Certifies the competency of entry-level (6 months experience) service technicians in the computer industry. Two exams are required to attain A+ certification.

CompTIA A+ Essentials validates knowledge of basic computer hardware and operating systems, covering skills such as installing, building, upgrading, repairing, configuring, troubleshooting, optimizing, diagnosing and preventive maintenance, with additional elements of soft skills and security. The Essentials Exam validates the basic skills needed by any entry-level service technician regardless of job environment.

CompTIA A+ 220-602 (IT Technician) validates the ability to perform tasks such as installation, building, repairing, configuration, troubleshooting, optimizing, diagnosing and preventive maintenance in the context of the field service or enterprise environment. This credential is appropriate for those who work, or plan to work, in a mobile or corporate environment, or hold a position characterized by a high-level of in-person customer interaction. Candidates who pass this exam plus CompTIA A+ Essentials will be CompTIA A+ certified with the IT Technician designation.

Validates the knowledge and abilities of individual with at least nine months of experience in network support or administration.

A typical candidate would have CompTIA's A+ certification or equivalent knowledge and would be able to install, configure and troubleshoot basic networking hardware, protocols and services. This test is also excellent basic preparation for the Cisco CCNA exam.

The CompTIA Security+ certification tests for security knowledge mastery of an individual with two years on-the-job networking experience, with emphasis on security. The exam covers industry-wide topics, including communication security, infrastructure security, cryptography, access control, authentication, external attack and operational and organization security.

There is compelling evidence that neither technologies nor policies alone offer effective protection against security threats. Theft and destruction of intellectual property takes place despite the presence of firewalls, encryption and corporate edicts. The industry and governments around the world must have a well-trained workforce to effectively combat hackers, attacks and security threats. CompTIA Security+ is the standard validation for that workforce.

Tests for security knowledge mastery of an individual with two years on-the-job
networking experience, with emphasis on security.

The exam covers industry-wide topics, including communication security, infrastructure security, cryptography, access control, authentication, external attack and operational and organization security.

CompTIA Linux+ is a vendor-neutral certification, generic across distributions, that validates the knowledge of individuals with a minimum of six to twelve months of practical Linux experience. Professionals holding the CompTIA Linux+ credential can explain fundamental management of Linux systems from the command line, demonstrate knowledge of user administration, understand file permissions, software configurations, and management of Linux-based clients, server systems and security.

Because of the growing popularity of enterprise-ready platforms such as Linux, both employers and professionals realize the importance of skill validation. The industry recognizes that a CompTIA Linux+ certification is a good indicator of foundational proficiency in everyday management of Linux-based clients and basic management of server systems.

The CompTIA Linux+ certification exam validates the knowledge and abilities of individuals with at least six months of Linux experience. A typical candidate would have CompTIA's A+ and Network+ certification or equivalent knowledge and would be able to explain fundamental open source resources/licenses, demonstrate knowledge of user administration, understand file permissions/software configurations and manage local storage devices and network protocols.

This certification is also integrated with Novell’s Certified Linux Professional (CLP) and Certified Linux Engineer (CLE) certifications as the introductory course before taking Novell’s practicum exams.

The Cisco CCNA network associate certification validates the ability to install, configure, operate, and troubleshoot medium-size routed and switched networks, including implementation and verification of connections to remote sites in a WAN. This new curriculum includes basic mitigation of security threats, introduction to wireless networking concepts and terminology, and performance-based skills. This new curriculum also includes (but is not limited to) the use of these protocols: IP, Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP), Serial Line Interface Protocol Frame Relay, Routing Information Protocol Version 2,VLANs, Ethernet, access control lists (ACLs)

Durham Technical Community College is a Cisco Networking Academy. All instructors who teach our Cisco classes are Certified Cisco Trainers and have passed the corresponding test for the materials they are teaching. At DTCC you will have access to Cisco authorized training materials.

There are 4 courses involved in preparation for the CCNA:

• CCNA1– Covered in NET 125
• CCNA2 – Covered in NET 126
• CCNA3 – Covered in NET 225
• CCNA4 – Covered in NET 226
  
• ICND1 (640-822) – This material is covered in NET 125 and NET 126
  ICND2 (640-816) – This material is covered in NET 225 and NET 226
  ( $100 each)
  OR
• CCNA (640-802) – This material is covered in all 4 courses above
  ($125 )
  

Older exams (retiring November 2007) include:

• Cisco Exam 640-821 (INTRO) – NET 125, 126
• Cisco Exam 640-811 (ICND) – NET 225, 226
  ($100 each)
  OR
• Cisco Exam 640-801 (CCNA) – All 4 courses above
  ($125 )

Achieve the CCNA certification by passing the CCNA exam, or both INTRO and ICND.

Discounted exams are available by passing CCNA, INTRO, or ICND Voucher exams, which are made available in the NET 126 and NET 226 classes. The INTRO exam voucher is available in CCNA2, and ICND or CCNA voucher is available in CCNA4. Once you have accepted the INTRO voucher, you will not get the chance for a CCNA voucher, only the ICND. Discounts are approximately 60% off listed prices.

For more information on Cisco certification, visit http://www.cisco.com/en/US/learning/index.html on the Web.

The following chart shows the correlation of Durham Tech’s classes with the exams that are required for the MCSA certification. Note that passing any exam gives the Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) certification.

Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure
Exam 70-291 (or 72-291) - The material for this exam is covered in NOS 231

The material for the A+ exam is covered in CET 111 and 211 or CTS 120 and 220
The material for the Network+ exam is covered in NET 125.
The material for the Security+ exam is covered in SEC 110.

* Durham Tech’s classes provide the student with the knowledge to pass the listed exams. There are other exams that can be taken for the core exams and elective exams. For the complete listing of exams, visit http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcsa/windows2003/

Microsoft exams generally cost $125 each, Durham Tech students may take the academic versions at a discounted price of $60 each.

Durham Technical Community College is a Novell Silver Academic Training Partner. All instructors who teach our Novell classes are either Certified Novell Instructors (CNI) or Novell Academic Instructors (NAI). They have passed the corresponding test for the materials they are teaching at a CNI level. At DTCC we use Novell authorized training materials.

The Novell Certified Linux Professional (Novell CLP) is for people interested in being Linux administrators. Skills demonstrated by someone holding a Novell CLP certification include: installing Linux servers into a network environment, managing users and groups, troubleshooting the SUSE LINUX file system, managing and compiling the Linux kernel, and troubleshooting network processes and services--just to name a few. One need only pass a Novell Practicum (050-689) in order to achieve the certification. The Novell Practicum is a scenario based exam where students apply the knowledge they have learned to solve real-life problems--showing they not only know what to do, but that they can actually do it as well.

All courses in the Novell CLP program are taught on SUSE LINUX. While the course materials cover the theoretical basics common to any distribution of Linux, tasks and skills will specifically focus on working with the SUSE LINUX distribution.

For more information on Novell certification, visit http://www.novell.com/training/certinfo/clp/ or http://www.novell.com/training/certinfo/cle9/ on the Web.

You may register for the CompTIA, Cisco, and Microsoft certification tests by calling VUE at 1-877-551-7587 or register online at www.vue.com. Durham Technical Community College is a VUE testing center, and you may choose to take your test at DTCC. Testing is done in the testing center, room 1318 of the Wynn student services building. Payment for the test is made at the time of registration.

Novell Practicum certification tests are available through Durham Technical Community College as part of the Linux curriculum. Test may be scheduled by calling Harry Bulbrook at 686-3360.