Post-Exam Information
The accomplishment of signing up for and actually taking both of the A+ exams is no small feat. Many technicians have avoided certification exams for years. The following sections discuss your options after exam day.
Receiving Your Certificate
If you passed the exam, you will receive your official CompTIA certificate in about six weeks (eight weeks internationally) after exam day. Your certificate will be mailed to the address you provided when you registered for the exam.
When you receive your certificate, it will indicate that you have passed the A+ 220-901 exam. Hold off on framing it until you pass the second exam. After you pass the second exam, you will be sent your A+ certificate. You should hang the certificate on the wall. A certificate hanging on a wall is much harder to lose than a certificate in a filing cabinet or random folder. You never know when an employer or academic institution will request a copy.
Your A+ 220-901 / 220-902 certification is valid for three years. To keep your certificate valid, you must either pass the A+ exams again, pass a higher-level CompTIA certification, or complete 30 continuing education units (CEUs). You can track all your CompTIA certifications and register for CEUs at the following website:
https://www.certmetrics.com/comptia/login.aspx
Examining Certification Options
After passing the A+ exam, you might want to pursue a higher-level CompTIA certification. The hierarchy of exams, from high to low, is as follows:
1. CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP)
2. Security+
3. Network+
If you want to pursue a career in networking, why not consider a vendor-specific certification? Cisco Systems is the leader in the networking field, and their certification exams are among the most highly regarded in the industry.
Cisco has many certifications. But the starting place is definitely the Routing and Switching exam, Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices 1 (ICND1) exam. Successfully passing this exam gets you the right to call yourself a Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician (CCENT). After that, you can choose several paths include Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Routing and Switching, Cisco Certified Network Associate Security (CCNA Security), Cisco Certified Design Associate (CCDA), and several others.
Although passing one of the many CCNA exams is not an easy task, it is the starting point for more advanced Cisco certifications, such as the Cisco Certified Network Professional exams. To learn more about Cisco certifications, visit The Cisco Learning Network at https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/community/certifications.
Another track you can pursue is through Microsoft. If you aren’t looking at a career in networking but just want to focus on technical support, take a look at the Microsoft Desktop certification path. The Microsoft Specialist certification can be obtained by taking one of the following exams:
Specialist certification in Windows 10
Configuring Windows Devices (Exam 70-697) or
Planning for and Managing Devices in the Enterprise (Exam 70-398)
Specialist certification in Windows 7
Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Support Technician (Exam 70-680) or
Windows 7 Enterprise Desktop Administrator (Exam 70-686)
Microsoft also provides a Technology Associate certification with validation of your knowledge of fundamental technology concepts. It requires you to pass any one of the following exams:
Windows Server Administration Fundamentals (Exam 70-365)
Networking Fundamentals (Exam 70-366)
Security Fundamentals (Exam 70-367)
For a higher certification on the networking side, you have the option of an MCSA (Microsoft Solutions Associate) or an MCSE (Microsoft Solutions Expert).
The MCSA for Windows Server 2012
Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012 (Exam 70-410)
Administering Windows Server 2012 (Exam 70-411)
Configuring Advanced Windows Server 2012 Services (Exam 70-412)
The MCSE for Windows Server 2012
Includes all three of the MCSA exams
Designing and Implementing a Server Infrastructure (Exam 70-413)
Implementing and Advanced Server Infrastructure (Exam 70-414)
If You Failed the Exam
If you fail your first attempt at one of the A+ exams, you must wait at least 5 calendar days after the day of the exam to retest. Stay motivated and sign up to take the exam again within a 30-day period of your first attempt. The score report outlines your weaknesses. Find a study group, and use online resources and additional study materials to help you with those difficult topics.
If you are familiar with the general concepts, focus on taking practice exams and memorizing the small details that make the exam so difficult. Consider your first attempt as a formal practice exam and excellent preparation to pass the second attempt. Do not give up. Many people fail their first exam. Just take it again.
Summary
Whether you display your certificate and update your resume or prepare to conquer the exam on your second attempt, remember to marvel at the innovation and creativity behind each concept you learn. The ability of our society to continually improve communication will keep you learning, discovering, and employed for a lifetime.