In 2009 each programme under-went updates, and new examinations are actually in existence for them both. 'A+' examinations that commenced using the prefix 600 (that is the 2006/2007 edition) are now being phased-out worldwide. In the UK, they cease being offered on August 31st 2010. Up until that date, students can sit either the '600' or the more recent 700 examinations at regional test-centres (namely Vue & Prometric). Logic dictates that new entrant students should take version 2009. A+ 2009 is now presented as '220/701' 'CompTIA' A+ Essentials and 220-702 'CompTIA' A+ Practical Application. The 4 earlier examinations have been stream-lined in to two new examinations, & some further updated information has been included. The old structure was 1 compulsory 'essentials' exam and 3 'electives', of which just one was required to be sat. During the last several years, the marketplace has progressed to the stage where all 4 examinations are actually regarded as necessary - hence the re-formatting in to two essential examinations. An upgrade examination has been produced by 'CompTIA' for everyone who have the old accreditation. 'BR-003' is the exam reference. Passing the up-grade examination will in most cases take more study, although this ought not to be especially much of a challenge for people who formerly studied all four. Sufficient training time need to be allowed for the new technology elements though.

With all the options available, is it any wonder that nearly all newcomers to the industry don't really understand the best career path they should even pursue. Perusing a list of IT job-titles is next to useless. Surely, most of us have no concept what our own family members do for a living - let alone understand the intricacies of a new IT role. To come through this, a discussion is necessary, covering a number of definitive areas:

- Personalities play a major role - what gets you 'up and running', and what are the areas that get you down.

- What length of time can you allocate for the retraining?

- Where do you stand on job satisfaction vs salary?

- Learning what the main work areas and markets are - and what makes them different.

- The level of commitment and effort you're prepared to spend on getting qualified.

To be honest, the only way to seek advice on these areas is through a chat with an experienced advisor who has a background in IT (as well as the commercial requirements.)

For the new trainee to I.T., CompTIA offers the basic foundation training programs in many sectors. Individuals wanting to get into networks & support, or servers, security & systems should most often begin with 'CompTIA', although it's fair to state that CompTIA certifications can boost any Curriculum Vitae targeted towards the I.T. market. A new package of starter-level programs named STRATA have been released by 'CompTIA'. These are for those who could do with a better understanding of fundamental IT information, but do not always work in IT themselves.

Sometimes, individuals don't catch on to what information technology can do for us. It is thrilling, changing, and means you're doing your bit in the gigantic wave of technology that will affect us all over the next generation. Technology, computers and dialogue via the internet will noticeably alter our lifestyles in the future; remarkably so.

Always remember that typical remuneration in the IT market throughout this country is noticeably greater than remuneration packages in other industries, so in general you'll most likely receive considerably more as a trained IT professional, than you'd get in most other industries. The need for well trained and qualified IT technicians is guaranteed for quite some time to come, due to the ongoing development in this sector and the very large deficiency that remains.

If your advisor doesn't ask you a lot of questions - chances are they're actually nothing more than a salesman. If they're pushing towards a particular product before looking at your personality and current experience level, then it's very likely to be the case. With a bit of real-world experience or qualifications, you may find that your starting point is different from a beginner. Consider starting with some basic Microsoft package and Windows skills first. This can set the scene for your on-going studies and make the slope up to the higher-levels a bit more manageable.

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