Overview
This course prepares students for the CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1101) certification exam, covering foundational IT, hardware, networking, mobile devices, cloud, and troubleshooting skills.
About CompTIA A+ Certification
- CompTIA A+ is an industry-recognized, entry-level IT certification.
- To be fully certified, you must pass both Core 1 (220-1101) and Core 2 (220-1102) exams.
- Core 1 covers mobile devices, networking, hardware, virtualization, and troubleshooting.
Course Structure & Content
- The course includes 15.5 hours of video, 1 practice test, and 21 downloadable resources.
- Content is divided into 23 sections with 126 lectures, quizzes, and a practice exam.
- Main topics: Safety, professionalism, visible computer components, CPUs, RAM, firmware, motherboards, power supplies, storage, networking, and troubleshooting.
Exam Domains and Coverage
- Mobile Devices (15%): Laptops, tablets, smartphones, and device setup.
- Networking (20%): Routers, switches, SOHO networks, IPv4/IPv6, DNS, VPNs, internet connections.
- Hardware (25%): Cables, motherboards, CPUs, power supplies, RAM, drives, peripherals.
- Virtualization/Cloud (11%): Cloud types (IaaS, SaaS, PaaS), cloud storage, virtualization.
- Hardware & Network Troubleshooting (29%): Best practices, diagnosing and fixing common hardware and network issues.
Exam Details
- Exam code: 220-1101; up to 90 questions, multiple choice and performance-based.
- Exam length: 90 minutes; passing score: 675/900.
- Exam is available in multiple languages and costs $239 (discounts available).
Recommended Prerequisites & Audience
- No strict prerequisites, but 9-12 months of hands-on IT experience is recommended.
- Designed for those seeking IT jobs, improving IT skills, or seeking foundational tech knowledge.
Key Terms & Definitions
- CompTIA A+ — An entry-level IT certification covering foundational tech skills.
- SOHO Network — Small Office/Home Office network setup.
- RAID — Redundant Array of Independent Disks, a storage technology for redundancy and performance.
- Virtualization — Using software to run multiple operating systems on one hardware device.
- Cloud Computing — Delivery of computing services over the internet.
- Firmware — Software programmed into hardware devices, such as BIOS/UEFI.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Watch course videos and complete all quizzes and practice tests.
- Review downloadable PDFs of exam objectives.
- Gain hands-on experience with computer hardware and networks.
- Schedule the Core 1 and Core 2 exams when ready for certification completion.