CompTIA A+ Certification Overview

Practice vocabulary flashcards covering the introduction to CompTIA A+ certification, exam structures, and basic troubleshooting concepts mentioned in the lecture.

CompTIA

Computing Technology Industry Association, an organization founded in $1982$ that offers vendor-neutral certifications for IT professionals.

Vendor Neutral

A certification approach where topics are not tied to any single vendor's products, providing skills applicable across the entire IT industry.

A+ Certification

An entry-level technician certification first obtained in $1993$ that covers hardware, networking, operating systems, and mobile devices.

Core 1 (220-1001)

The first required A+ exam, released on $15\,January\,2019$, which primarily covers hardware, mobile devices, networking, virtualization, and cloud computing.

Core 2 (220-1002)

The second required A+ exam which focuses on operating systems, security, software troubleshooting, and operational procedures.

Performance-based Questions

Interactive exam items that require test-takers to perform specific tasks or commands in a simulated environment to demonstrate practical skills.

IT Fundamentals

An optional pre-career course and certification intended for beginners or middle and high school students to gain basic computing competency.

Pearson VUE

The testing organization with centers in over $120$ countries where candidates must book and sit for their CompTIA exams.

Exam Voucher

A tool used to reduce the cost of exams, often included in training courses or books; the standard cost for an A+ exam is approximately $219$.

Passing Scores

The required scores to pass the A+ exams, which are $675$ for the $1001$ exam and $700$ for the $1002$ exam, out of a maximum scale of $900$.

IPConfig

A specific command used within troubleshooting simulations to retrieve the network configuration of a workstation.

Ping

A networking command used to test connectivity between a device and a destination, such as Google, to verify internet access.

Access Control List (ACL)

A set of rules on a router that determines which traffic is allowed or denied; troubleshooting this often involves removing rules that block internet access.

Dry Erase Board

The writing material provided by test centers to candidates for making notes during the exam, as personal pens and paper are prohibited.