Help desk and computer support personnel who have completed the CompTia A+ certification are well prepared to manage and repair your business computers. To pass the A+ certification test, a person has to have a thorough understanding of PC hardware and software, and understand the basic troubleshooting techniques and procedures involved in supporting a computer environment. While A+ certifications aren’t the only certifications you should require from your computer staff, they are the minimum certification you should accept for PC support personnel.

Bring your computer support personnel up to date by offering them the opportunity to get their A+ certification. There are several ways to go about that:

1. Send your computer support staff to A+ boot camp for a quick and intensive learning experience.

2. Examine A+ self-study courses and training materials for your IT staff.

3. Consider formal learning opportunities in which your employee can earn their A+ certification.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Bring your staff up to speed rapidly with A+ certification boot camp programs

Boot camps provide a fast track where IT professionals can learn what they need to know in order to pass the A+ examinations. These boot camps typically run five days, and usually require full-time participation.

I recommend: Use an A+ boot camp like the one offered by Training Planet. The boot camp runs five days, and at the end the student will take the A+ certification exam. You can extend this program by two days to add CompTia Network+ certification, if you wish. Unitek also offers an A+ certification boot camp.

Use self-study materials to educate your computer support staff in a less formal manner

Computer-, book- and video-based education is an excellent way to bring your IT staff up to speed on the latest in PC support technology. They can get A+ information from a variety of sources, providing them with a broad spectrum of knowledge that they wouldn't get from just a single vendor or from the A+ boot camp experience. They can even take an A+ practice test to get them ready for the real thing.

I recommend: Computer-based training programs like those offered by CDi Communications can be a great way for your staff to get A+ info in their spare work time. K Alliance, which has long been the gold standard when it comes to CBT training, also offers an A+ course.

Offer employees formal education as a benefit to your business and their career

If your company already offers an educational benefit to employees, you may be able to enroll your IT staff in academic programs that include, as part of the program, the A+ certification test.

I recommend: Kaplan University is a regionally-accredited university that offers A+ training. Their program even allows your staff to earn their A+ certification online. Excelsior College is another option for formal education that includes an A+ certification component.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider the Network+ certification for personnel who work on servers and network equipment, as well as PCs.