A+

CompTIA A+ certification validates foundation-level knowledge and skills necessary for a career in PC support. It is the starting point for a career. The international, vendor-neutral certification proves competence in areas such as installation, preventative maintenance, networking, security and troubleshooting. CompTIA A+ certified technicians also have excellent customer service and communication skills to work with clients. Two exams are necessary to be certified: CompTIA A+ Essentials, exam code 220-701; and CompTIA A+ Practical Application, exam code 220-702. Gloucestershire College are a certified testing centre and vouchers can be purchased at the discount rate of around £80 per exam by students who study on the course. CompTIA A+ Essentials measures the necessary competencies of an entry-level IT professional with a recommended 500 hours of hands-on experience in the lab or field. It tests for technical understanding of computer technology, networking and security, as well as the communication skills and professionalism now required of all entry-level IT professionals. CompTIA A+ Practical Application is an extension of the knowledge and skills identified in CompTIA A+ Essentials, with more of a "hands-on" orientation focused on scenarios in which troubleshooting and tools must be applied to resolve problems.

To achieve CompTIA Certification, students will need to sit the two optional exams at the end of the course. There is a fee levied for each exam in the region of £80 each. A materials fee is levied for USB Memory stick, CDs, printed resources, other consumables and hardware costs for items used during classes. The materials fee also includes the cost of accessing online teaching resources and interactive practice exams.

It is expected that prospective students have a fair degree of knowledge and experience of hardware and software, though no formal qualifications are necessary. All prospective students will be asked to complete an application form. Suitable for anyone wishing to gain an industry recognised qualification in IT Systems Support that is vendor neutral.

Candidate job roles include enterprise technician, field service technician, PC or support technician and IT administrator. CompTIA A+ is part of the certification track for corporations such as Microsoft, HP and Cisco. Other technology companies, including Dell, Intel, Lenovo and Ricoh, have made CompTIA A+ certification mandatory for their service technicians. A number of U.K. Government Departments recognises CompTIA A+ and it is part of their computer forensics program.