Delivery: Online
Estimated Length: 30 seat hours
Price: $349
Add to My Account Create New Account
CompTIA A+ certification is an entry-level credential that validates foundational IT skills and knowledge. It is one of the most recognized certifications for those starting a career in IT and is often considered a starting point for various IT roles. With the CompTIA A+ certification, there is no experience or study requirement; students only need to pass two exams: 220-1001 (Core 1) and 220-1002 (Core 2).
The A+ course covers a wide range of topics to equip students with the necessary skills to troubleshoot and solve various IT problems, and provides an in-depth view of Core 1 and Core 2.
- Core 1 focuses on hardware, networking, mobile devices, and troubleshooting. Topics include identifying, using, and connecting computer hardware; basic networking concepts; configuration and troubleshooting of network switches, routers, and firewalls; mobile device configuration; basic concepts of virtualization and cloud computing; virtual machine (hypervisor) setup; and hardware and network troubleshooting.
- Core 2 focuses on operating systems, security, software troubleshooting, and operational procedures. Topics include installation and configuration of operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux, and mobile OSs); security fundamentals, including confidentiality, integrity, and availability; implementing security measures, such as firewalls, antivirus software, secure access controls, and physical security; diagnosing and resolving software issues; and best practices for safety and operational procedures.
Upon completion, students are prepared with essential IT skills, including hardware and software installation, configuration, and repair; network and mobile device troubleshooting; and operating system management. They will also have a basic understanding of cybersecurity, virtualization, cloud computing, and IT support best practices, which prepares them for entry-level IT roles and provides a solid foundation for further specialization.
Delivery Options: The course is delivered online. Lessons and final exams are taken online.
Completion Time: The estimated completion time for this course is 30 hours. The maximum allotted time is 4 months from the date of enrollment.
Recommended Prerequisite: N/A
Next Course Recommendation: N/A
Course Benefits:
- use this course to help prepare for the CompTIA A+ certification exam
- receive an industry-recognized NCTI certificate of graduation
Ideal for:
- Beginners looking to start an IT career in entry-level roles like help desk technician, IT support specialist, or field service technician.
- Individuals with some IT experience who want to formalize their knowledge, as it covers a broad range of fundamental skills, including hardware, software, operating systems, networking, security fundamentals, and troubleshooting.
Course Objectives:
Upon completing this course, students will be able to:
Course Outline:
- Safety and Professionalism
Core 1: Tools of the trade and troubleshooting theory
Core 2: Professional Communication, dealing with difficult customers, and physical safety - Introduction to Computers and Operating Systems
Core 1: Primary PC components, touring a PC, what is a computer
Core 2: Common safety procedures; what is an operating system; users and super users; why Windows; touring Windows 10 and 11; touring the macOS; touring Linux
- CPUs
Core 1: What is a CPU; modern CPUs; 32-bit vs. 64-bit computing; choosing the right CPU; CPU generations and architecture; CPU cooling; installing and troubleshooting a CPU - RAM
Core 1: RAM technology, RAM capacity, RAM features, virtual memory, and installing and troubleshooting RAM - BIOS and UEFI
Core 1: What is BIOS, POST, system setup, and troubleshooting firmware - Motherboards
Core 1: Form factors, chipsets, choosing the right motherboard, and installing and troubleshooting a motherboard - Power Supplies
Core 1: The power supply, choosing a power supply, cooling your system, and installing and troubleshooting a PSU
Core 2: Core 2: Cooling your system and power protection - Mass Storage Technologies
Core 1: Introduction to mass storage, magnetic disk drives, solid-state drives (SSDs), SCSI, and boot order
Core 2: Boot order - Implementing Mass Storage
Core 1: RAID, hardware RAID, software RAID in storage spaces, encrypting mass storage, and mass storage troubleshooting
Core 2: Hardware RAID, software RAID in storage spaces, encrypting mass storage, understanding partitioning, MBR partitioning, GPT partitioning, understanding file systems, popular file systems, formatting in action, dynamic disks, new installation – first drive, and maintaining storage disks - Essential Peripherals
Core 1: USB standards; understanding USB; configuring USB; thunder and lightning; optical media; readers and scanners; common peripherals; webcams and videoconferencing; installing and troubleshooting expansion cards
Core 2: Understanding USB and webcams and videoconferencing - Installing and Upgrading Operating Systems
Core 1: Windows 11 editions and features
Core 2: Windows 11 editions and features, boot from everything, installing and upgrading Windows, post-installation tasks, Linux features and tools, and upgrading macOS - Working with Operating Systems
Core 1: macOS core tools
Core 2: macOS core tools; the task manager; the control panel; Windows settings; MMC and additional tools; and what is the registry - Users, Groups, and Permissions
