There are actually 4 different sectors in the complete CompTIA A+ course, but you're just required to achieve pass marks in 2 to be considered A+ qualified. We would advise however that only studying two out of the 4 subjects available could leave gaps in your knowledge. Choose a course with all 4 subjects - you'll be glad you did when it comes to interview time.
As well as being taught about building and fixing computers, students of A+ will be taught how to operate in antistatic conditions, how to fault find, to diagnose and to remotely access problems. If you're considering being the person who is involved with a big team - fixing and supporting networks, add Network+ to your CompTIA A+, or consider an MCSA or MCSE with Microsoft because it's necessary to have a more advanced experience of the way networks operate.
A big contender for the biggest single let-down for IT students can be attending multi-day workshops. Many training companies harp on about the so-called 'benefits' of these classes, usually though, they end up as a thorn in your side due to many reasons:
* Multiple round journeys - normally 100's of miles or more.
* For those of us that work, then Mon-Fri events are hard to attend. You could be contending with several days in a row too.
* If we've got 4 weeks holiday each year, giving half of them to educational workshops leaves us with very few opportunities for days off.
* Training events typically become over subscribed.
* Some attendees want to progress quickly, but some need a more gentle learning curve and be allowed to set their own speed. This brings tension and bad atmosphere a lot of the time.
* Let us not ignore the added financial outlay of driving or several days bed and breakfast either. This may well run to a lot of money - from hundreds to thousands. Sit down and add it up - you may be surprised.
* The majority of attendees want their training to remain private so as to avoid any questions whilst in their current job.
* Surely, all of us at some time have avoided putting our hand's up, because we wanted to maintain the illusion that we did, in fact, understand?
* If you on occasion live away for part of the week, consider the added problems of reaching the necessary classes, when time-off becomes even harder to obtain.
It would be better to watch a video and study with tutors one-to-one via filmed classes, studying them at a time that's convenient for you and you alone. If anything comes up, get onto the live 24x7 support (that should've been packaged with any technical type of training.) Keep in mind, if you have a notebook PC, study can take place anywhere. It's never going to matter how many times you want to re-do a section, on-screen tutors aren't ever likely to rush you! Also, with this method, there's no need to take notes. It's already there for you when you need it. Could it be more straightforward: No wasted time or money, travelling is avoided; and you end up with a more stress-free training setting.
Proper support should never be taken lightly - locate a good company that provides 24x7 direct access, as not obtaining this level of support will severely put a damper on the speed you move through things. You'll be waiting ages for an answer with email based support, and telephone support is usually to a call-centre who will take the information and email an instructor - who'll call back sometime over the next 1-3 days, at a time suitable for them. This is not a lot of use if you're stuck with a particular problem and only have certain times available in which to do your studies.
The very best training providers use multiple support centres from around the world. They use an online interactive interface to link them all seamlessly, no matter what time you login, help is at hand, avoiding all the delays and problems. If you fail to get yourself direct-access round-the-clock support, you'll quickly find yourself regretting it. You may avoid using the support during the night, but you may need weekends, evenings and early mornings at some point.
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