CompTIA A+ Certification is 10 Years Young.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 3, 2003

Industry Benchmark Certification Nears Half-Million Mark in 2003

The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) said today that its A+ certification, celebrating its 10th anniversary this month, will near the milestone of a half-million certified technicians by year end.

Launched as a computing industry initiative in 1993, A+ certification has become the benchmark of best practices for entry-level computer technicians. Courses which prepare students for the two A+ certification exams, one on hardware and the other on operating systems, are taught in high schools, community colleges, universities, and commercial training centers around the globe. Over its 10 years, A+ certification has grown and matured, and has been appropriately modified to ensure its continuing currency and relevancy to the world of IT.

"Trainers and educators want their students to start with A+ because it's the recognized career entry point," said John Venator, president and CEO, CompTIA. "A+ provides the individual with a solid foundation for continuing education and on-the-job experience as well as a mark of professional achievement. Employers have told us A+ benefits them by increasing customer satisfaction, simplifying recruiting and hiring, lowering training costs, and providing measurable competency standards. These are some of the reasons contributing to the continued success of this important certification."

A+ validates that the successful candidate has the knowledge and skills necessary to competently install, build, configure, upgrade, troubleshoot and repair personal computer hardware and operating systems, including troubleshooting basic network and Internet connectivity.

As technology advances, CompTIA upgrades the content of A+ certification. The next upgrade, scheduled for fourth quarter, covers the latest developments in personal computer memory, bus, peripherals, wireless, and the Me and XP operating systems.

Industry involvement in A+ continued development and maintenance is strong with multiple major industry players requiring or integrating the certification into their own training and certification tracks. These include, among others, CompuCom, Fujitsu Japan, Hewlett Packard, IBM, Microsoft, Ricoh and Xerox.

Some of the first individuals to earn A+ certification in June 1993 were contacted by CompTIA and asked to share 10th anniversary perspectives.

(Certificant #9)
Terry Allen, A+, CNA, Certified Support Center Auditor, Certified Help
Desk Manager, Certified Help Desk Analyst
Director, National Remote Support Center

"Getting A+ in 1993 was definitely helpful to me in getting my next
job. Now I encourage all our help desk analysts to become A+
certified. We specify that as part of their performance goals."


(Certificant #15)
Nicholas Condos, CompTIA A+, MCSE
Network Services Manager

"I require all the PC technicians who report to me to be either
CompTIA A+ or Network+ certified. I encourage them to have a can-do
attitude, keep their skills up to date and keep moving forward to
better themselves professionally".


(Certificant #30)
Charles Harrer, CompTIA A+, MCP, MCSE
Network Operations Specialist

"A+ is a certification that everyone likes to see - and one of the
certifications I looked for when hiring technicians. People have found
out that certification plays a big role in the hiring process - that
employers are looking for it. It's a great screening tool."


(Certificant #64)
Imran Shahid, CompTIA A+, CCNA
Senior Network Engineer

"I got a master's degree in networking and afterwards got my A+ and
worked in PC support. People don't necessarily give you a job because
of your degree. When they hire you they want you to be able to work
from day one. My elder brother also has a master's degree - in Library
Science - and asked me the best way to get into computers. I told him
take CompTIA A+."

(Certificant #97)
Brad Rapp, CompTIA A+, MCNE, CCDA, CCNA, MASE, IBM Professional Server
Expert, HP Network Professional, Certified Fabric Professional,
Certified SAN Designer
Corporate Systems Engineer

"All our IT staff are touching hardware. It would be hard to work in
that field and not be A+ certified. A+ gives people an industry
standard to achieve. The concept works."

For more information on A+ and the 2003 upgrade please visit: http://www.comptia.org/certification/A/objectives.asp

CompTIA

CompTIA is a global trade association representing the business interests of the information technology industry. For more than 20 years CompTIA has provided research, networking and partnering opportunities to its more than 15,000 members in 89 countries. The association is involved in developing standards and best practices, and influencing the political, economic and educational arenas that impact IT worldwide. More information is at www.comptia.org.