Set up twenty eight years ago, the 'Computing Technology Industry Association' (or 'CompTIA' in short) is a not for profit institution. They've developed over the years to become the leader in vendor-neutral I.T. accreditation. So they can independently create & be in control of a whole collection of I.T. industry examinations and issue their very own accreditations which don't apply to just one particular vendor's goods. This is very good for trainees, as they can be taught about various platforms and how they 'inter-connect' and 'integrate' with each other - a not unusual scenario now in industry. Whenever a new examination is being put together (or an earlier one up-graded), CompTIA discusses the content with leading members of the commercial and educational world to create balanced & extremely relevant content.

Both exams have fairly recently undergone a 2009 'facelift' in-line with the company's move towards 'ISO' standardisation. A+ exams that began using the number '600' (that is the 2006/2007 edition) are now being phased-out globally. After August 31st '10 they will not be available in the UK. Up until that time, individuals can take either the '600' or the more recent '700' examinations at local test centres (specifically Vue & 'Prometric'). Reason suggests that new entrant students should take version '2009'. The individual A+ '09 exams are now: CompTIA A+ Essentials (examination 220-701) & 'CompTIA' 'A+' Practical Application (exam 220/702.) The main changes were a whole restructuring of the previous 4 examinations into just 2 exams, & the addition of some teaching on newer relevant technologies. The old structure was 1 required 'essentials' exam and 3 electives, of which only one needed to be taken. As the market has developed, the knowledge from all four examinations is now considered essential, and so has been fine-tuned in to two essential exams. Anybody who has formerly taken the '600' exam is allowed to bring their accreditation up to date by taking a bridging exam - BR/003. This will probably call for further study, although less so if you covered all four of the older exams, and not only the minimum two. Enough study hours must be allowed for the newer technology elements however.

The actual 'Network+' 2009 examination is now coded N10-004, updating the old N10-003. A larger importance is focused on security in the 2009 N+ exam, together with network design and wireless networking. This obviously is in addition to the foremost aspects of network-management & infrastructure.

The 'CompTIA' 'A+' exams are for the most part aimed at anybody hoping to start a job in any of the following roles: P.C. Technician, I.T. Administrator, Field Service Technician, Remote Support Technician, Call Centre & Depot Technician and Help Desk Technician. With 'CompTIA' Network+ on top of that, you could consider becoming an IT Cable Installer, a Network Installer, a Network Administrator or a Network Technician .

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