CompTIA A+ Certification Marks 20th Anniversary

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Mar 21, 2013, 09:37 ET

Worldwide vendor-neutral certification still on cutting edge of technology

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., March 21, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In an industry where product lifecycles are often measured in months, CompTIA A+ certification this month marks its 20^th anniversary and continues to hold its standing as the best, first step an individual can take to launch a career in information technology.

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"CompTIA A+ is still on the cutting edge of technology skills, as relevant in 2013 in a world of BYOD, cloud computing and cyber security as it was when it was launched in 1993 as a credential for the break-fix PC repairman," said Todd Thibodeaux, president and chief executive officer, CompTIA.

CompTIA A+ is an ISO/ANSI accredited certification that validates foundation-level knowledge and skills necessary for a career in IT service and support. More than 925,000 IT professionals have earned the credential since its introduction,

The first person to become CompTIA A+ certified was Patrick Farley, a training systems developer for Compaq's server tech support. Farley was certified on March 19, 1993.

"Back in the day, any little highlight on my resume helped me differentiate myself," recalled Farley, who now works as a systems engineer for IBM Systems & Technology Group. "I also liked how the articulation agreements in place allowed me to use A+ as an elective credit that counted toward my bachelor's degree."

Today's IT professionals continue to rely on CompTIA A+ as an entry point to an IT career and a stepping-stone to advancement and promotion.

Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Cory Brown earned his CompTIA A+ certification in January 2013. He plans to pursue other CompTIA certifications to build credit toward a bachelor's degree in computer information technology.

"I wanted to get the CompTIA certs because they're the industry standard, and everyone understands what it takes to get that qualification," said Brown.

CompTIA A+ Fast Facts

Number of countries where CompTIA A+ is currently delivered: 124
Number of CompTIA A+ exams delivered in 1993: 2,265
Subjects covered in 1993 exam: Windows 3.1 and MS-DOS, hard drives measured in megabytes, x386 and 486 CPUs, monochrome CRT displays, parallel printer ports, 3 ½-inch disk drives and dial-up 14.4kbps modems.
Number of exams delivered in 2012: 115,919
Subjects covered in 2013 exam: mobile devices (iOS and Android operating systems), virtualization and security.

About CompTIA
CompTIA is the voice of the world's information technology (IT) industry. Its members are the companies at the forefront of innovation; and the professionals responsible for maximizing the benefits organizations receive from their investments in technology. CompTIA is dedicated to advancing industry growth through its educational programs, market research, networking events, professional certifications, and public policy advocacy. Visit http://www.comptia.org/home.aspx or follow CompTIA at http://www.facebook.com/CompTIA and twitter.com/comptia.

SOURCE CompTIA