Beyond A+ With CompTIA

One could say that IT certifications began with the vendor. Companies like Microsoft wanted to ensure that any individual whose primary responsibility was working on their products had a standard and proven knowledge base to work with.

This system created an efficient and effective means for HR departments across the globe to sift through the endless stacks of resumes and find the MCSE or CCNP it was looking for.If you know what direction and what companies you wanted to work with, then having the appropriate vendor-specific certification is the perfect way to prove your skill set.But what if you are among the millions who have no idea in what direction you want to go? All you know is that IT is where it’s at, but you don’t want to commit yourself to Oracle or Cisco or Microsoft. You might want to try CompTIA.

In the September 2002 issue of CCN I showed you the value of A+ certification, one of the most popular vendor-neutral certifications available today. Developed by CompTIA, the A+ provided the perfect venue for the budding IT professional to show any HR department that he or she had the right stuff.And that is just the tip of the iceberg. CompTIA, in its wisdom, has developed or refined a slew of certifications that go far beyond the world of A+. With names like e-Biz+, IT Project+ and Security+, they are all worth learning about and considering for your IT future.

e-Biz+ One of the more interesting arenas of IT is the world of e-Business. The e-Biz+ certification validates your understanding of the most basic areas, key issues and critical technologies of e-Business.Designed for those IT professionals - technical and non-technical - looking to grow, the e-Biz+ requires at least 12 months core experience in e-Business.E-Commerce is a growing field. The demand is continuing to rise as more and more brick-and-mortar companies are finding their future in a click-and-mortar world.

IT Project+ As the CompTIA Web site puts it, “IT Project+ is the new standard of competency and professionalism in IT project management.”IT Project+ is another vendor-neutral certification that validates your knowledge and ability to effectively and efficiently develop and implement IT plans and projects across the company.Areas covered include knowledge of business practices, interpersonal skills, and time-tested project-management activities. Demand for this foundation-level certification is growing as the industry recognizes the need for more and more job descriptions to be validated via certification.

Security + In today’s world of global terrorism and the constant threat of war, security is at the highest level of concern. Hackers, crackers and would-be thieves are increasing targeting the most obscure of companies. No one is safe.The demand for security professionals is at an all-time high, and the Security+ certification is the standard for competency for foundation-level security practitioners.

Network+ Network+ is becoming an industry standard of competency for professionals in networking administration and support. Like all the certifications in this article, it is vendor-neutral and, therefore, works across software platforms.Designed for the professional with at least nine months experience, the Network+ certification provides, according to CompTIA, validation that you “demonstrate critical knowledge of media and topologies, protocols and standards, and network implementation and support”A “perfect entry point” for a career in networking.

Linux+ Linux has slowly and deliberately become a threat to NT. More and more organizations are seeing Linux as a cost-effective solution to their networking needs.Designed for technicians with six months experience, Linux+ is a relatively new standard of measurement for competency in this hot operating system.Covering the basics like installing, operating, administrating and troubleshooting, the Linux+ certification helps you prove your technical know-how.

i-Net+ Designed specifically for the entry-level professional, the i-Net+ certification provides the “baseline technical knowledge” necessary for working with the fundamentals of the Internet - clients and servers, security, e-commerce, networking and other concepts.The most basic of certifications, in today’s tough job market the i-Net+ will definitely give you an edge over other entry-level players.

Server+For the advanced professional, Server+ is a vendor-neutral standard for those responsible for the hardware site of networking.The Server+ will certify your understanding of a wide range of server issues like technology, installation, upgrading, maintaining, troubleshooting and configuring.Servers are the foundation of any modern firm, without them, most of us would have our productivity slashed. The Server+ certification is the cornerstone to a strong IT career.

HTI+One of the more interesting areas of IT and, therefore, CompTIA’s growing list of certification, is the HTI+ or Home Technology Integrator certification. This vendor-neutral certification serves the Automated Home Industry - fast becoming America’s hidden little gold mine.From HVAC to audio/video, automated homes are becoming the building standard. Whether you want a home security system or window shades that automatically open or close, the modern home is a model network of appliances.

No longer the realm of the handyman, these networks require a certified professional to install and troubleshoot all potential problems - all in an effort to keep a family happy and safe.CompTIA developed this certification for those with at least two years experience in just about any realm of home contracting including HVAC, security and the building trades.

Which Way to Go?
I can’t answer the question of which one is right for you, but maybe I can ask time-tested question that helps you decide. Where do you see yourself in five years? Ten years? 20?Life is a game and like any game you need rules and a goal. But the goal comes first. What is your goal? If you know what you want, great. If not, then take a moment to really visualize yourself and your needs.Then go out and prove that you, too, have a standard and proven knowledge base to work with. Get certified!