 member organizations and 3,000 enterprise companions. Though the group focuses on educating and certifying IT professionals, CompTIA additionally figures prominently in philanthropy and public coverage advocacy.
CompTIA Certification Program Overview
CompTIA's vendor-neutral certification program is among the most acknowledged within the IT business, having issued over two million certifications over a 20-year span. At present, CompTIA certifications are supplied at four ranges, or sequence:
- Basic
- Professional
- Master
- Specialty
Though the Fundamental and Master covers only provide a single certification presently, CompTIA's Skilled sequence is comprised of eight globally-recognized certifications that may assist aspiring IT professionals get Started in a variety of entirely different areas of IT, together with safety, networking, cloud computing, server and Linux administration, undertaking management and more.
CompTIA Career Paths
Along with certification ranges, CompTIA teams its certifications into some profession paths:
- Information Security
- Community and cloud sciences
- Hardware, companies, and infrastructure
- IT administration and technique
- Storage and data
- Web and cell
- Software program improvement
- Training
- Workplace productiveness
The most common profession paths in IT is community management. CompTIA's Community and Cloud Applied Technology profession path provide quite a few certifications that may assist you to advance your network management profession. In comparison to IT Fundamentals on the Primary degree, A+, Cloud+, Linux+, Mobility+ and Network+ on the Skilled degree, and the Cloud Necessities and Healthcare IT Technician specialty certifications.
CompTIA additionally supplies a complete IT certification roadmap that encompasses certifications from CompTIA in addition to quite a lot of different organizations, together with Cisco, Citrix, EC-Council, Microsoft and more.
CompTIA Basic Certification
| No | Exam Details | No Of Questions Asked | Time To Complete Exam | Exam Cost |
| 1 |
75 |
60 minutes | $123 |
CompTIA IT Fundamentals
CompTIA IT Fundamentals is the only real certification within the Primary class. It is preferred for beginners who have a primary understanding of Computer performance and compatibility in addition to familiarity with expertise subjects, reminiscent of hardware fundamentals, software program set up, safety dangers and prevention, and primary networking.
CompTIA Professional Certifications
| No | Exam Details | Number Of Questions | Time To Complete Exam | Exam Cost |
| 1 | A+ 220-1001 | 90 | 90 minutes | $226 |
| 2 | A+ 220-1002 | 90 | 90 minutes | $226 |
| 3 | Network+ N10-007 | 90 | 90 minutes | $329 |
| 4 | Security+ SY0-601 | 90 | 90 minutes | $349 |
| 5 | 60 | 90 minutes | $329 | |
| 6 | Cloud+ CV0-002 | 90 | 90 minutes | $329 |
| 7 | Server+ SK0-004 | 100 | 90 minutes | $329 |
| 8 | Project+ PK0-004 | 95 | 90 minutes | $329 |
The CompTIA Professional sequence certifications goal at IT professionals looking for a selected IT profession, akin to laptop help, networking, security, mobility, challenge administration or storage. The three hottest CompTIA certifications -- particularly, A+, Community+ and Safety+ -- fall on this class, in addition to the Linux+, Cloud+, Mobility+, Server+ and Projects+ certs.
CompTIA A+
The CompTIA A+ certification has been identified as an "entry-level right of passage for IT technicians," for a very good motive. This certification is designed for folk looking for a profession as an assist desk, service core or networking technician, and it covers laptops and computer hardware, software program set up and configuration of PC and cell techniques. A+ additionally checks a candidate's understanding of primary networking, troubleshooting and safety expertise, which function a springboard for CompTIA networking or safety certifications or these provided by different organizations.
CompTIA Network+
Many IT professionals begin with the A+ certification. Nonetheless, when you've got the expertise and do not feel you want the A+, you may transfer to the CompTIA Network+ certification, geared towards professionals with at the least 9 months of networking expertise. A candidate should be acquainted with networking applied technologies, media, topologies, safety, set up and configuration.
CompTIA Security+
CompTIA Security+ covers network security ideas, threats and vulnerabilities, entry management, id administration, cryptography and rather more. Though CompTIA doesn't require any conditions, the group recommends that cert candidates have not less than two years of IT administration expertise with a safety focus.
