CompTIA Courses 2021

Are They Worth It?

In today’s digital world, having sound technological skills is extremely valuable. The number of career options in this field is numerous and will only keep on growing. As such, taking courses to gain or improve these skills is vital to stay ahead of your competitors, especially if you are a developer or IT professional. Upon completion of these courses, it provides you with ample knowledge to gain a certificate.

 

The certificate is a sign of your expertise on the topic, a valuable asset for employers. Studying for these courses on your own is not an easy task. That is why there are many CompTIA course providers in the market. But are they really worth all the time and effort? Read ahead to find out everything you need to know about CompTIA courses 2021.

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About the Author:
Ashley Hughes

Ashley Hughes
Ashley has nearly a decade’s worth of experience in digital marketing and SEO — while also being a keen advocate of online learning. When he’s not busy with his day job, he’s reviewing e-learning platforms to ensure consumers are getting the best value for money.

What Is CompTIA?

CompTIA Training is an American non-profit trade association that provides test preparation courses and IT certification exams. They were originally known as the Association of Better Computer Dealers but later changed their name to Computing Technology Industry Association in the early 90s.

 

They provide training for people and IT teams to enhance their skills in UNIX, networking, imaging, or mobile computing. The exams for CompTIA’s certification are based on the candidate’s performance and require them to demonstrate thorough knowledge and practical use of the software and operating systems.

 

With more than millions of people who have earned CompTIA certificates all across the world, it is pretty obvious that they provide a solid platform for the IT channel marketplace to stay up to date with the trending technology and best industry practices.

 

The certificate earned after the completion of their CompTIA courses 2021 is vendor-neutral which means that skills and knowledge gained are universally accepted. There are 4 levels of CompTIA certification, which cater to people wanting to gain foundational IT skills or professional level skills. Now that you have a basic idea about what CompTIA is, let us dive into where you can take these courses.

Best CompTIA Course Provider

You can get access to CompTIA courses 2021 online. Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, this is an exceptionally helpful feature that allows you to learn within the safety of your home.

 

Although you can visit the official CompTIA website to make use of their study tools, there are other online courses providing platforms as well that also have CompTIA courses to take. If we talk about taking courses from their website, then you will be pleased to know that they provide both training led by instructors and self-study tools.

 

There is training for individuals where you can choose a scheduled class or custom training. Custom training is essentially designed keeping corporations and organisations in mind. If you opt for this option, then you have the option to create a program that will specifically address the needs of your workers and business.

 

As for the self-study tools, you will get to use their eLearning programs, virtual labs, CompTIA books, and video training. They also provide practice tests and book samples to help users to the greatest degree.

 

Udemy, Coursera, The Knowledge Academy, Pluralsight, New Horizons, are just a few online platforms from where you can take CompTIA courses 2021. There are more options available, some of which are specific to a country. Some of these sites are authorised and are fully licensed and accredited providers of CompTIA training, such as The Knowledge Academy and New Horizons.

 

No matter the platform, all the instructors are qualified to teach these courses. However, it is important to check the reputation of the provider beforehand. This is to ensure that the content of these courses is accurate and legible.

All About CompTIA Certification

CompTIA certifications are divided into a series of four depending on their knowledge standards. The levels are core, infrastructure, cybersecurity, and additional professionals.

 

At the core level, there are four certifications, CompTIA IT Fundamentals, CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, and CompTIA Security+. There are three certifications under infrastructure, CompTIA Cloud+, CompTIA Linux+, and Server+. As for cybersecurity, there are also three certifications, CompTIA CySA+, CompTIA CASP+, and CompTIA PenTest+.

 

Both infrastructure and cybersecurity are mid-level courses that will require prior working experience in that field. If you want to become an expert, then you can opt to pursue any of the three additional professional certifications. They include CompTIA Project+, CompTIA CTT+, and CompTIA Cloud Essentials+.

In 2018, CompTIA released stackable certifications. This allows people to get more than one certificate so that they can become a specialist, professional, or expert in that IT sector.

 

All of the CompTIA certifications are vendor-neutral and accredited. This means that not only are the certificates accepted by employers all across the globe, but it acts as proof that the certificate holder meets the requirements and set criteria deemed acceptable. The certificate is valid for the next three years counting from the date of passing the exam. CompTIA thinks three years is an acceptable time before there’s a new cycle of technology.

 

Any later than that, and the skills acquired will become outdated and redundant to keep up with the change. Plus, ISO and ANSI accreditation require that the exam questions are changed after a certain period of time. This is so that the quality level that is set by them is maintained.

 

There are three ways one can renew their CompTIA certification, training, additional certifications, or CE activities. If you do not wish to take another certification exam, then you can opt for a CertMaster CE training course. If you are okay with taking an exam, then earning a higher-level IT certification or taking the latest version of the exam will renew the certificate.

