Updates on CompTIA A+, Network+ and Security+ exams

Carol BalkcomDirector, Product ManagementCompTIA

A+ Certification

For IT Helpdesk and Remote Support Professionals

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CompTIA product stack

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CONFIDENTIAL – FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY UNTIL FINALIZED

SOC code Computer and IT Occupations Employment

Average Annual Salary

2010-2020 Employmen

t Change2010-2020

Outlook

15-1150 Computer Support Specialists (A+ relevant here) 607,100 $46,260 110,000 18%

15-1132 Software Developers, Applications 520,800 $87,790 143,800 28%

15-1121 Computer Systems Analysts 544,400 $77,740 120,400 22%

15-1133 Software Developers, Systems Software 392,300 $94,180 127,200 32%

15-1131 Computer Programmers 363,100 $71,380 43,700 12%

15-1142 Network and Computer Systems Administrators 347,200 $69,160 96,600 28%

15-1179 Information Security Analysts, Web Developers, and Computer Network Architects 302,300 $75,660 65,700 22%

15-1111 Computer and Information Research Scientists 28,200 $100,660 5,300 19%

15-1141 Database Administrators 110,800 $73,490 33,900 31%

Computer Occupations, All -- $73,710 -- 22%

17-2061 Computer Hardware Engineers 70,000 $98,810 6,300 9%

11-3021 Computer and Information Systems Managers 307,900 $115,780 55,800 18%

Total 3,954,100

Employment of U.S. Workers in Core IT Positions

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment Statistics, March 2012

IT Hiring

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Investments by Firm Size

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% expecting to increase investment

Staffing Levels

On the hiring front, medium size IT firms (100-499 employees) are most likely to add new staff over the next six months.

With a range of new technologies sought by customers (e.g. cloud, big data, business process automation, mobility) IT firms must be vigilant in maintaining high levels of expertise through internal training and/or new hires.

Source: CompTIA IT Industry Business Confidence Index – Q3 Release, July 2012 Base: 445 U.S. IT industry executives

Case Study

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Chuck Cooper, program director for certification at IBM believes:

To be Proficient in Technology…. you need to build your skills and take training

Certifications - are a baseline measurement of skills and a consistent measure that validates the skills you achieve

Certifications - build confidence on the part of prospective customers, sellers and business partners

Certifications - listed on a proposal denote people with whom you can collaborate

http://www.testbells.com/vendor/CompTIA

CompTIA A+ Certification

Vendor Neutral Certification

2 exams

220-801

220-802

ISO Certified ANSI Accredited

Kept current via Continuing Ed

program

Measures Necessary

Competencies for today’s Entry

Level IT Professionals

A+ Knowledge and Skills

• Installation, configuring and troubleshooting of the following:

• PC hardware (including laptops and mobile devices, and custom configurations

• Printers

• Networking components

• Operating systems including Windows 7 Enterprise

• Operational procedures including safety, environment and customer communications

• Security (22% of exam 802)

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Career Advancement for IT Professionals

Target Audience

Individuals working in or planning to work in technical support roles such as:

Field Support

Technician

Desktop Support

Technician

Bench Technician

Helpdesk Technician

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2011 IT Technician Job Role Survey

PC Technicians (71%)

Field Support Technicians (65%)

Help Desk Technicians (64%)

Customer Service Technicians (48%)

Network Support Technicians (41%)

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Survey respondents chose the following job roles for which A+ is most often required

Why A+

Over 900,000 A+ Certified IT Professionals

Companies such as Ricoh, Dell and CompuCom Have Made A+ Certification Mandatory

U.S. DoD 8570.1 Mandates A+ Certification for Level I Technical Personnel in Information Assurance

Among Top 10 certifications in the industry (DICE TechRepublic, New Horizons)

CompTIA A+ Certified by ISO and Accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)

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Organizations that Require or Mandate A+ Professionals

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Government Organizations Corporate Organizations

POLLS

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CompTIA Website:Companies that use A+

There is a page on the CompTIA website that lists companies that use CompTIA certifications, with specific certifications that they use.

http://certification.comptia.org/ExploreCareers/whohires.aspx

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A+ Exam Details

• 2 examsCertification Requirement

• 220-801• 220-802Exam Numbers

• Maximum of 90 questions for each exam; 90 minutes to take each examLength

• 12 months hands-on lab or field experience

Recommended Experience

• 220-801: 675• 220-802: 700• (Scale of 900)

Passing Score

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CompTIA A+ Objectives

A+ 220-801

PC Hardware

Networking

Laptops

Printers

Operational Procedures

A+ 220-802

Operating Systems

Security

Mobile Devices

Troubleshooting

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Changes from the 700 series A+

1. Windows 7 Enterprise has been added to the covered Windows operating systems

2. Mobile Devices (802: 3.0) is a new subject matter domain. It includes Apple iOS and Android. Coverage includes just what a helpdesk technician would be expected to do: Establish network connectivity for the device, configure email, set up security, and troubleshoot.

3. Virtualization (802: 1.9) is new

4. All troubleshooting is in one exam (802: 4.0), more extensive, and organized by specific hardware/software area (e.g. hard drives, display, etc.)

5. Troubleshooting wireless (802: 4.5) is new

6. There is more coverage of troubleshooting security issues (802: 4.7)

7. SOHO-specific security is new (802: 2.5,2.6)

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Exam objectives and other information

For exam objectives and other information, go to this page http://www.testbells.com/vendor/CompTIA

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Performance Based Questions

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• For performance based items, the A+ candidate will be given a scenario/problem, and will be prompted to push a button to launch a simulated environment that is created via software.

• The simulated environment should be familiar to a PC support professional with the level of hands-on experience recommended for the A+ exam.

• Once the simulation is launched, the candidate will need to perform whatever tasks s/he believes appropriate, based on the given scenario and the tools/information that are provided in the question.

Performance- Based

Question Description

Performance based questions in Network+, Security+

Timeframe and notes

Performance based questions will be added to Network+ and Security+ on this schedule:

Network+: November 2012 Security+: January 2013

Same objectives Same number of questions on exam (multiple choice will

be reduced to accommodate performance based) Hands-on training or experience becomes much more

important

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New “demo” video of CompTIA exam experience

YouTube Video • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NsbJLkHuuo

Performance based questions section • Begins at roughly the 5 minute mark

CompTIA website (performance based portion only)• http://

certification.comptia.org/news/12-10-09/What_Is_A_Performance-Based_Question.aspx

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Video demonstrates what a candidate can expect, from the beginning of a CompTIA exam to the end.

Why performance based questions?

• A better measure of skills, not just memorization

• Represents CompTIA’s interest in using the latest in testing technologies to the benefit of the industry

• Intended as a better indication of a certified candidate’s readiness for the job. In the words of a member of the CompTIA Security+ Certification Advisory Committee from the U.S. Navy:

A certification is not intended to be the introductory training tool for an inexperienced and untrained individual.....a certification is intended to attest that the individual has already attained the requisite training and experience and has proven it with an industry-recognized standard (certification exam).

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Thank You! Back to

Stick around & Q&As

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