Award-Winning CompTIA A+ Certification Training in Walnut Creek, CA

Varsity Tutors is the only name you need to know if you're interested in enrolling in a comprehensive CompTIA A+ certification course. CompTIA offers four distinct series of certifications that allow IT (Information Technology) professionals to start and grow their career. CompTIA A+ is part of the "Core" series and provides a qualifying credential useful for a variety of entry-level IT roles. Some of the careers that might involve CompTIA A+ certification include Field Service Technician, Support Specialist, and Desktop Support Analyst.

If you're interested in pursuing a career in any of these fields, adding this professional certification to your resume could help you land a job or negotiate a higher salary. Certification also signifies a dedication to your chosen profession, helping you stand out in a crowded applicant pool. Of course, you need to pass a standardized test before you can realize any of these benefits. If you're ready to take your CompTIA A+ certification training to the next level, keep reading to learn more about how we might be able to help you.

Are There Any Prerequisites I Should Be Aware of Before Investing in CompTIA A+ Certification Training?

All CompTIA exams are open to the public and have no mandatory prerequisites, including the CompTIA A+ certification test. However, it is recommended that you have at least 9-12 months of professional experience in a computer lab or as a field technician before you sit for the test. If you feel that you have or can develop the skills required to pass the exam without professional experience, investing in CompTIA A+ certification training could still be a good option for you.

You should also understand that your A+ certification is only valid for three years if you successfully pass the exam. If you would like to maintain certification beyond that date, you must accumulate at least 20 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) by taking accredited courses or pursuing more advanced CompTIA certifications in order to verify that your skills remain up to date.

What Topics Can My CompTIA A+ Certification Class Cover?

CompTIA A+ is an intentionally broad exam that covers a variety of different concepts. It assesses an individual's familiarity with basic IT skills, security mechanisms, operating systems, and mobile devices. As such, your instructor can bounce between different topics to help you feel prepared for anything the exam could throw at you.

While many of our competitors sell pre-recorded videos with a set curriculum and little interactivity as a "CompTIA A+ certification course," all of our courses consist of live instruction. Your expert instructor can interact with you and your classmates in an organic manner, adapting the content they cover to meet the students' needs.

For instance, let's say that both you and your classmates are already confident in your understanding of rudimentary network forensics. Your instructor can pivot to different topics to improve your study efficiency. In contrast, a recording will keep droning on and on whether its audience finds the material helpful or not.

Working with a live instructor also allows you to ask for help whenever you don't understand something. In fact, your instructor can intentionally foster a learning environment in which questions are encouraged so that students feel comfortable asking for assistance before a simple miscommunication snowballs into a significant learning obstacle. We thoroughly vet every CompTIA A+ class instructor for both content knowledge and communication skills, so you can trust that all of the information you receive is both accurate and current.

Your instructor also has a variety of teaching techniques at their disposal to help you understand potentially difficult subjects. If you're uncomfortable assembling components according to a customer's unique specifications, your instructor can provide either a spoken or graphical tutorial on every step of the process. If you're the type who learns best by doing, your instructor can also provide sample builds to give you practical experience with the kinds of things customers could ask you to do.

Alternatively, your instructor can teach you memorization strategies to help you remember common software issues and how to resolve them. Some topics can get dull, so your instructor can also liven things up with a humorous story about what might happen if you adopt the wrong approach. It's entertaining in the moment, but you'll probably find yourself thinking back to that story when confronted with a comparable issue.

You could review these topics on your own, but working with a professional gives you a valuable resource to tap into if something isn't making sense to you. Your instructor can also present information in an organized manner, making it easier to digest than trying to tackle the exam's entire rubric at once.

What Is Taking the Certification Test Like?

The CompTIA A+ certification test is broken into two separate exams. The first covers topics such as mobile devices, networking technology, virtualization, hardware, network troubleshooting, and cloud computing. The second covers operating systems (including installation and configuration), operational procedures, and software troubleshooting.

Each test consists of a maximum of 90 questions administered over a testing session lasting an hour and a half, so time management is a consideration. Questions come in multiple-choice, multiple-response (multiple-choice with more than one correct answer per question), drag and drop, and performance-based questions (PBQs). PBQs create a simulated environment in which the test can assess how you would handle a problem in a real-world situation, though you might not have access to the full range of options you would in real life. For example, you could be presented with a simulated firewall or operating system to work with.

Both tests are scored on the same 100-900 scale, though they have different passing scores (675 for the first, 700 for the second). You must pass each exam individually to earn the certification, meaning that you cannot make up for poor performance on one by acing the other.

All CompTIA exams are administered in an electronic format at testing centers located throughout the country. If you have never taken a test like this before, your instructor can describe what you should expect as part of a CompTIA A+ certification training session.

Are Test-Taking Strategies Incorporated Into My CompTIA A+ Certification Training?

Yes, your instructor will have an excellent working knowledge of the mechanics of the certification test. For example, the multiple-choice questions have four answer choices, so you have 1:4 odds of guessing correctly if you have no idea what the answer is. Your instructor can teach you how to eliminate some clearly incorrect answer choices though, improving your odds to 1:3 or even 1:2 if you need to guess. You might even be able to deduce the correct answer this way.

Furthermore, you can skip an item with the intention of going back and answering it later using the information provided by another question on the exam. Since you are being timed, it can also be advantageous to just put something down and then go back to it at the end if the opportunity presents itself. This way, you avoid spending too much time on one question.