CompTIA Linux+
The CompTIA Linux+ Powered by LPI certification goals at Linux network directors with at the very least 12 months of Linux administration expertise, together with set up, bundle administration, GNU and Unix instructions, shells, scripting, safety and more. The A+ and Community+ certifications are advisable as conditions, however, are usually not required; candidates should go two exams to earn the credential.
CompTIA Cloud+
Because the cloud computing market continues to develop by leaps and bounds, the CompTIA Cloud+ certification has been maintaining the tempo. This cert aims at IT professionals with 24 to 36 months' expertise in storage, networking or information center administration.
CompTIA Project+
The CompTIA Project+ certification focuses completely on mission administration and is right for venture managers who are acquainted with undertaking lifecycles from planning to completion, who can end a mission on time and lower the price range. Project managers on this certification ought to have not less than one year of undertaking administration experience overseeing small- to medium-sized venture
CompTIA Server+
CompTIA Server+ goals at server directors with 18 to 24 months' expertise with server hardware and software program applied sciences, and the A+ certification is advisable.
CompTIA Master Certification
| No | Exam Details | Number Of Questions | Time To Complete Exam | Exam Cost |
| 1 |
90 |
165 Minutes | $452 |
CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+)
The extremely sought-after CASP+ certification is the one Mastery credential at present obtainable from CompTIA. This certification is designed for seasoned IT safety professionals who plan, design and implement security options in a business atmosphere.
Though this certification does not impose any specific stipulations, it is not a nasty thought to earn the Networking+ and Security+ certifications earlier than tackling the CASP examination. You must also have ten years of IT administration expertise, in addition to a minimum of 5 years of technical security expertise.
CompTIA Specialty Certification
| No | Exam Details | Number Of Questions | Time To Complete Exam | Exam Cost |
| 1 | 50 | 60 Minutes | $123 | |
| 2 | 95 | 90 Minutes | $329 |
CompTIA specialty certifications cover matters particular to a selected vertical or area of interest market, akin to digital imaging and social media. This class additionally contains the long-standing CTT+, CompTIA's IT coach credential.
CompTIA Cloud Essentials
The CompTIA Cloud Essentials+ certification is geared towards people who perceive the business points of cloud computing and find out how to transfer from in-house to cloud storage. As well as, they need to be accustomed to the impacts, dangers, and penalties of implementing a cloud-based resolution.
CompTIA CTT+
The CompTIA Certified Technical Trainer (CTT+) certification is ideal for anybody fascinated with technical coaching. It covers teacher abilities, equivalent to preparation, presentation, communication, facilitation, and analysis, in vendor-neutral style. Adobe, Cisco, Dell, IBM, Microsoft and Ricoh all advocate CTT+ to their trainers, and settle for it instead of their very own in-house coach certifications.
Two exams are required for the CTT+ credential: CompTIA CTT+ Necessities and both CTT+ Classroom Coach or CTT+ Digital Classroom Coach. CTT+ Necessities (examination TK0-201) consists of 95 questions, and also you're allowed 90 minutes to finish it.
CompTIA Training And Sources
CompTIA gives numerous and intensive coaching choices, together with classroom coaching, examine supplies and e-learning. A variety of CompTIA Certified Coaching Supplier Companions (CAPPS), resembling International Data, Studying Tree Worldwide, and extra, function all around the world. Visit the Comp TIA Training Page for more details
CompTIA works with third events to supply a variety of self-study supplies. Content material that has been via a vetting course of is branded with the CompTIA Authorized High-quality Content material (CAQC) emblem. Different supplies that help you research at your individual tempo, comparable to audio segments, lesson actions, and extra sources, can be found via the CompTIA Marketplace.
Lastly, each CompTIA A+, Networking+ and Security+ certification candidate should take a look at CertMaster, CompTIA's on-line check prep device. CertMaster helps you identify which matters you recognize nicely and people you have to brush up on, and suggests coaching that can assist you to fill the gap.