'CompTIA' ('Computing Technology Industry Association') is a non-profit organisation that was formed in 1982. The company offers vendor-neutral qualifications that have made it a global number one in it's industry. So they can freely develop and be in control of a complete collection of I.T. industry exams and produce their own qualifications that don't just apply to one specific organisations' products. This really is excellent for students, because they can be taught about various platforms & how they 'inter-connect' and integrate with one another - a common scenario now in industry. Whenever new syllabuses are produced, CompTIA invites several academic and commercial groups to come together & confirm that each aspect has been thought about equally, and the programs are commercially appropriate.

If you're thinking about any of the following careers, the 'A+' would certainly work well - PC Technician, IT Administrator, Field Service Technician, Remote Support Technician, Call Centre and Depot Technician & Help Desk Technician. CompTIA Network+ presents possibilities for Network Administrators and Technicians, IT Cable Installers and Network Installers.

Standard learning time for these exams are thought to be in the region of 100-150 hours for the 'A+' , and 75 to 100 hours for the Network+ . Studying part-time, this can be accomplished over a six month period if you decide on an appropriate quality of training & first-rate exam prep materials.

With regards to 'Network+' , the previous 'N10-003' has now been updated by the 'N10-004', the 2009 version. In addition to keeping its attention on network management and infrastructure, the upgraded 2009 exam points to an increased emphasis on security, wireless networking skills & network design principles.

The most famous of all the 'CompTIA' certifications are undoubtedly the 'A+' & the Network+. An incredibly important set considered as a package, they are the starting point for many effective career tracks. The 'CompTIA' A+ certification goes over the fundamentals of computer maintenance, support, security, installation, fault finding and repair. What's more, the 'A+' covers several relationship building skill-sets to help you communicate better with other people. The Network+ takes things further, by building in a more significant understanding of how networks operate and communicate with each other. The vital matter of 'Security' is underlined, & Wireless networks are reviewed at an introductory level. Getting both of these qualifications will give a good platform for anyone thinking of getting into the systems area of the IT marketplace, as well as a foundation of knowledge for additional qualification.

Considering how a program is 'delivered' to you is usually ignored by most students. How many parts is the training broken down into? What is the order and what control do you have at what pace it arrives? You may think it logical (with a typical time scale of 1-3 years to gain full certified status,) for many training providers to send out the courseware in stages, as you complete each part. However: How would they react if you didn't complete each element within the time limits imposed? Often the prescribed exam order won't be as easy as an alternative path could be.

Put simply, the best solution is to have a copy of their prescribed order of study, but make sure you have all of your learning modules right from the beginning. It's then all yours in case you don't finish at their required pace.

There are colossal changes coming via technology over the next generation - and the industry becomes more ground-breaking every year. We're at the dawn of beginning to get to grips with how all this change will affect us. The way we interact with the world will be inordinately affected by technology and the web.

The money in IT isn't to be sniffed at also - the income on average in the UK for an average man or woman in IT is a lot more than in the rest of the economy. It's likely you'll bring in quite a bit more than you would in most other jobs. There is a great UK-wide need for trained and qualified IT technicians. And with the marketplace continuing to expand, it looks like there's going to be for years to come.