CompTIA A+ Certification Completely Revamped for 2006

Published 5/10/2006
By Anne Martinez

CompTIA has just announced that its widely recognized A+ certification program will be updated and revamped for 2006. The new program is still for PC hardware technicians but encompasses several different job roles, each with its own exam.

As the A+ certification always has, the new version of the certification will still require two exams, but now candidates will have a choice of four paths depending on their job environment. Each path begins with the CompTIA A+ Essentials exam, then candidates choose a second exam from four other options covering such roles as PC Technician, Remote Support Technician, and Depot Technician, among others. The exams can be taken in any order.

The objectives related to A+ certification have also been updated to reflect the latest needs of employers and A+ certified professionals. This includes coverage of a security domain, the addition of soft skills, and the removal of outdated technologies. Coverage of new technologies includes:

• Replacement of old operating system objectives
• Expansion of wireless networking content
• Material related to commonly-used document imaging technologies
• Addition of safety and environmental issues
• Addition of communication and professionalism
• And others

The objectives for currently available CompTIA exams were developed back in 2003. The new exams are expected to become available late in the third quarter of 2006. There won't be any beta period for the new exams. The 2003 exams will continue to be available at least until the end of 2006.

Individuals who are already A+ certified will remain certified. If you want to recertify, you can do so by completing the second exam from the list of new exams keyed to the 2006 job roles.

For the latest information on the A+ upgrade, visit the CompTIA A+ 2006 update page.