Core 2: Introduction to users and groups, managing users and groups, NTFS permissions, Linux and macOS permissions, file explorer, sharing resources, and security policies - Maintaining and Optimizing Operating Systems
Core 2: Maintaining Windows, maintaining macOS, maintaining Linux, working with applications, backing up your data in Windows, and backing up your data in Linux and macOS - Working with the Command-Line Interface
Core 2: Understanding the CLI, navigating the CLI, working with folders, working with files, working with drives, super copy commands, command-line permissions, advanced Windows commands, advanced Linux commands, introduction to scripting, interpreted languages, and scripting and the terminal - Troubleshooting Operating Systems
Core 1: Troubleshooting boot problems, troubleshooting applications, and kernel panic
Core 2: Troubleshooting boot problems, troubleshooting applications, kernel panic, Windows recovery environment, advanced Windows startup options, and troubleshooting at the GUI - Display Technologies
Core 1: Monitor technologies, LCD breakdown, graphics cards and connections, resolutions and aspect ratios, installing a graphics card, projectors, and troubleshooting display technologies
Core 2: Graphics cards and connections, and multiple monitors - Essentials of Networking
Core 1: Introduction to networking, hubs vs. switches, hexadecimal, WANs and routers, cables and connectors, crimping cables, structured cabling, and network card troubleshooting
Core 2: Introduction to networking and hexadecimal
- TCP/IP Basics
Core 1: Introduction to TCP/IP; special IP addresses; network address translation (NAT); dynamic IP addressing; IPv6; port numbers; TCP, UDP, and ICMP
Core 2: Introduction to TCP/IP; special IP addresses; network address translation (NAT); dynamic IP addressing; network IDs and subnet masks; working with connections - Operating System Networking, and Network Troubleshooting
Core 1: Understanding DNS; Working with DNS; Windows Naming; Working with Workgroups; Windows Sharing with macOS and Linux; Routers; Basic Router Configuration; Firewall Configuration; Windows Firewall; Port Forwarding; Advanced Router Configuration; Virtual LANs (VLANs); Network Troubleshooting
Core 2: Working with DNS; Windows naming; working with workgroups; Windows sharing with macOS and Linux; routers; basic router configuration; firewall configuration; Windows firewall; port forwarding; advanced router configuration; virtual LANs (VLANs); working with Active Directory; the net command
- Wireless Networking
Core 1: Wireless network hardware, Wi-Fi standards, basic WAP setup, connecting to a Wi-Fi network, it’s a huge mesh, enterprise wireless, beyond Wi-Fi, and troubleshooting wireless connections
Core 2: Wireless network hardware, basic WAP setup, connecting to a Wi-Fi network, enterprise wireless, beyond wi-Fi, troubleshooting wireless connections, and wireless encryption - Getting Organized
Core 1: Beyond the LAN, internet tiers, broadband connections, firewalls and servers, telnet and SSH, remote desktop connections, the World Wide Web, file transfer protocol (FTP), email, proxy servers, virtual private networks (VPNs), Internet of Things (IoT), and troubleshooting internet connections
Core 2: Telnet and SSH, remote desktop connections, the World Wide Web, file transfer protocol (FTP), proxy servers, virtual private networks (VPNs), Internet of Things (IoT), troubleshooting internet connections, and browser security - Virtualization, Cloud Computing, and AI
Core 1: Understanding virtualization, your first virtual machine, advanced virtualization setup, cloud computing, cloud ownership, and cloud-based applications
Core 2: Application integration, AI policies and procedures, limitations, and private vs. public - Portable Computing
Core 1: Laptop features, laptop hardware troubleshooting – the tools, laptop hardware – core hardware, laptop hardware – CPU and motherboard, touring your laptop display, and power management
Core 2: Laptop features, laptop hardware troubleshooting – the tools, and power management - Understanding Mobile Devices
Core 1: What is a mobile device, mobile connections, touring Android, touring iOS, and virtual reality
Core 2: Touring Android and touring iOS - Maintaining and Securing Mobile Devices
Core 1: Maintaining mobile devices, mobile devices and email, mobile synchronization, mobile device security, mobile security troubleshooting, and mobile device troubleshooting
Core 2: Maintaining mobile devices, mobile devices and email, mobile device security, and mobile device troubleshooting - Printers and Multifunction Devices
Core 1: Laser printers, inkjet printers, impact printers, thermal printers, installing a local printer, sharing printers, installing wireless and cloud printers, troubleshooting printers, and 3D printing
Core 2: Installing a local printer and sharing printers - Essential Security Practices
Core 1: Dealing with threats, physical security, and multifactor authentication (MFA)
Core 2: Dealing with threats, physical security, multifactor authentication (MFA), threats, and passwords and authentication - Securing Endpoint Systems
Core 2: Malware, anti-malware, social engineering, licensing, incident response, and environmental controls - Operational Procedures
Core 1: The zen of backup and ticketing systems
Core 2: The zen of backup, ticketing systems, documents you need to know, data you need to know, change management, and recycling and data destruction