CompTIA, the Computing Technology Industry Association, is the leading global provider of vendor-neutral IT certifications. In fact, the organization has awarded more than two million certifications since it began offering them in 1993. Earning a CompTIA certification proves to employers that you have the right knowledge and skills to get the job done, and it can be the boost your career needs.
There are dozens of different CompTIA certifications for almost every aspect of IT that can help you throughout your career in entry-level positions through senior-level management. If you are looking for a great way to begin your IT career, we suggest checking out the CompTIA A+ certification. We also recommend adding a few other certifications on top of that to give you an edge and gain more job opportunities.
Did you know that jobs in computer support are growing at double the rate of the average job in the U.S.? The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates an additional 67,300 qualified professionals will be needed during the next eight years. You could begin an IT career and be on your way to earning your first CompTIA certification in as little as six months with online courses designed to help you gain the skills you need.
Earning CompTIA certification can help you qualify for many different IT roles—all with a great starting salary and future advancement opportunities. Here are some of the jobs you can apply for after earning certification:
This certification could help you land a role as a service desk analyst, help desk technician, field service technician, technical support specialist, data support technician, desktop administrator, help desk technician, end-user computing technician, system support specialist, or associate network engineer.
By earning this certification, you will be ready for a job as a network administrator, network field technician or engineer, IT consultant, computer technician, system engineer, network support specialist, and network analyst.
Earning this certification will allow you to apply for entry-level security roles beginning as a junior IT auditor or penetration tester and is the first step in earning more advanced security certifications down the road.
Stacking these three credentials will show employers that you have the basic skills needed to manage and support devices, networks, and security—a valuable combination for someone just starting or hoping to advance in an IT career.
According to the CompTIA HR Perception of IT Training and Certification Study, 91% of employers believe that IT certifications are a reliable predictor of employee success on the job and say they play a key role in the hiring process.
Certifications are used by hiring managers to weed out unqualified individuals. In fact, 72% of employers require IT certifications for certain jobs openings. The CompTIA study also revealed that 60% of employers use certifications to confirm applicants have the skills needed for the job, and 67% use certifications to measure an applicant’s willingness to work hard to meet a goal.
The average salary for computer user support specialists is $52,690, according to the BLS. General computer support specialists earn a median salary of $55,510, and computer network support specialists earn a median salary of $65,450. The BLS reports the median salary for all computer occupations is $91,250, with high-level IT positions making MUCH more. The CompTIA study also revealed that 92% of employers pay a higher starting salary for those individuals who have earned IT certifications versus those who do not have certifications.
The first thing you will need to do is gain the skills you need to become CompTIA certified. You can do this in many different ways but one of the best and most convenient options is to complete an online training course that will also prepare you to take a CompTIA certification exam(s).
Our online CompTIA Certification Training course will allow you to learn any time it is convenient for you, gaining the skills you need from expert instructors who have performed the jobs they are training you for in real-world companies across the United States. It will provide you with 480 hours of self-paced instruction to be completed over 12 months and includes hands-on practice that will be extremely valuable as you prepare for your CompTIA certification exams. This course will fully prepare you for all three of the certification exams mentioned in this article: the CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, and the CompTIA Security+ exams.