Getting Certified

What is Certification?

An official document attesting to a status or level of achievement.

When you pass an industry recognised exam you gain Certification in that subject matter, this does not mean that the exam will reflect how you would complete the task/s on a day to day basis; the one biggest misunderstanding when sitting an certification exam is it will follow your existing knowledge and experience, this is not so and we do state the exam board/s are not interested in what you know, your job is to pass their exam/s.

But it can be a daunting prospect, many people we meet haven’t sat an exam since leaving school, so how do you start to gain a certification in your current job role, we have started to compile a list of organisations spanning IT Workers, Office Workers, and workers within the Finance market, to give you an idea of how you can make those first steps towards gaining an industry recognised certification. 

How do I start?

Office Workers

There are many subject areas available whatever industry you currently reside in, possibly one of the most straight forward ways for someone to start their certification path (who is currently working within an office environment) is to consider achieving the Microsoft Office Specialist MOS certification by using Microsoft Office 365 (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access as individual products) or if you are really motivated sit an exam which shows your knowledge of the whole suite of products (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, OneNote).

The price for purchasing a Training pack to sit a Microsoft Office Specialist exam is £145.00 this includes Online training, Practice tests, the exam and a free retake. To find out more visit our page Microsoft Office User certification page.

IT Workers - New to the Industry or yet to gain a Certification

There are many IT vendors providing their own accreditations, to name but a few:

Amazon AWS, Google Cloud, Cisco, Oracle, Microsoft, CompTIA, SANS, BCS, IBM, Juniper, Java, VmWare.

These Vendors cover:

• Desktop Support
• Server Support
• Software Programming
• Web Development
• Security
• Cloud

If your new to the IT industry and are looking to start a career by achieving an accreditation, we have listed below the main entry level certifications:

**Please take note the Internet is a vast place with many Self Study courses available all of which vary in quality! We have seen candidates at our test centre who have bought poor courses and failed their exams. Talk to us and get the right course so you can PASS the first time.

Whether you’re already working in IT, or considering a career in IT, a certification is your key to new opportunities and higher salaries. Find out how CompTIA certifications can help propel your career forward.

CompTIA A+

The CompTIA A+ certification is the industry standard for computer support technicians. 

The international, vendor-neutral certification proves competence in areas such as installation, preventative maintenance, networking, security and troubleshooting. CompTIA A+ certified technicians also have excellent customer service and communication skills to work with clients.

CompTIA A+ is part of the certification track for corporations such as Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard and Ciscol. Other technology companies, including CompuCom and Ricoh, have made CompTIA A+ certification mandatory for their service technicians. More than 1,000,000 people worldwide have become CompTIA A+ certified since the programme’s inception in 1993.

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The latest version of CompTIA A+ is CompTIA A+ 2019 Edition. Two exams are necessary to be certified: CompTIA A+ Essentials, exam code 220-1001; and CompTIA A+ Practical Application, exam code 220-1002. 

CompTIA A+ Essentials measures the necessary competencies of an entry-level IT professional with a recommended 500 hours of hands-on experience in the lab or field. It tests for the fundamentals of computer technology, networking and security, as well as the communication skills and professionalism now required of all entry-level IT professionals.

CompTIA A+ Practical Application is an extension of the knowledge and skills identified in CompTIA A+ Essentials, with more of a "hands-on" orientation focused on scenarios in which troubleshooting and tools must be applied to resolve problems.

Get your hands on a Sense IT A+ 1001 1002 Certification Bundle Kit

 

CompTIA Network+ is a vendor neutral networking certification that is trusted around the world. It validates the essential knowledge and skills needed to confidently design, configure, manage and troubleshoot any wired and wireless devices. CompTIA Network+ certified individuals are in-demand worldwide.

Network+ is vendor-neutral and globally recognized

CompTIA Network+ professionals are trained to work with a variety of hardware, software and networks. Take your talents wherever your IT ambitions lead you.

Network+ makes you shine in a growing industry

CompTIA Network+ professionals are known to excel in their job: 53% of IT and business executives agree that certified staff performs at a higher level than non-certified staff; this according to the CompTIA International Technology Adoption and Workforce Trends report. Global Knowledge’s IT Skills and Salary Report estimates the average salary of a Network+ certified IT professional at about £50,000.

Cisco

Cisco CCNA Routing and Switching

Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Routing and Switching is a certification program for entry-level network engineers that helps maximize your investment in foundational networking knowledge and increase the value of your employer's network. CCNA Routing and Switching is for Network Specialists, Network Administrators, and Network Support Engineers with 1-3 years of experience. The CCNA Routing and Switching validates the ability to install, configure, operate, and troubleshoot medium-size routed and switched networks.

Required Exam(s)

200-301 CCNA