For Immediate Release: May 4, 2005
A+ COMPUTER CERTIFICATION COURSE TO START MAY 25 AT UMW’S COLLEGE OF GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
Fredericksburg, Va. – The University of Mary Washington’s College of Graduate and Professional Studies (CGPS) will offer a 10-session course to prepare for the CompTIA A+ computer certification beginning Wednesday, May 25.
The A+ course will be held Wednesday evenings from May 25 through August 1 at CGPS, located on Route 17 in Stafford County three miles north of Interstate 95 exit 133. The instructor-led, hands-on classes will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. in a state-of-the-art computer lab at the campus. Students can also choose an option that includes a 10 hour lab, which offers hands-on instructor-led exercises.
Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) certifications are the recognized industry standards for basic information technology (IT) skills. A+ certification validates the competency of entry-level computer service professionals to perform warranty service and to troubleshoot, install and upgrade programs.
The prerequisite for the A+ course is knowledge of personal computers. The course prepares individuals to take two test modules that must be passed to gain the valued A+ certification – one core exam and one operating system exam.
Once students complete the A+ training, they can take the two exams at CGPS, which is now a Pearson VUE testing site. Pearson VUE, an electronic testing business of Pearson Education, administers computer-based exams for leading IT certification programs such as Microsoft, Cisco and IBM, as well as CompTIA.
A+ certification is required by the numerous hardware vendors that allow only A+ certified technicians to perform warranty service.
The A+ training prepares professionals to troubleshoot, install, configure and upgrade programs; use DOS, Windows and their applications; and master skills in formal problem solving. Participants also will gain hardware knowledge in CPUs, memory, storage media, modems, network interface cards (NICs) and peripherals.
Financial aid is available. CGPS can arrange contract and in-house programs for private and public organizations.
For more information about the A+ program, contact Lynn V. Hamilton, director of the Technology Academy, at (540) 286-8000, toll free at (888) 692-4968 or by e-mail at lhamilto@umw.edu. Additional information, including a course schedule and registration form, also is available online at http://www.umw.edu/technology_academy/a_certification.
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News release prepared by: Amy Jessee