What is Network+ Certification?

Recently, CertCities, the online magazine for IT professionals, rated the vendor neutral Comp TIA Network+ certification one of the most fair and broad tests in the industry. In addition, the e-zine rated the test and certification, "an excellent measure of knowledge and experience."

The Network+ certification is for network administrators with nine or more months of experience in network support. The certification is designed to show that candidates have the technical abilities in media and topographies, protocols and standards, and network support and implementation.

The Network+ certification is fast becoming the standard of network competency. It is accepted by Novell, Lotus and Microsoft as a substitution exam for many of their own networking fundamentals certifications. Approximately 50,000 information technology professionals have the Network + certification, and that number continues to grow.

After nine months of experience in network support, candidates for the Network + certification can take the exam. Often, a candidate will already have CompTIA's A+ certification or equivalent knowledge and will already be able to install, configure and troubleshoot basic networking hardware, protocols and services. The Network + exam is available at testing centers worldwide in four languages: English, Japanese, German and French.

The exam covers four general areas:

The Network+ exam has 72 questions and must be completed in 90 minutes. The exam is graded on a scale of 100 –900, with a minimum passing score of 646.

If you fail your first try at the Network+ exam, you can take a second exam immediately. If a third test is necessary, you must wait 30 days between the second and third testing sessions.

Aside from the obvious benefit of having a standard benchmark with which you can identify your skills, there are other benefits of the Network+ certification.

This exam may be accepted for college credit toward a specific degree from many academic institutions. In addition, the Network+ certification is considered a lifetime certification and will not need to be renewed.

Networking support and administration is one of the hottest areas in IT right now, and having a networking certification on your resume is a stand-out feature. Because the Network+ certification is vendor-neutral, you may be considered for more positions than those with more vendor-specific certifications.

Network+ certification may also mean a bigger pay check. Certmag’s 2002 online salary survey found that 82 percent of professionals with Network+ certifications received a raise in the year following their test. Those wage increases averaged more than 10 percent.

With employers, nothing takes the place of solid, real-life experience with computer technologies, but certifications can give credibility to your resume. The Network+ certification will give you the solid measure of your technical abilities you need to stand out in today’s IT workplace.

Get the certification you need to advance your career! Check our list of schools and colleges offering computer certification programs.