Likewise, you can review time-saving strategies if you're concerned that you might not finish a test on time. For instance, PBQs tend to be the most time-consuming questions on the test, and they're generally found at the beginning of the exam. You might not be "on-pace" to finish an exam on time, but that's fine since you know that most of the longer questions are behind you.

Your instructor can also administer practice exams under realistic test-taking conditions as part of your CompTIA A+ certification training to help you more effectively budget the time available to you. After all, experiencing how long you have firsthand is better than hearing a secondhand account.

Completing practice tests can also help you understand how the test tends to word things. For example, words like "except" and "not" completely change how you should approach a question. Being able to spot these words at a glance can improve both your accuracy and your speed on test day. Similarly, understanding the directions before you begin testing can add a few valuable seconds to the time you have to finish the exam.

You can also review your practice exams with your instructor to help you identify what you're doing well and any areas of opportunity for improvement. If you find that you always answer questions pertaining to scripting and desktop imaging correctly, you may get a jolt of self-confidence when those topics come up on the actual test. If you're struggling with the different types of network connections, you could benefit from asking your teacher to go over them again.

If you deal with test anxiety, taking practice tests can help eliminate the fear of the unknown from the equation. In fact, some students find that their fears dissipate entirely in the face of thorough CompTIA A+ certification training. If you're still feeling apprehensive, your instructor can teach you meditative techniques and other mindfulness strategies to help you concentrate on test day.

Are There Any Benefits to the Collaborative Learning Environment A CompTIA A+ Certification Course Can Provide?

Contrary to what you may believe, sharing your instructor with other students can actually prove beneficial. If you tend to grow frustrated when troubleshooting PC issues, your classmates might be able to help you stay cool as you try to figure out the problem. Similarly, you can explain concepts to your peers to help them out while also improving your own understanding of the material.

Customer service is an integral part of IT, but can prove difficult to incorporate into CompTIA A+ certification training. Studying in a group gives you a unique opportunity to role-play interactions with different types of customers, taking some of the mystery out of the social aspects of the job. Putting yourself in your customer's shoes can also help you understand exactly what they expect of you, helping you better meet their needs. In addition, your instructor can provide constructive criticism to help you identify what you did well and anywhere you could improve moving forward.

Likewise, your instructor can split the class into groups and encourage you to work on something together. Your classmates may offer novel approaches or perspectives that you would not have considered if you were just working on your own. This can help you reach toward a more comprehensive understanding of IT concepts.

Are There Any Other Benefits of Professional CompTIA A+ Certification Training I Should Know About?

One of the hardest aspects of standardized test prep is simply setting aside enough time to review all of the concepts you need to. Taking a formal CompTIA A+ certification class makes it easier to devote time to your test prep, helping you feel more prepared on exam day.

If you want to do some additional studying on your own time, your instructor can also steer you toward trustworthy resources that are updated regularly. Generally speaking, CompTIA updates their exams every three years and you do not want to work with dated information. As long as you're working with current resources, you can trust that any additional work you put in actually helps you on test day.

Your instructor can also provide you with a test day checklist that many students don't even think about until it's too late. For example, eating a balanced breakfast can give you the energy you need to maintain your concentration for the duration of the exam. Wearing comfortable clothing can help you start the day on a positive note, and arriving at your testing location early ensures that you have enough time to get settled before the exam begins. If you feel like you need a break mid-test, it's okay to give yourself a little mental breather as long as you don't overdo it. Your instructor is a knowledgeable professional who understands the tips and tricks students like you need to know heading into the exam, so make good use of all of the sage advice they have to offer.

How Can Formal CompTIA A+ Certification Training Fit Into My Busy Life?

Many of our competitors ask you to commute to a live class if they offer one, adding an unwanted trip to your itinerary. However, we don't do that. Instead, our proprietary Live Learning Platform facilitates online class sessions you can attend anywhere with a stable internet connection. If you want to learn from your own apartment, you can do so. If you'd rather study in a local cafe or your alma mater's library, simply bring your mobile device there a few minutes before your course is scheduled to begin.

Some students are initially leery of attending courses online, but you have nothing to worry about. Our exclusive Live Learning Platform leverages powerful features such as video chat functionality and a virtual whiteboard to provide a face-to-face study experience nearly anywhere you like. You can see and hear your instructor as though you were in the same room, allowing you to work with the best of the best regardless of your geographic location.

We also understand how tight your schedule is, so we've designed our CompTIA A+ certification training services with flexibility in mind. If you want to finish your test prep as quickly as possible, we offer two-week course options to help you rapidly prepare for exam day. Alternatively, you may split your course sessions over four weeks so that your studies leave less of a footprint on your day-to-day life. You get the same number of contact hours and quality instruction either way, so go with whichever option suits you best.

The ability to choose from multiple classes running concurrently makes it easier to find something that complements your lifestyle. We also launch new classes on a monthly basis, so you're never too far away from a start date. You can even arrange private help sessions with your instructor if you feel as though you could benefit from additional support, putting control firmly in your hands.

Can Somebody Help Me Sign Up for CompTIA A+ Certification Training Services?

If you were to try and find a qualified instructor on your own, you would need to make sure that any prospective teacher is fluent in the most current version of the exam. You also need to verify that they have the communication skills required to effectively teach a class full of students. Finally, you'd need to ensure that they have the availability you're searching for. Do you really have either the time or the expertise to do all of that just to get started?

Instead, trust Varsity Tutors to enroll you in a CompTIA A+ certification class that meets your academic and scheduling needs. Our enrollment process is designed to be as convenient as possible, and trained Educational Consultants are standing by to answer any questions you may have about the services we provide. We hope to hear from you soon!