 

You can learn more about this option by going to their ‘continuing education’ page. The last option requires you to qualify for multiple CE activities. Completing them will earn you continuing education units (CEU).

CompTIA Examinations

Before you get a CompTIA certification, you will need to take an exam. CompTIA has a page on their website that states the four steps you need to complete in order to get a certificate.

 

Step one is to choose the IT certification you want. CompTIA has a career pathway and career roadmap you can refer to, in order to get an idea about the different career options the certificate will open, as well as discuss salaries and future scopes.

 

Step two is to get to know everything there is about the IT certification exam. This includes downloading and studying the exam objectives to find out which topics you need to cover. There are study guides and practice tests available online for you to take. Although the questions will not be the same, the practice tests will give you an idea about the question pattern and type. This is to build your confidence and to get comfortable with the entire exam setting.

 

You can look into other online course providers that are mentioned above for additional help and guidance. It is also suggested to join CompTIA communities on various social media platforms like Facebook, Reddit, and LinkedIn to discuss the exams.

 

Step three focuses on learning and training yourself for the exam using the methods mentioned. There are online training, interactive labs, and even video training available for help with the learning.

 

Once you are confident with your exam preparation, it is time to register. Before you do that, an exam voucher needs to be purchased. The voucher has a code that is needed for you to sign up for your exam. The number of vouchers you will need to purchase depends on the number of exams you take, as a voucher can only be used once.

 

The price of the voucher depends on the CompTIA certification course. If you want to save some money, then CompTIA allows you to purchase a bundle. The bundle is essentially a package containing your vouchers, the CompTIA study guide, and CompTIA  CertMaster.

 

Some bundles even include a retake voucher that can be used in case you do not pass your first attempt at the exam. While registering, you will need to choose to take your exam at an approved location. The locations are usually Pearson VUE testing centers that have hundreds of branches worldwide. Simply schedule an appointment and take the exam.

Best CompTIA Certification Courses to Take in 2021

CompTIA A+

Having a CompTIA A+ certification is something employers put great importance on as it is basically considered a beginner course for any IT career. It is an industry standard that demonstrates basic computer technician competency.

 

Anyone who holds this certificate can comfortably navigate their way through operating systems like Apple, Microsoft, IBM, Novell to name a few. On top of that, the certificate proves that the holder is capable of installation, preventive maintenance, security, networking, and troubleshooting. Overall, this is a highly recommended certification course for everyone looking to pursue a career in the IT sector. 

 

CompTIA Network+

Similar to the CompTIA A+ certification, the CompTIA Network+ is another popular certification for beginners. This too is an entry-level certification but covers more than basic networking skills that are provided in the A+ certification course.

 

People who hold this certificate are competent in maintenance, managing, installation, configuration, and troubleshooting of network infrastructures. It is recommended by CompTIA that you first get the A+ certificate before looking to pursue this certification. If you plan on being an IT support technician, then the CompTIA Network+ will perfectly complement your career choice. 

 

CompTIA Server+

As the name suggests, CompTIA Server+ certification is for those looking to have a career in server support. This is a mid-level course, which means that you will need to have more than basic knowledge on the topic.

 

It is recommended to have somewhere between 18 to 24 months of experience working with server support. Having this certificate will show that the holder can build, maintain, support, as well as troubleshoot server software and hardware technologies effortlessly. Combining the CompTIA Server+ certification with the CompTIA A+ and CompTIA Network+ certification will give employers a positive impression regarding their computer expertise. 

 

Before taking the CompTIA Server+ exam, you will first need to take a conventional format test. The test will cover topics related to servers like maintenance, installation, upgrading, configuration, disaster recovery, and more. In order to pass the exam, extensive practice and studying are required. As such, you can find several sample tests and study books online to help you in that aspect. 

 

CompTIA Security+

Network security is one of the most rapidly increasing areas in the IT sector. A certificate in CompTIA Security+ will ensure that you have enough knowledge of network infrastructure, organization security, and access control. This certificate along with the CompTIA Network+ is recommended for those looking for a career in the network security field.

 

People who hold both of these certificates are sought after by companies as they are able to build on networking without neglecting the key security aspects.

Are CompTIA Courses 2021 Worth It?

After passing the exam, you will receive a CompTIA certification and a CompTIA digital badge. Both of these can be shared on your social media profiles and resumes. Being a globally recognised IT certification CompTIA course increases your value to potential employers. The courses enable you to have better preparation for the exams. Passing the exam has its own list of benefits.

 

Not only does it make you stand out from your competitors, but makes you more trustworthy and eligible for jobs. The options for potential jobs increase exponentially, and along with that the salary. So to answer your question, yes, CompTIA courses 2021 are most definitely worth it.

 

CompTIA courses 2021 are extremely popular and affordable for IT professionals. Having a certificate comes with its own set of perks, and is, therefore, recommended to obtain. We hope this article helped you get a better idea about CompTIA and its courses.

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