CompTIA A+ IT Technician Curriculum Outline

Installing, Configuring, and Troubleshooting PC Components

Overview/Description
To recognize how to install, configure and troubleshoot PC components

Target Audience
The audience for this path includes computer technicians who have accumulated 500 hours hand-on experience in a lab or in the field and, ideally, have completed the A+ Essentials exam (220-601).

Prerequisites
None

Expected Duration
2.25 Hours

Objectives :

Installing, Configuring, and Troubleshooting PC Components

  • Recognize how to select and install internal components in given scenarios.
  • Recognize how to select, install, and configure display and input devices and adapter cards in given scenarios.
  • Install and configure PC components in given scenarios.
  • Identify tools, diagnostic procedures, and troubleshooting techniques for personal computer components in given scenarios.
  • Identify which tool to use and which steps to take when troubleshooting PC components in given scenarios.
  • Recognize common preventive maintenance techniques for personal computer components.
  • Troubleshoot operational problems in a given scenario.

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    Working with Laptops and Portable Devices

    Overview/Description
    To understand the features of laptops and portable devices, including major components, communication methods, and peripherals

    Target Audience
    The audience for this path includes computer technicians who have accumulated 500 hours hand-on experience in a lab or in the field and, ideally, have completed the A+ Essentials exam (220-601).

    Prerequisites
    None

    Expected Duration
    1.25 Hours

    Objectives :

    Working with Laptops and Portable Devices

  • Identify the major components of the LCD and recognize laptop-specific communication connections, power, and electrical input devices.
  • Recognize how to remove laptop-specific hardware and identify how video sharing affects memory.
  • Recognize how to use procedures and techniques to diagnose power conditions, video, keyboard, pointer and wireless card issues in given scenarios.
  • Troubleshoot laptop issues in a given scenario.

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    Understanding and Maintaining Networks

    Overview/Description
    To understand the principles of networking and basic diagnostic and troubleshooting techniques

    Target Audience
    The audience for this path includes computer technicians who have accumulated 500 hours hand-on experience in a lab or in the field and, ideally, have completed the Essentials exam (220-601).

    Prerequisites
    None

    Expected Duration
    2.25 Hours

    Objectives :

    Understanding and Maintaining Networks

  • Recognize the characteristics of networking and Internet protocols.
  • Identify characteristics of technologies for establishing network connectivity.
  • Recognize networking protocols and technologies for establishing connectivity in given scenarios.
  • Install and configure a browser and establish a network connection in a given scenario.
  • Recognize how to share network resources in a given scenario.
  • Recognize the tools and diagnostic procedures for troubleshooting network problems.
  • Recognize how to perform preventative maintenance of networks, including securing and protecting network cabling.
  • Configure and troubleshoot a network connection in a given scenario.

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    Maintaining Operating Systems

    Overview/Description
    To understand how to manage and optimize operating systems

    Target Audience
    The audience for this path includes computer technicians who have accumulated 500 hours hand-on experience in a lab or in the field and, ideally, have completed the A+ Essentials exam (220-601)

    Prerequisites
    None

    Expected Duration
    3 Hours

    Objectives :

    Maintaining Operating Systems

  • Identify the function of command-line functions and utilities for managing operating systems.
  • Recognize how to create, view, and manage disks, directories, and files on operating systems.
  • Locate and use operating system utilities in given scenarios.
  • Recognize procedures and utilities for optimizing operating systems in given scenarios.
  • Manage and optimize an operating system in given scenarios.
  • Recognize how to use diagnostic and recovery tools for operating systems.
  • Recognize how to resolve common operational errors in given scenarios.
  • Identify the preventive maintenance measures for operating systems.
  • Resolve operational problems in a given scenario.

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    Installing and Troubleshooting Printers and Scanners

    Overview/Description
    To recognize how to install and troubleshoot printers and scanners

    Target Audience
    The audience for this path includes computer technicians who have accumulated 500 hours hand-on experience in a lab or in the field and, ideally, have completed the Essentials exam (220-601).

    Prerequisites
    None

    Expected Duration
    1.75 Hours

    Objectives :

    Installing and Troubleshooting Printers and Scanners

  • Recognize the processes used by printers and scanners.
  • Install, configure, and optimize printers and scanners in given scenarios.
  • Install and optimize a printer in a given scenario.
  • Identify the symptoms common printer problems and the tools and procedures for troubleshooting printers and scanners.
  • Troubleshoot laser printers in a given scenario.
  • Identify preventive maintenance measures for printers and scanners.

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    Managing IT Security

    Overview/Description
    To understand basic security principles and security software and how to troubleshoot security issues

    Target Audience
    The audience for this path includes computer technicians who have accumulated 500 hours hand-on experience in a lab or in the field and, ideally, have completed the A+ Essentials exam (220-601).

    Prerequisites
    None

    Expected Duration
    1.5 Hours

    Objectives :

    Managing IT Security

  • Identify the characteristics of access control, auditing, and event logging.
  • Install and configure security in given scenarios.
  • Install and configure software and data security in given scenarios.
  • Recognize how to diagnose and troubleshoot software and data security issues in given scenarios.
  • Troubleshoot a firewall and a shared folder in a given scenario.
  • Identify how to prevent social engineering situations.

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    Recognizing Safety Procedures, Effective Communication, and Professional Behavior

    Overview/Description
    To recognize the importance of workplace safety and professional workplace behavior

    Target Audience
    The audience for this path includes computer technicians who have accumulated 500 hours hand-on experience in a lab or in the field and, ideally, have completed the A+ Essentials exam (220-601)

    Prerequisites
    None

    Expected Duration
    1.25 Hours

    Objectives :

    Recognizing Safety Procedures, Effective Communication, and Professional Behavior

  • Recognize potential hazards and how to overcome them with proper safety procedures.
  • Recognize guidelines for effective communication in given scenarios.
  • Recognize how to respond to given workplace scenarios in a professional manner.
  • Recognize proper safety procedures, how to communicate effectively with customers, and how to use job-related professional behaviour in given scenarios.

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