[Posted 25 Apr 2013 by Kathy Yale]
You need IT certification – maybe you’re starting a new job, or you just switched positions within a business, or company policy just changed, or you want to give yourself an edge over your competitors and add something extra to your résumé. Whatever the reason is, CompTIA offers a variety of certification exams for your career needs. As one of the leading certification providers in the world, CompTIA provides high quality, vendor-neutral – or non-proprietary – certifications that set the standards in essential industry skills. Passing a CompTIA qualification exam requires a thorough understanding of the material you need to know to do your job well, and one of the best ways to prepare for an examination is with a Network+ practice test.
Certifications Available
CompTIA provides sixteen certifications on a variety of topics and two basic computer skills certifications, along with associated courses, textbooks, and practice exams that teach the material. These range from the Strata IT Fundamentals, which covers elementary PC functions and technology, to the CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner, which teaches and tests risk management, analysis, and enterprise security. The Professional series of tests deals with the technical skills needed for various information technology, or IT, jobs; it includes networking, troubleshooting, installation, maintenance, sales, communication, security, printer technology, and disaster recovery. The Specialty series is intended for people in niche markets and includes certifications for cloud computing, environmentally friendly IT, and healthcare systems. All of the material on the Network+ practice test is useful for various careers in the IT industry whether or not your employer requires certification.
The Network+ Test
The Network+ test “covers managing, maintaining, troubleshooting, operating, and configuring basic network infrastructure”. It is intended for network technicians, installers, and administrators; help desk technicians; and cable installers. Some companies require Network+ qualifications (these include Dell, HP, and Xerox), while others merely recommend it (Apple). The test has a maximum of one hundred multiple choice and performance-based (in which a simulated task must be solved) questions that must be completed within ninety minutes. The test is graded on a scale of 100 to 900 points, with a score of 720 required to pass. You can learn the material and prepare for the exam in a variety of ways: CompTIA offers books and study guides; in-person training, if you feel more comfortable learning in a classroom setting; and an online “E-learning Center”.
Pricing
The costs of CompTIA’s study materials, classes, and exams can really add up. The required exam voucher for the Network+ certification costs $261 and study packs can range in price from $32 to $315. Your career’s important, but it can still be a pain to pay for all of that. Luckily, an alternative option exists: the Network+ practice test from Total Seminars.
