CompTIA A+
OVERVIEW (from CompTIA):
| CompTIA A+ certification is an international industry credential that
validates the knowledge of computer service technicians with the equivalent of
500 hours of hands-on experience. Major hardware and software vendors,
distributors and resellers accept CompTIA A+ as the standard in
foundation-level, vendor-neutral certification for service technicians. The
exams cover a broad range of hardware and software technologies, but are not
bound to any vendor-specific products. The skills and knowledge measured by the
CompTIA A+ exams were derived from an industry-wide and worldwide job task
analysis. To date, more than 500,000 individuals have obtained CompTIA A+
certification. Earning CompTIA A+ certification proves that a candidate has a broad base of knowledge and competency in core hardware and operating system technologies including installation, configuration, diagnosing, preventive maintenance and basic networking. |
AREAS TESTED:
| A+ Core Hardware (2003) Domain Areas | % of Examination |
| Installation, Configuration and Upgrading | 35% |
| Diagnosing and Troubleshooting | 21% |
| Preventive Maintenance | 5% |
| Motherboard/Processors/Memory | 11% |
| Printers | 9% |
| Basic Networking | 19% |
| A+ OS Technologies (2003) Domain Areas | % of Examination |
| OS Fundamentals | 28% |
| Installation, Configuration and Upgrading | 31% |
| Diagnosing and Troubleshooting | 25% |
| Networks | 16% |
DETAILED OBJECTIVES:
click
here for detailed objectives at CompTIA's web site, Adobe Acrobat required
WEBSITES:
CompTIA A+ Exam FAQs
http://www.comptia.com/certification/a/faqs.aspx
A+ Certification Practice Exams
http://pages.prodigy.net/aplus_omega/exam1.htm
The PC Guide
www.pcguide.com
BOOKS:
A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, 5th edition (October 31,
2003)
by Michael Meyers, Scott Jernigan
old edition:
http://shop.osborne.com/cgi-bin/osborne/0072229918.html
sample chapter:
http://www.osborne.com/products/0072229918/0072229918_ch01.pdf
A+ Complete Study Guide, Third Edition (220-301 and 220-302),
3rd edition OR
A+ Complete Study Guide, Deluxe Edition (Exam#220-301 and 220-302)
by David Groth
http://www.sybex.com/sybexbooks.nsf/booklist/4243
http://www.sybex.com/sybexbooks.nsf/booklist/4244
A+ Certification Exam Cram 2 (Exam Cram 220-301, Exam Cram
220-302), Second Edition
by James G. Jones, Craig Landes
http://www.examcram2.com/title/078973043X
A+ In Depth
by Jean Andrews
http://www.courseptr.com/ptr_detail.cfm?group=Certification&isbn=1-59200-032-0
ARTICLES & LINKS:
The New 2003 A+ Exams
http://certcities.com/editorial/exams/story.asp?EditorialsID=82
What can you expect from the new version of A+ exams? (2003)
http://www.zdnet.com.au/jobs/resources/0,2000056675,20278310,00.htm
What’s
New in the A+ Exams, Part I: Core Hardware (2003)
http://certcities.com/editorial/features/story.asp?EditorialsID=73
What’s New in the A+
Exams, Part II: OS Techologies (2003)
http://certcities.com/editorial/features/story.asp?EditorialsID=74
Top 10 Tips for Passing the A+ Exams (2000)
http://www.certcities.com/editorial/tips/story.asp?EditorialsID=1
The New A+ Exams (2001)
http://www.certcities.com/editorial/exams/story.asp?EditorialsID=24
CompTIA Exam: A+ Core Hardware Exam (2001)
http://www.certcities.com/editorial/popquiz/story.asp?EditorialsID=33
CompTIA Exam: A+ OS Technologies Exam (2001)
http://www.certcities.com/editorial/popquiz/story.asp?EditorialsID=34
A+ ExamCram 2: Memory: Types and Forms
http://www.informit.com/articles/article.asp?p=102308
A+ Certification Preparation: System Resources
http://www.informit.com/articles/article.asp?p=30360
PC Repair and Maintenance: In-depth Look at Power Supply
http://www.informit.com/articles/printerfriendly.asp?p=31105
Hardware Troubleshooting Techniques
http://www.informit.com/articles/article.asp?p=347825
A+ Exam Cram: Operating System Technology
http://www.informit.com/articles/article.asp?p=360973
Faster Smarter A+ Certification
http://www.microsoft.com/mspress/books/sampchap/6546.asp#SampleChapter
PC Hardware and A+ Handbook
http://www.microsoft.com/MSPress/books/6467.asp
NOTES:
| September 30, 2004 - The option for CompTIA A+ candidates to mix and match exams referencing the old (2001) and new (2003) objectives ends. |