A+ Certification Is A Testing Program Sponsored By The Computing Technology Industry Association (Comptia) That Certifies The Competency Of Service Technicians In The Computer Industry. Anyone Who Wants A Nationally - Recognized Credential As A Competent Computer Service Professional Can Take The A+ Exams. The Program Is Backed By Major Computer Hardware And Software Vendors, Distributors, Resellers And Publications, As Well As A Leading Industry Service Organization, The Association Of Field Service Management, Inc. The Test, Which Is Administered By Drake Prometric (Bloomington, MN), Was First Available In July 1993, With Periodic Updates Since Then.

Earning A+ Certification Means That You Possess The Knowledge, Skills, And Customer Relations Skills Essential For A Successful Computer Service Technician, As Defined By Experts From Companies Across The Industry. The Exams Cover A Broad Range Of Hardware And Software Technologies, But Are Not Related To Any Vendor-Specific Products.  More Than 40 Organizations Have Contributed Time And Budget Resources To Develop The A+ Computer-Based Tests.

To Become Certified, You Must Pass Two Test Modules – The Core And One Of Two Other Specialties, Either The Microsoft™ Windows/Dos Module Or Macintosh Module

When Candidates Pass The Core Plus A Specialty, They Receive A Certificate That Mentions The Specialty Module They Passed, Such As:

A+ Certification Exam With A Specialty In Microsoft™ Windows®/DOS® Environments A+ Certification Exam With A Specialty In Macintosh™ OS-Based Computers

Enhanced Exams' Went Live' In April 1995, Candidates Who Pass The Two Computer - Based Test Modules Become Certified, Demonstrating Knowledge Of Configuring, Installing, Diagnosing, Repairing, Upgrading, And Maintaining Microcomputers And Associated Technologies.

Recognized Proof Of Professional Achievement The A+ Credential Validates That The Holder Has Reached A Level Of Competence Commonly Accepted And Valued By The Industry. Enhanced Jobs & Opportunities Many Employers Give Preference In Hiring Applicants With A+ Certification. Some Employers May Require A+ As A Condition Of Employment.   They View A+ As Proof That A New Hire Knows The Procedures And Technologies Required To Be A Successful Computer Service Technician.

 

	Opportunity For Advancement
	The A+ Credential Can Be A Plus When An Employer Awards Job      Advancements And Promotions.
	Training Requirement
	A+ Certification May Be Required As A Pre-Requisite To Attending A      Vendor's Training Course, So Employers Will Offer Advanced Training To      Those Employees Who Are Already A+ Certified.
	Customer Confidence
	As The General Public Learns About A+, Customers Will Require That      Only Certified  Technicians Be Assigned To Their Accounts. The      Technician Then Arrives At A Client Site Already Known As A Competent      Computer Service Professional.
	The Industry Also Gains Benefits From The Widespread Acceptance Of The A+ Credential, Including:
	Lower Training Costs
	Resellers And Other Employers Of Service Technicians Can Save          Money And Increase Productive Work-Time When Vendors Eliminate          Redundant, Time-Consuming Base-Level Training And Instead Require          A+ Certification As A Pre-Requisite.
	Customer Satisfaction
	When Employees Have A Credential That Proves Their Competency,          Customer Expectations Are More Likely Met. More Business May Then          Be Generated For The Employer Through Repeat Sales To These          Satisfied Customers.
	Self-Regulation Of The Industry
	Several States Have Proposed Legislation That Would Regulate The      Microcomputer Industry. A Self-Regulating Industry That Certifies Its Own      Members With A Program Such As A+ Can Often Minimize Such        Government-Imposed Controls.

The Following Is A List Of The Organizations That Have Funded The Development Of And On-Going Enhancements To The A+ Certification Program:
 

AMERICAN INSTITUTE AMERICAN POWER AT&T GLOBAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS (FORMERLY NCR/AT&T) AURORA/CENTURY COMPUTER MARKETING BANCTEC SERVICE CORP COMPAQ COMPUTER CORPORATION COMPUTER RESELLER NEWS (CMP PUBLICATIONS, INC.) COMPUCOM SYSTEMS INC COMPUSA COMPUTER CURRICULUM CORPORATION CONNER PERIPHERALS DATA TRAIN INSTITUTE DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION ENTEX INFORMATION SERVICES EPSON AMERICA, INC. EXIDE ELECTRONICS GROUP INC. GE CAPITAL TECHNOLOGY Service GE INFORMATION HAYES MICROCOMPUTER PRODUCTS, INC. HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY IBM EDUCATION & TRAINING IBM PC COMPANY, N.A. INACOM CORPORATION INGRAM MICRO INC. INTEL CORPORATION, INC. INTELLIGENT ELECTRONICS, FRANCHISE DIVISION, INC. LEARNING TREE LEXMARK MICROAGE INC. MICROSOFT CORP. OKIDATA PACKARD BELL ELECTRONICS PC PARTS EXPRESS PERMOND SOLUTIONS GROUP INC. PC WEEK (ZIFF-DAVIS PUBLISHING) SELF TEST SOFTWARE SERVICE NEWS SHL TECHNICAL SERVICE SYSTEMS & SUPPORT MANAGEMENT TANDY SERVICES/COMPUTER CITY TECHFORCE TECHNOLOGY SERVICE SOLUTIONS TOSHIBA AMERICA INFORMATION SYSTEMS INC. U. S. ROBOTICS INC. VAR BUSINESS (CMP PUBLICATIONS, INC.) VANSTAR WANG LABORATORIES WAVE TECHNOLOGIES WURTS & ASSOCIATES ZENITH DATA SYSTEMS/GROUP BULL