The information regarding certifications offered by CompTIA out there is often confusing and incomplete, making it harder for professionals to make relevant and informed decisions. And the impact of a wrong decision at the initial stages can make the certification you opted for completely irrelevant to your work role. On top of this, the money and time wasted also becomes the crucial point of contention.
At the most basic level, you will find 3 CompTIA’s certification courses online i.e. CompTIA A+, CompTIA Security + and CompTIA Network+. In this article, we’ll talk about the comparison between CompTIA A+ and CompTIA Network+ and allow you to gain relevant insights on their scope, relevance, benefits, costs and other range of factors.
Let’s start:
CompTIA A+ - Who Should Go For It?
This certification is the first certification in the CompTIA certification path and is meant to exclusively serve and benefit individuals who are just starting out on their IT careers and want to gain relevant skills that make them valuable for modern IT environments.
CompTIA A+ is highly advantageous for entry-level professionals who are vying for positions like computer technician or a data center operator.
This certification is fast becoming vital for such professionals because IT departments are increasingly demanding it because it’s a great representation of an individual’s skillsets and also validation.
CompTIA Network+ - Who Should Go For It?
This is more advanced than the CompTIA A+ certification as the CompTIA Network+ certification is considered a stepping stone course for individuals who want to continue further on CompTIA’s network certification path.
If you are looking to secure the position of a network administrator or work in a similar capacity in a networking environment, then this certification is definitely recommended for you.
Individuals who pass this certification gain a substantial amount of advantage in terms of securing a higher pay than those who don’t.
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CompTIA A+ or Network+, Which is More Beneficial For You?
The answer to this question lies in two different places. The first one is your current set of experience in the IT sector and the second one is the path you want to take in terms of CompTIA certifications.
For those of you who don’t know, CompTIA’s certifications follow two different paths beyond these basic level certifications i.e. the network and the cybersecurity path.
So if you want to go on the cybersecurity path, you can definitely skip the Network+ Certification and just opt for the A+ and Security+ certifications and continue onwards from there.
However, if you want to go down the network path, then you need to do Network+ certification as a must.
And as explained earlier as well, A+ certification is primed for those who don’t have much experience in the IT field and this course serves as a precursor for them to the technologies and systems they will encounter in their work roles. Network+ on the other hand is best for individuals who are working in mid-level positions.
You also need to keep in mind that the A+ certification is not a pre-requisite for Network+ and for Security+ as well, so even if you want to skip it, it won’t have any effect on your chances of getting enrolled in the more advanced level certifications by CompTIA.
What You Will Learn in CompTIA Network+ & The Exam Model:
As an IT professional, you will gain a chance to learn how functional networks can be built and executed, how you can manage a coterie of network devices, the ways in which networks can be made more resilient, network segmentation, traffic optimization, work with and implement relevant standards and protocols, run troubleshooting and offer support, once you are done with the Network+ certification.
Termed as the N10-007, the Network+ exam will consist of 90 questions based on multiple-choice that you will need to get done within a time duration of around 90 minutes. The passing score is 720 and the cost of the overall exam is $319. While the course contents are manageable, some individual do need extra assistance in order to ace it, and for that Quickstart offers the CompTIA certification online training which allows you to get through the Network+ ‘s course contents easily and prepare strongly for the exam.
What You Will Learn in CompTIA A+ & The Exam Model:
Entry-level professionals can brush up their skills relating to initial security protocols in IT systems, run and manage different OS on multiple devices, running basic level data backup and recovery services, troubleshooting and support and maintenance of IT infrastructure and related devices, once they are finished with the CompTIA A+ certification.
The exam model, however, is a bit different in the A+ certification, comprising of two different exams i.e. the Core 1 and Core 2. An individual has to pass both of them to acquire the certification. The exams are of 90 minutes each and contain 90 MCQs.
The price for each of these exams is $219, which makes it an expensive undertaking considering the fact that it’s a basic level certification. But what works in the A+’s favor is that it makes it a whole lot easier for individuals to land jobs for entry-level positions, which is a difficult undertaking when you don’t have much experience to show when scouting for jobs.
Wrapping Things Up:
CompTIA’s certifications, if one goes the full path, are extremely beneficial for individuals who plan on securing high-end jobs in their IT-related careers. Both of the certifications mentioned in this article are at the starting point of this journey, which makes them extremely important towards building a strong foundation for more advanced level courses that you will encounter further down the line.
CompTIA certification trainings by Quickstart are the best sidekick to have when opting for CompTIA certifications of any kind as they significantly improve your chances of acing these certifications in your first attempt, a situation which saves you a lot of time and money while fast-tracking your progress on this route.
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