Set up twenty eight years ago, the 'Computing Technology Industry Association' (or 'CompTIA' for short) is a non profit institution. They've developed through the years to become the number one in vendor-neutral IT certification. So they can freely produce and be in control of a whole collection of I.T. industry exams & produce their very own accreditations which don't apply to just one specific organisations' products. This really is very good for trainees, because they can be taught about different platforms & how they inter-connect and integrate with one another - a not unusual circumstance now in industry. 'CompTIA' brings together different business and learned industry organisations when creating or upgrading an exam, to ensure that all things are thought about and the very best industry related syllabuses are created.

The A+ program and the Network+ training are 'CompTIA's' flagship qualifications. An incredibly important set considered as a package, they are the starting point for quite a number of thriving career tracks. The CompTIA 'A+' accreditation goes over the fundamentals of PC maintenance, support, security, installation, fault-finding & repair. So that you can establish yourself in the I.T. marketplace, the 'A+' also covers a variety of communication & personal skillsets. Network+ takes the subject further, by developing a greater understanding of how networks operate & connect with one another. Both Security and 'Wi-Fi' are covered to a certain extent. 'CompTIA' A+ and N+ provide a firm footing for a systems career in I.T., and also a great platform for various other more senior certification programs.

The actual Network+ 2009 exam has been numbered N10-004, superseding the previous N10-003. As well as the strong component of managing networks and their infrastructures, this latest exam focuses heavily on design, security and wireless skills.

In 2009 both programs underwent up-dates, & new examinations are actually available for each of them. The former A+ (version 2006-2007) examinations that were classified with the '600' pre-fix are being phased out worldwide through 2010. In the UK, they discontinue on 31st August 2010. Up until that date, students can sit either the 600 or the more recent 700 examinations at regional test-centres (specifically Vue & Prometric). Common sense suggests that new entrant trainees should take edition 2009. The specific A+ '09 exams are now: CompTIA A+ Essentials (exam 220-701) & CompTIA A+ Practical Application (examination 220/702.) The most crucial changes were a total restructuring of the earlier 4 examinations into just two examinations, and the inclusion of some teaching on more recent technologies. Initially, the 'A+' was split into 4 exams: 1 essential & three elective specialisations. As the market has progressed, the know-how from all 4 examinations is actually regarded as essential, and so has been fine-tuned in to 2 essential assessments. A bridging examination has been produced by 'CompTIA' for anyone with the previous accreditation. 'BR-003' is the exam reference. Extra training will undoubtedly be necessary, especially for those who only originally studied for 2 of the four electives. Obviously however the newer technology content will have to be learned about.

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