The A+ is an entry-level certification many people pursue to begin a career in Information Technology. Even if you don’t have the certification, the knowledge is valuable for just about any technician working on the job. You need to pass two certification exams to get earn the certification.
Each exam includes 100 questions that you need to answer them in 90 minutes. You don’t have to take both exams on the same day and most people don’t. Instead, most people study for the overall A+ certification to grasp the material, and then they focus on the exams one at a time. The two current exams are:
- 220-701
This exam (called CompTIA A+ Essentials) requires a passing score of 675 on a scale of 100 to 900. - 220-702
This exam (called CompTIA A+ Practical Application) requires a passing score of 700 on scale of 100 to 900.
The scaled score doesn’t doesn’t represent a percentage, but is instead a weighted score. If you show up for the exam but don’t get a single question right, you’ll get a score of 100. If you ace it answering every question correctly, you’ll get a 900.
The A+ certification is part of a trio of certifications that many people use to create a solid foundation of IT knowledge. Many people pursue these certifications in this order:
- CompTIA A+
- CompTIA Network+
- CompTIA Security+
Questions are multiple choice and given as a computer-based exam. You can take the exam at any Pearson VUE or Prometric testing center.
There are currently two editions of the exam:
- N10-004
This is the 2009 edition and will be active into 2012. - N10-005
This edition was released in 2011 and can be taken now.
Candidates are recommended to have at least 500 hours of hands-on experience in the lab or on the job. It tests your technical understanding of computer technology, networking and security. It also tests basics on communication skills and professionalism required of all entry-level IT professionals. However, these are not firm requirements.
Darril Gibson
About Darril
