CompTIA A+ consists of 4 training sections; you’re considered competent at A+ when you’ve passed the test for just two specialist areas. Because of this, most training providers only teach 2 specialised areas. The truth is you will need the information on each subject as a lot of employment will ask for knowledge and skills of the whole A+ program. It isn’t necessary to complete all 4 certifications, but we would recommend you learn about all four.

As well as being taught how to build and fix computers, students on an A+ training course will be taught how to operate in antistatic conditions, along with remote access, fault finding and diagnostics.

If you add Network+ training to your A+, you will additionally be able to assist with or manage networks of computers, meaning you’re in a position to move further up the career path.

Many trainers provide a shelf full of reference manuals. Obviously, this isn’t much fun and isn’t the best way to go about taking things in.

Recent studies into the way we learn shows that long term memory is improved when we involve as many senses as possible, and we take action to use what we’ve learned.

Interactive full motion video involving demonstration and virtual lab’s will beat books every time. And you’ll actually enjoy doing them.

All companies should be able to show you samples of their training materials. Expect video tutorials, instructor led classes and interactive areas to practice in.

You’ll find that many companies will only provide training that is purely available online; sometimes you can get away with this – but, consider what happens if your access to the internet is broken or you get slow speeds and down-time etc. It’s much safer to rely on CD and DVD ROM materials which don’t suffer from these broadband issues.

An area that’s often missed by new students weighing up a particular programme is ‘training segmentation’. Essentially, this is the breakdown of the materials to be delivered to you, which vastly changes how you end up.

Typically, you will purchase a course staged over 2 or 3 years and get posted one section at a time – from one exam to the next. This may seem sensible until you think about these factors:

Many students find that the trainer’s usual training route doesn’t suit. Sometimes, a different order of study is more expedient. And what happens if they don’t finish in the allotted time?

In all honesty, the best option is to have a copy of their prescribed order of study, but to receive all the materials up-front. It’s then all yours in the event you don’t complete everything within their ideal time-table.

Make sure that all your certifications are what employers want – don’t bother with programmes that lead to in-house certificates.

To an employer, only the major heavyweights like Microsoft, CompTIA, Cisco or Adobe (for instance) really carry any commercial clout. Anything less won’t make the grade.

Searching for your first position in IT can feel more straightforward with the help of a Job Placement Assistance service. In reality it isn’t a complex operation to land your first job – as long as you’re correctly trained and certified; because there’s still a great need for IT skills in the UK today.

One important thing though, don’t wait till you have completed your exams before getting your CV updated. As soon as you start studying, enter details of your study programme and tell people about it!

It’s not uncommon to find that junior support jobs have been bagged by people who’re still on their course and have yet to take their exams. This will at the very least get you on your way.

Generally, you’ll receive better performance from a specialised and independent local recruitment service than any training provider’s employment division, because they’ll know the area better.

To bottom line it, as long as you put the same commitment into finding a position as into studying, you’re not going to hit many challenges. Some students bizarrely put hundreds of hours into their training course and then just stop once they’ve got certified and seem to expect employers to find them.

Copyright Scott Edwards 2009. Pop to Click HERE or A+ Certification.