Updates on CompTIA A+, Network+ and Security+ exams Carol Balkcom Director, Product Management CompTIA
A+ Certification For IT Helpdesk and Remote Support Professionals
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CompTIA product stack
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Employment of U.S. Workers in Core IT Positions SOC code Computer and IT Occupations
Employment
Average Annual Salary
2010-2020 Employment 2010-2020 Change Outlook
15-1150 Computer Support Specialists (A+ relevant here)
607,100
$46,260
110,000
18%
15-1132 Software Developers, Applications
520,800
$87,790
143,800
28%
15-1121 Computer Systems Analysts
544,400
$77,740
120,400
22%
15-1133 Software Developers, Systems Software
392,300
$94,180
127,200
32%
15-1131 Computer Programmers
363,100
$71,380
43,700
12%
15-1142 Network and Computer Systems Administrators Information Security Analysts, Web Developers, and 15-1179 Computer Network Architects 15-1111 Computer and Information Research Scientists
347,200
$69,160
96,600
28%
302,300
$75,660
65,700
22%
28,200
$100,660
5,300
19%
15-1141 Database Administrators
110,800
$73,490
33,900
31%
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$73,710
--
22%
70,000
$98,810
6,300
9%
307,900
$115,780
55,800
18%
Computer Occupations, All 17-2061 Computer Hardware Engineers
11-3021 Computer and Information Systems Managers Total
3,954,100
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment Statistics, March 2012 CONFIDENTIAL – FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY UNTIL FINALIZED
IT Hiring
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Investments by Firm Size
% expecting to increase investment
Staffing Levels
On the hiring front, medium size IT firms (100-499 employees) are most likely to add new staff over the next six months. With a range of new technologies sought by customers (e.g. cloud, big data, business process automation, mobility) IT firms must be vigilant in maintaining high levels of expertise through internal training and/or new hires.
Source: CompTIA IT Industry Business Confidence Index – Q3 Release, July 2012 Base: 445 U.S. IT industry executives 6
Case Study
Chuck Cooper, program director for certification at IBM believes: To be Proficient in Technology‌. you need to build your skills and take training Certifications - are a baseline measurement of skills and a consistent measure that validates the skills you achieve Certifications - build confidence on the part of prospective customers, sellers and business partners Certifications - listed on a proposal denote people with whom you can collaborate
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CompTIA A+ Certification
Vendor Neutral Certification
2 exams 220-801 220-802
A+ Knowledge and Skills • Installation, configuring and troubleshooting of the following: • PC hardware (including laptops and mobile devices, and custom configurations
ISO Certified ANSI Accredited Kept current via Continuing Ed program
Measures Necessary Competencies for today’s Entry Level IT Professionals
• Printers • Networking components • Operating systems including Windows 7 Enterprise
• Operational procedures including safety, environment and customer communications • Security (22% of exam 802) 8
Career Advancement for IT Professionals Target Audience Individuals working in or planning to work in technical support roles such as:
Field Support Technician
Desktop Support Technician
Bench Technician
Helpdesk Technician
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2011 IT Technician Job Role Survey Survey respondents chose the following job roles for which A+ is most often required PC Technicians (71%) Field Support Technicians (65%) Help Desk Technicians (64%)
Customer Service Technicians (48%) Network Support Technicians (41%) 10
Why A+
Over 900,000 A+ Certified IT Professionals Among Top 10 certifications in the industry (DICE TechRepublic, New Horizons) Companies such as Ricoh, Dell and CompuCom Have Made A+ Certification Mandatory U.S. DoD 8570.1 Mandates A+ Certification for Level I Technical Personnel in Information Assurance CompTIA A+ Certified by ISO and Accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) 11
Organizations that Require or Mandate A+ Professionals Government Organizations
Corporate Organizations
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POLLS
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CompTIA Website: Companies that use A+
There is a page on the CompTIA website that lists companies that use CompTIA certifications, with specific certifications that they use. http://certification.comptia.org/ExploreCareers/whohires.aspx
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A+ Exam Details Certification Requirement Exam Numbers Length Recommended Experience Passing Score
• 2 exams • 220-801 • 220-802
• Maximum of 90 questions for each exam; 90 minutes to take each exam • 12 months hands-on lab or field experience • 220-801: 675 • 220-802: 700 • (Scale of 900) 15
CompTIA A+ Objectives
A+ 220-801
A+ 220-802
PC Hardware
Operating Systems
Networking Security Laptops Mobile Devices Printers
Operational Procedures
Troubleshooting
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Changes from the 700 series A+
1. Windows 7 Enterprise has been added to the covered Windows operating systems 2. Mobile Devices (802: 3.0) is a new subject matter domain. It includes Apple iOS and Android. Coverage includes just what a helpdesk technician would be expected to do: Establish network connectivity for the device, configure email, set up security, and troubleshoot. 3. Virtualization (802: 1.9) is new 4. All troubleshooting is in one exam (802: 4.0), more extensive, and organized by specific hardware/software area (e.g. hard drives, display, etc.) 5. Troubleshooting wireless (802: 4.5) is new 6. There is more coverage of troubleshooting security issues (802: 4.7)
7. SOHO-specific security is new (802: 2.5,2.6) 17
Exam objectives and other information For exam objectives and other information, go to this page http://www.testbells.com/vendor/CompTIA
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Performance Based Questions
• For performance based items, the A+ candidate will be given a scenario/problem, and will be prompted to push a button to launch a simulated environment that is created via software.
PerformanceBased Question Description
• The simulated environment should be familiar to a PC support professional with the level of hands-on experience recommended for the A+ exam. • Once the simulation is launched, the candidate will need to perform whatever tasks s/he believes appropriate, based on the given scenario and the tools/information that are provided in the question.
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Performance based questions in Network+, Security+
Timeframe and notes Performance based questions will be added to Network+ and Security+ on this schedule: Network+: November 2012 Security+: January 2013 Same objectives Same number of questions on exam (multiple choice will be reduced to accommodate performance based) Hands-on training or experience becomes much more important http://www.testbells.com/vendor/CompTIA 21
New “demo” video of CompTIA exam experience Video demonstrates what a candidate can expect, from the beginning of a CompTIA exam to the end.
YouTube Video •
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NsbJLkHuuo
Performance based questions section • Begins at roughly the 5 minute mark CompTIA website (performance based portion only) •
http://certification.comptia.org/news/12-1009/What_Is_A_Performance-Based_Question.aspx
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Why performance based questions?
• A better measure of skills, not just memorization • Represents CompTIA’s interest in using the latest in testing technologies to the benefit of the industry • Intended as a better indication of a certified candidate’s readiness for the job. In the words of a member of the CompTIA Security+ Certification Advisory Committee from the U.S. Navy: A certification is not intended to be the introductory training tool for an inexperienced and untrained individual.....a certification is intended to attest that the individual has already attained the requisite training and experience and has proven it with an industry-recognized standard (certification exam). http://www.testbells.com/vendor/CompTIA 23
Thank You! Back to Stick around & Q&As
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