Difference Between CompTIA A+ 900 and 1000 Core Series
The CompTIA A+ certification has retained its reputation for being considered as the best starting point for a career in IT for many years now. The release of CompTIA’s 220-1001 and 220-1002 (Core 1 & Core 2) series on 15 January 2019, sees a greater emphasis on Cloud computing, virtualisation, Internet of Things, cybersecurity and networking.
Further bolstering the certification’s reputation with expanded content for IT support roles, the A+ course now includes a different perspective on operational procedure competency. With this update, you will receive the best possible start to an IT career by learning how to support users through problem-solving and gaining a thorough insight into the latest technologies in areas such as data management, IT security and Cloud technology.
Advantages of the CompTIA A+ certification
- CompTIA A+ is the only credential that utilises performance-based learning to help you understand IT support tasks from a practical perspective
- This ensures that you are prepared to undertake support tasks as they occur
- The A+ certification is still considered by employers to be a must-have on the CVs of potential employees
- The certification is revised at regular intervals to ensure that it covers all the necessary core skills and knowledge needed to work in an IT support role
What are the differences between the old and new courses?
The first obvious difference is the change in exam codes. The new Core series will replace the old 220-901 and 220-902 with exam codes 220-1001 and 220-1002.
Below we will take a look at the core differences between the 900 and 1000 core series:
| 900 Series | 1000 Core Series |
|---|---|
| Mobile devices and operating systems | Network connectivity for mobile devices, application support and device synchronisation |
| Cloud concept fundamentals | Cloud and virtualisation now enjoy their own dedicated domain |
| Emphasis on security problem solving | Logical security concepts, security settings for Active Directory, software tokens, MDM policies, filtering of MAC addresses, certifi-cates, VPN, DLP, email filtering Security encryption and protocols, authenti-cation procedures, the identification and prevention of security threats |
| Troubleshooting | Troubleshooting and problem solving of core service and support challenges while applying documentation best practices, change management and scripting |
| PCs, laptops, tablets, wearables, smartphones and e-readers and GPS | Laptops, PCs, smartphones, tablets, wearables, e-readers and GPS |
| Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Android, iOS, Linux and Mac OS X | Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Android, iOS, Linux, Mac OS X and Chrome OS |
| Mobile device ports and connection types | Custom configurations for PCs including virtualisation workstations and NAS devices |
| PC hardware components, BIOS/UEFI tools, motherboard form factors, expansion cards | Expanded coverage of IoT (Internet of Things) addressing both device hardware and device connectivity |
| Remote printing and Cloud printing | Sharing multifunction devices and printers via OS settings, wireless and wired connections, 3D printing |
| Mobile device accessories | Implementation of basic data backup and recovery methods, application of data storage and best practice management |
| Ransomware, zombie/botnets and spear phishing | Support of basic IT infrastructure and networking |
| Multifactor authentication, ACLs (Action Control Lists), PowerShell, RDP, iCloud, Linux CLI, SaaS (Software as a Service) applications, Outlook and Gmail | Device operating systems which includes Windows, Mac, Linux, Chrome OS, Android and iOS and administration of client-based as well as Cloud-based SaaS (Software as a Service) software |
| Mobile device connection types | Support of PC, mobile and IoT device hardware |
| Wi-Fi networking and encryption types | Networked hosts, server role, Internet ap-pliances, legacy systems Networking hardware devices such as Routers, switches, access points, Cloud-based networks etc. |
| Router configuration | Privacy issues and policies which will include PII, PCI, GDPR and PHI |
| RAID arrays | PC hardware tools and components, BIOS/UEFI settings, solid state drives RAID 10, hot-swappable storage configurations |
| Scripting has now been introduced as a vital technical support tool |
What to expect from the new exams:
The 220-1001 exam will deal with network troubleshooting, networking technologies, Cloud computing concepts, mobile devices and virtualisation.
The 220-1002 exam will cover the installation and configuration of operating systems, operational procedures, the troubleshooting of software and security.
The revised exams also cover scripting. This is to ensure that you are able to interpret code in order to identify malicious script that should not be present.
The exam will still consist of a maximum of 90 multiple choice, drag-and-drop and performance-based questions with an allotted exam time of 90 minutes. The pass mark for the 220-1001 exam will be 675 on a scale of 100-900 and for the 220-1002 exam, 700 on a scale of 100-900. Both exams will be available in English, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese and Spanish.
Set aside time for study
Your study time will depend on your existing experience and level of knowledge. For those who have no previous experience and little to no knowledge, a timeframe of approximately 120 hours is suggested. Expect to add to those hours to ensure that you make full use of Live Labs in preparation for the performance-based exam questions. Less time will be needed to prepare if you already have experience in IT.
What about the 900 series?
The CompTIA A+ 900 series will still be available until 31 July 2019. If you are already studying towards the 900 series exams, it is suggested that you stay on course and gain the 900 series certification. If you have already passed the 220-901 exam, you will not be able to take the 220-1002 exam instead of the 220-902 exam. In order to gain your A+ certification, you will need to pass both exams from the same series. Keep in mind, however, that you will need to pass this exam before the expiration date mentioned above.
It is possible, however, to use any unused exam vouchers that you have purchased for the 900 series to take the Core series exams instead, provided that the vouchers are used towards exams relating to the same series exams.
Your 900 series certification is still valid!
If you have recently passed your 900 series exams, you need not take the Core series exams to keep your certification up to date. Your certification will remain valid for as long as your CE (continuing education) requirements are met.
In Conclusion
The changes that have been introduced to the internationally recognised CompTIA A+ certification will ensure that you are kept up to date with emerging technologies, new best practices and the latest support tools and techniques. Adding this certification to your CV will give you the best possible start to a career in the field of Information Technology by proving to potential employers that you have the skills and knowledge that they are looking for, provided by a leader in the IT sector – CompTIA.