PC TECHNICIAN PROGRAM
Program Length
Students should complete this program within 240 hours or 80 lab days. For an explanation on progress, attendance and completion please see the FAQ page. You can pay for additional time up to 50% of the total time or an additional 120 hours if needed. Once you have completed your training you can continue to access the training material and practice exam questions and study for the certification exam from home.
Program Costs
Please refer to the PROGRAM COSTS under the START HERE from the main menu.
Required Materials
Please see the FAQ page.
Program Prerequisites
Successful completion and demonstration of the skills and knowledge found in the Computer Literacy course.
Program Description
CompTIA A+ certification validates foundation-level knowledge and skills necessary for a career in IT support. It is the starting point for a career. The international, vendor-neutral certification proves competence in areas such as installation, preventative maintenance, networking, security and troubleshooting.
CompTIA A+ certified technicians also have excellent customer service and communication skills to work with clients.
Two exams are necessary to be certified: CompTIA A+ Essentials, exam code 220-701; and CompTIA A+ Practical Application, exam code 220-702.
CompTIA A+ Essentials measures the necessary competencies of an entry-level IT professional with a recommended 500 hours of hands-on experience in the lab or field. It tests for technical understanding of computer technology, networking and security, as well as the communication skills and professionalism now required of all entry-level IT professionals.
CompTIA A+ Practical Application is an extension of the knowledge and skills identified in CompTIA A+ Essentials, with more of a “hands-on” orientation focused on scenarios in which troubleshooting and tools must be applied to resolve problems.
Candidate job roles include technical support specialist, field service technician, IT support technician, IT support administrator and IT support specialist. CompTIA A+ is part of the certification track for corporations such as Microsoft, HP and Cisco. Other technology companies, including Dell, Intel, Lenovo and Ricoh, have made CompTIA A+ certification mandatory for their service technicians. The U.S. Department of Defense recognizes CompTIA A+ and the Department of Homeland Security requires it as part of their computer forensics program.
The CompTIA A+ certification is accredited by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The CompTIA A+ certification may be kept current through the CompTIA Continuing Education program.The CompTIA A+ certification may be kept current through the CompTIA Continuing Education program.
Video Training
With over 130 video lectures and demonstrations with slides, graphics, and white board images that will explain complex concepts in a personable and easy-to-understand way.
Hands-on Lab Simulations
This training lets you work in a simulated environment where you can practice the skills required to become certified. These simulations allow you to demonstrate your understanding while building real-world skills.
Hardware and software labs are completely integrated with each other. With previous A+ labs, every lab was designated as either a hardware lab or a software lab. Now the lab exercises combine both elements into a truly integrated, blended learning experience. With these new A+ labs, you will get an ever better grasp on what you’re learning.
Written Lessons
The training course also provides you with study guides and fact sheets that you can read to gain further understanding of the concepts covered in all of the training videos, demonstrations, and lab exerc
Certification Practice Exams
Fully integrated section quizzes and practice certification exams that provide you with a realistic experience of what the actual certification exam will be like. Over 1,000 practice questions.
Certification Exams
The CompTIA A+ certification is the industry standard for computer support technicians. The international, vendor-neutral certification proves competence in areas such as installation, preventative maintenance, networking, security and troubleshooting. CompTIA A+ certified technicians also have excellent customer service and communication skills to work with clients. CompTIA A+ is part of the certification track for corporations such as Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, Cisco and Novell. Other technology companies, including CompuCom and Ricoh, have made CompTIA A+ certification mandatory for their service technicians. More than 700,000 people worldwide have become CompTIA A+ certified since the program’s inception in 1993.
Two exams are necessary to be certified. They are:
CompTIA A+ Essentials 220-701 measures the necessary competencies of an entry-level IT professional with a recommended 500 hours of hands-on experience in the lab or field. It tests for technical understanding of computer technology, networking and security, as well as the communication skills and professionalism now required of all entry-level IT professionals.
CompTIA A+ Practical Application 220-702 is an extension of the knowledge and skills identified in CompTIA A+ Essentials, with more of a “hands-on” orientation focused on scenarios in which troubleshooting and tools must be applied to resolve problems.
Additional Resources