Information technology is a rapidly evolving, dynamic, and capricious industry. This market requires that the professionals associated with the field be constantly updated with the most advanced and latest trends in the technology. Bachelors or postgraduate degree will not necessarily satisfy such a scenario. The only way to prove a professional’s proficiencies in the most advanced technologies is a professional certification that is acknowledged and accepted across the industry. Certifications also bring marketability, credibility, and career growth for a technology professional. The right certification sums up to a 16% rise in the pay of a professional job profile.
Why CompTIA?
CompTIA (Computer Technology Industry Association) is a non-profit organization that offers vendor-neutral professional certifications to technology professionals over 120 countries. The certification objectives are simulated by a niche community of IT specialists and are not concerned with any vendor. CompTIA is focused on training applicants in distinct skills and domains that have to be understood, as well as confirming those skills and explaining IT competency. To choose the right certification, an applicant has to do the following:
- Recognize their interest in a broad range of specializations accessible in the industry;
- Create a flexible learning plan which can adapt any new update or trend around the corner in the subject; and
- Supplement the learning with job experience so that the candidate can have a profound understanding of how to practice new skills in the real world.
CompTIA Certifications
The CompTIA certifications are classified based on skill sets, such as core, infrastructure, and cybersecurity. There are additional professional certifications also.
CompTIA Core Certifications
The Core certifications of CompTIA are:
CompTIA IT Fundamentals
This basic certification includes fundamental IT concepts and terminologies. This is also acknowledged as a stepping stone towards A+ certification. This certification allows the applicant to perceive the configuration, setup, and the method of troubleshooting personal computers.
CompTIA A+
This certification is intended to prove the ability of IT professionals who customize, install, operate, and manage personal computers. The computer service technicians who earn this certification have to renew their certification every three years.
CompTIA Network+
Network+ certification includes several aspects of networking like TCP/IP, OSI model, etc. It also allows a networking technician to install, maintain, troubleshoot, and promote a network. The validity of this certification is three years. The applicant has to retake the exam to maintain the certification status.
CompTIA Security+
This is an excellent certification for anyone who wishes to build a career in IT security. This certification confirms the required skill set of an applicant, which is needed to carry out core security functions in IT infrastructure. The certification status has to be renewed every three years to retain its validity.
CompTIA Infrastructure Certifications
The certifications that fall into the Infrastructure category are:
CompTIA Linux+
This certification is created for working IT professionals who work in the Linux platform. This exam is basically job-focused and confirms the knowledge of the applicant in all major distributions of Linux, including Linux core maintenance, command line, and installing and configuring work stations. This is a one-time certification and does not need to renew.
CompTIA Server+
This certification includes the server skills from principally six IT domains, software, storage, system hardware, IT environment, disaster, recovery, and troubleshooting. This exam verifies the knowledge of an applicant to build, maintain, support, and troubleshoot server software and hardware. This certification does not need to be renewed.
CompTIA Cloud+
This is an entry-level certification which confirms the skills needed for an applicant to maintain and maximize cloud infrastructure services. This is the best certification for system administrators who are going to be work in data centers.
CompTIA Cybersecurity Certifications:
The certifications that fall in the cybersecurity category are:
CompTIA PenTest+
This certification is meant for cybersecurity professionals who deal with penetration testing and vulnerability management. This exam consists of hands-on performance-based questions and multiple-choice questions to assure the skill of the applicant to conduct security mitigation tasks in the system.
CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+)
CompTIA CySA+ is a cybersecurity analyst certification that includes advanced topics such as security analytics, response, and intrusion detection. This certification allows the applicant to tackle cybersecurity threats in the system. This is a risky exam and is taken at a highly-secured environment at a Pearson VUE testing center.
CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+)
This certification certifies the advanced skill level of the applicant in the cybersecurity field. This is a complete hands-on performance-based certification exam that is designed for practitioners. CASP+ certified professionals work out how to carry out a solution within a cybersecurity system.
There are a few more certifications offered by CompTIA, such as:
CompTIA Project+
Project+ certification is created for project managers who intend to accomplish IT and business projects within a specified timeline and within budget. This certification program confirms the applicant’s technical project management capabilities, business acumen, and interpersonal communication capability.
CompTIA Cloud Essential Certification
This certification exam comprises the fundamentals of cloud computing. This exam includes the risk consequence component, which signifies that each business practices cloud computing for its own different requirements. It also incorporates topics such as data security.
CompTIA Certified Technical Trainer (CTT)
This certification is highly valued by leading organizations, like IBM, Microsoft, Cisco, etc., for their employees. It includes all the topics that relate to the skillset of an instructor, such as preparation, communication, presentation, facilitation, and evaluation.
How Can CompTIA Certifications Bring You Further in Your Career?
So, whether you are looking for employment or a freelancer: If you want to move forward in your career, it helps not only to acquire the essential skills but to get officially accredited to reflect this. You also want the certification to
1. Strengthen Your Resume
Hiring managers thoroughly consider your education and experience when sorting out resumes. If you have a lot of IT experience but don’t have a college degree, that can be a drawback for you, but you can compensate it with a CompTIA certification.
Explore Countless Career Opportunities with CompTIA Certification
A CompTIA certification will also help compliment your education if you are educated in something other than IT (such as English) or don’t have a bachelor’s degree.
2. Increase Your Knowledge
You may think you know everything you should know about computers and networks, but learning for a CompTIA certification will explain to you that you still have more to understand.
By earning the CompTIA certifications, you will be that far better at what you do. This will show in your job. And your enhanced job performance will result in higher pay and various job opportunities.
3. Expand Into a New Field
Maybe you have always desired to get into a new area of technology such as IT security. By earning a CompTIA Security+ certification, you will be able to move into that specialty even without the requisite experience.
