The Benefits Of Obtaining IT Certifications | Online Business Expert ...

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Just as is true in many fields, people who try to secure entry-level positions in the IT industry often encounter a Catch-22. Employers are reluctant to hire someone with no experience, and it is impossible to get work experience until one gets hired. People often try to get around this dilemma by taking college courses. Unfortunately, unless the employer is familiar with the particular college program, it may not carry much weight. This is where obtaining recognized IT certifications can help. Employers know that those who hold such certifications as those issued by CompTIA, CISCO and Novell have completed classroom and hands-on training and passed a comprehensive examination. An applicant who has one of these certifications has a better chance of being hired than one who does not. Of these, some of the most sought-after are the CompTIA certifications.

CompTIA Certifications

The certification exams offered by CompTIA, the Computer Technology Industry Association, are known and respected industry-wide. CompTIA created their first certification, the A+, in 1993 to be a vendor-neutral PC maintenance and repair standard. Up to that point, repair technicians had to obtain certifications for every brand of PC and software that they wanted to work on. With the advent of the A+ certification, employers could be assured that potential employees had a comprehensive knowledge of the most common PC hardware and software platforms.

Today CompTIA offers 17 different certifications, but of these employers consider three to be almost essential for anyone aspiring to become a PC or networking technician. The applicant who has these certifications on his or her resume will have a better chance of being hired or promoted than the one who does not.

The A+ Certification- A+ certification requires that two exams be taken. The A+ Essentials exam shows that the tester has the knowledge of PCs and networking that would be expected of a field technician with 500 hours of experience. The A+ Practical exam measures troubleshooting, repair and problem-solving competencies.

The Network+ Certification- This certification covers the knowledge required of a network technician. To obtain this certification, one must prove expertise in types of networks, the ways that various network components communicate, network security and more. The technician who possesses this certification qualifies for jobs such as network technician, installer or help desk operator.

The Security+ Certification- The holder of a Security+ certification has shown that he or she is an expert in networking security. Tested are topics such as cryptography, access control, preventing and eliminating threats such as viruses and other malware and regulatory compliance. This training prepares people for professions including systems administrator, security consultant and network administrator.

In the competitive world of IT professions, one needs something to set them apart from the crowd. Those seeking to enter or move up in the IT world must prove to prospective employers that they have the requisite knowledge and skills to do the job. Whether one?s goal is to get hired as a desktop support or networking technician, or to be promoted in their company, certifications such as those offered by CompTIA can mean the difference between success or failure.

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