Information

About the course

Back to Talk to an IT

The A+ Certificate is an industry-standard qualification for professional PC technicians, recognised worldwide.

It is governed by CompTIA, a trade association representing IBM, Microsoft, Intel, HP, Cisco, AT&T, Apple, Dell, Xerox and many other computer companies.  More than 600,000 technicians have gained A+ certification since 1993.

The A+ objectives cover operating principles, configuration, troubleshooting & maintenance for a wide range of technology:

• PC components (including up-to-date processor and motherboard operating principles, hard drive technologies, etc.)
• Laptops and portable devices
• Operating Systems (including boot process and registry editing in 2000, XP & Vista; an introduction to Linux and Mac OS)
• Printers and scanners
• Networks (fundamentals and troubleshooting)

In addition, students will aim to become proficient in:

• Security (including wireless network security)
• Safety & environmental regulations
• Professionalism & customer service

A detailed copy of the objectives is available from the CompTIA website.

The course is assessed by two online multiple-choice examinations, taken at our on-site Pearson VUE electronic testing facility. 

Basic and Advanced courses — what’s the difference?

Southport College offers two levels of PC maintenance course:

Basic PC Maintenance covers the skills needed to upgrade or build a computer for use at home, plus how to install software and check for viruses.  It leads to a level 2 certificate from the NCFE exam board.

A+ Advanced PC Maintenance develops existing knowledge up to the level required to gain A+ certification.  Students with prior experience building PCs and installing operating systems will typically jump straight in at this advanced course level.

How much does it cost?

Course fees are $500 plus a $250 examination fee. 

Can I do the course without doing the exams?

No.  All courses that receive Government subsidy must lead to a recognised qualification.  However, most qualifications at this professional level can be expensive; our fees are far lower than those charged by many commercial training companies.

Are there any recommended course textbooks?

There are many good A+ textbooks available but also quite a few poor ones.  We definitely advise shopping around for one that suits you.

The syllabus has just been updated for 2006 and we expect that updated textbooks will be published around November.  In the meantime we recommend either of the following books.  They are well-written and detailed, with scores of illustrations and cover around two-thirds of the new syllabus adequately.

• "A+ Certification Training Guide" by Charles J. Brooks
  Published by Que (ISBN 0789730448), like $60
• "A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide" by Michael Meyers
  Published by Osborne-McGraw-Hill (ISBN 0072229918) , like $60

Copies of these, and other very useful reference books, are available for loan from the College library.

Contact details

If you have any further questions or wish to know more please contact the A+ Instructor JoseArroyo@talktoanit.com.