The Computer Technology Industry Association, or CompTIA, are a non profit association that was created back in 1982. The organisation is the voice of the IT industry, and its aim is to advance the global interests of IT professionals and companies. All the proceeds of the organisation are directly invested back into different programs and initiatives, all chosen to benefit IT professionals and the IT industry. CompTIA are in an excellent position to do this task, as they are made up of industry experts from all over the world including the UK, Australia, Canada, India, Japan, China, South Africa, the United States and many more, with members of CompTIA hailing from over 100 countries across the world.
CompTIA also run the CompTIA Education Foundation. Its role is to provide additional education and training to people who are under represented in the IT industry. This includes those at risk of crime, the disabled, and ex military veterans.
Another role of CompTIA is as a provider of professional certifications that are recognised worldwide. These qualifications are trusted in the industry meaning almost every employer will recognise the commitment and skill that is demonstrated by your certification. As this is a worldwide qualification it will be suitable for whichever country you work in, providing you with opportunities to work abroad. Certification was first established in 1993 and since then over one million people across the globe have become certified. Another bonus of taking a CompTIA certification is that you are provided with support from professionals, and there are plenty of practice tests available as well as training materials to make sure you are confident that you will pass.
One of the most common CompTIA courses is the CompTIA A+. Once completed, this course leaves the individual qualified as a computer technician. This is one of the oldest courses as it was developed back in 1993, but it has been continually updated ever since, so there is no fear of it being dated! The CompTIA A+ course is most suitable for entry level computer technicians, and is different from many other IT programs as they also include many other skills, other than hard computer skills, that an individual is likely to require. These include social skills and instruction in customer service, which makes CompTIA A+ certified individuals highly employable.
CompTIA Network + is suitable for networking professionals. This course shows an employer that the individual possesses highly desirable skills such as competency in troubleshooting, configuring and installing network infrastructure. As IT networking professionals are in strong demand at present, this course puts certified individuals in an enviable position. There are similar courses for other well regarded IT skills such as CompTIA Security + for experienced IT security professionals. These include testing on cryptography, security audits and system security.The CompTIA Linux + is also highly coveted in the industry, as it covers the management of Linux systems among other information. There are also certifications for many other areas of IT, with specific certifications for entry level printer technicians as well as ones for those who are technical instructors, RFID professionals, project managers and home technology professionals. There truly is a CompTIA course to suit anyone for any area of IT.
