CompTIA A+ Certification now Available at Vortex Data Systems

New offering to help fill the growing need for skilled Information Technology professionals. 

San Diego, CA, October 6, 1999 – Beginning this month, Vortex Data Systems will begin offering CompTIA A+ certification courses at its Mission Valley technical education center. The CompTIA A+ certification, developed and sponsored by the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), is a widely recognized, valued certification that serves as a stepping stone into the information technology (IT) industry for people who have little or no experience with computer hardware and software. Vortex Data Systems is making these courses available now in answer to the growing demand for skilled IT professionals and the increasing number of people looking to get into the IT industry.

The CompTIA A+ certification is vendor-neutral, meaning that it is not affiliated with any of the industry players such as Microsoft, Novell, and Cisco.  The program verifies that individuals who pass the certification possess basic computer service and repair skills and possess the knowledge appropriate for an entry-level position such as a service technician or help desk professional.

In order to earn CompTIA A+ certification, candidates must pass two exams within 90 days. The exams cover a broad range of hardware and software technologies. In order to prepare for these exams, Vortex offers two courses that cover the exam material: Course A200 Supporting Microcomputers and Course A201 Supporting MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows.  The courses and exams are all available at Vortex.

After completing Supporting Microcomputers, students will have a basic understanding about topics such as:

• Computer basics
• Tools and safety
• Components inside a PC
• Memory
• Installing hard drives and peripherals
• Local Area Networks (LANs)
• Troubleshooting hardware
• Customer service skills

In Supporting MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows, students will learn basics of supporting PC operating systems such as:

• Installing and configuring MS-DOS
• Checking memory
• Upgrading to, exploring, and running Windows 95
• Networking Windows 95
• Troubleshooting the operating system

“In recent months, we have seen an increase in the number of people who are looking to change careers and are interested in getting into the information technology field,” commented Catherine Bristol, Director of Education. “The CompTIA A+ certification is an essential step that will help prepare these individuals to be successful in their new career path.”

Vortex Data Systems is one of the leading sources of technical information in San Diego County. They offer authorized technical certification courses from Microsoft, Novell, and HyCurve as well as a complete range of applications and Internet courses. In addition, they provide their facilities to some of the top user groups at no charge. Vortex is also dedicated to helping youth through innovative scholarship programs like Best and Brightest. For more information on Vortex and its programs, please see their comprehensive web site at www.vortexdata.com.

For more information contact: 

Kristine Guynup
Marketing Coordinator
Vortex Data Systems
7480 Mission Valley Road, Suite 100
San Diego, CA 92108

Tel: 619 497.6400 ext. 210
Fax: 619 497.6410
Email: kguynup@vortexdata.com