The CompTIA A+ certification is widely recognized as:
- The foundational certification for IT professionals entering the field.
- A demonstration of competence in essential IT skills.
- Highly sought-after by employers for entry-level IT positions.
- Not necessarily easy to pass, requiring dedicated study and preparation.
Given the difficulty of the exams, it’s wise to find a CompTIA A+ training program to properly prepare you. And it’s even better if you can find a program that’s free.
Searching Google reveals an overwhelming number of options. Most of these results are self-guided courses, some of which are free and seemingly legit. But others look scammy, calling themselves free, but with a little digging you discover that it’s just a short free trial—or that essential course supplements (which are key to passing the exams) aren’t free at all.
These courses, free or not, tend to lack the depth of learning that’s provided by guided CompTIA A+ training programs. What’s more, self-guided learning can be a financially risky approach. It’s not guaranteed that you’ll pass your exams on the first try, especially without expert guidance. Repeated retakes will cost a lot of money, because they normally cost more than $500.
Instructor-led training lets you benefit from the guidance of experts who can clarify difficult concepts, provide personalized feedback, and thoroughly prepare you for the certification exams.
But can you get all this for free?
Yes, you can.
It’s exactly what we offer here at Climb Hire. We’re a US-based nonprofit organization dedicated to helping low-income and underrepresented working adults break into the tech industry.
Our IT Support training program prepares you for CompTIA A+ certification exam success, gives you a supportive network of like minded people, and lines you up for the next steps in your IT career.
In this guide, we’ll show you exactly how our free CompTIA A+ training works.
Free CompTIA A+ Training Programs
Free instructor-led CompTIA A+ training programs usually focus on providing support to traditionally underserved groups, including unemployed or low-income individuals, military veterans, and minorities. Typically, these programs land in one of two groups:
- Government or corporate-sponsored initiatives
- Nonprofit organizations
Government or Corporate-Sponsored Initiatives
Sometimes, local governments and corporations will sponsor free education-based IT programs in service of the community. This was particularly common following the Covid-19 pandemic after many workers became displaced.
For example, the Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development offered free CompTIA training to residents in order to help the state economy recover. Other examples include Colorado, where Goodwill offers a free course for several CompTIA certifications. The CUNY Upskilling Scholarship Program also funds a free CompTIA A+ training course for New York residents, with classes being held at Bronx Community College. These are just a few examples.
The downside of many of these programs is that you have to attend in-person classes and be a local resident to qualify. If you don’t live in an area where a free CompTIA A+ training program is offered, or you don’t have the schedule flexibility for on-site classes, you won’t have access to these opportunities.
Nonprofit Organizations
Some philanthropic-funded nonprofits are geared specifically towards skill development in the tech sector, helping people from different backgrounds get started on a new career path.
Climb Hire is one such nonprofit organization.
You don’t need to have any previous experience or any particular level of education to qualify for our IT training—you just need to be 24–40 years old, authorized to work in the US, and willing to commit 20 hours per week to learning for your selected 6-month session. This includes 9 hours of classes per week, and 11 hours per week for completing assignments and weekly career prep.
It’s totally free, and the cost of the exams (normally $500+) is also covered in your scholarship.
Over 80% of our Climbers secure employment within six months of program completion, frequently experiencing a significant increase in salary of over $50k.
What’s involved in our free CompTIA A+ training?
A CompTIA A+ certification will prepare you for various technical jobs in the IT industry, including roles like IT support technician and desktop support specialist. To earn a CompTIA A+ certification, you’ll have to pass two exams. These are called Core 1 (220-1001) and Core 2 (220-1002). You’ll learn everything from troubleshooting basic IT issues, to configuring device operating systems, to data backup and recovery.
You can preview our syllabus here, but here’s a brief overview of what we cover in our program:
- IT basics, including networking, hardware, software, troubleshooting, and operating systems.
- Mobile devices, including laptop hardware and displays, device configuration and connectivity.
- Networking, including ports/protocols, network devices, wireless networks, network services and configurations, DNS/DHCP configuration, and much more.
- Hardware, including cables and adapters, memory, storage devices, motherboards, and more.
- More, including cloud computing, operating systems, security, etc.
This is a 6-month training program, and you’ll graduate with the official CompTIA A+ certification.
The program is completely remote—although still taught by our experts in real-time. This gives you the guidance you need to navigate complex technical material and exam objectives, but allows you to balance your studies with other responsibilities.
You’ll study in small group settings called “pods” alongside a supportive network of other learners, and you’ll enjoy interactive and guided laboratory sessions for hands-on learning.
Plus, you’ll gain access to our extensive professional network. Partner companies collaborate with Climb Hire and often recruit our top graduates. While we can’t promise a job placement, the connections within our community regularly give Climbers an edge in the job market.
(An added bonus—after finishing the coursework, you’ll be welcomed into our vibrant alumni community as you begin your IT career journey.)
Extra Benefits of Training through Climb Hire
- Our programs provide training in soft skills that help you get a job. Things like interview preparation, resume writing, and interpersonal communication.
- You’ll receive dedicated support for your job hunt. Each student will be assigned a Career Development Advisor who will assist you with every aspect of the job application process.
- You’ll receive dedicated support for your job hunt. Each student will be assigned a Career Development Advisor who will assist you with every aspect of the job application process.
Don’t forget, thanks to our generous donors, our IT training program is completely free for all students who enroll in 2024. And we also cover the cost of the CompTIA A+ exams—so alongside the free tuition, you save more than $500 that you’d otherwise spend on the exams.
Climb Hire’s success stories speak for themselves. After working as a cook for several years, Miguel noticed that peers his age were earning significantly higher salaries. This realization prompted him to seek a career change. Following his completion of a program at Climb Hire, Miguel secured a position at IBM in a role that was previously beyond his reach and skill set:
Choose Climb Hire’s Free CompTIA A+ Training
Climb Hire’s IT Support program gives you a direct path to passing the CompTIA A+ exams and getting you hired as an IT specialist. The program lasts six months, and includes:
- Free tuition for all students who enroll in 2024 (plus we cover the cost of the CompTIA A+ exams!)
- Instructor-led, fully remote classes to ensure both personalized guidance and convenient learning
- Interactive and guided labs for necessary hands-on experience
Hundreds of Climb Hire graduates have secured well-paying jobs with companies like IBM, Google, Discord, and others.
Apply today to begin your free CompTIA A+ certification training.
FAQS About the CompTIA A+ Certification
1. What Does CompTIA A+ Certification entail?
To earn CompTIA A+ certification, you’ll have to pass two exams, Core 1 (220-1001) and Core 2 (220-1002). These exams assess your knowledge and skills in various areas of information technology, ensuring you have the necessary competencies to excel in IT support roles. The skills tested on the CompTIA A+ exams apply universally across products and platforms rather than being tied to a specific vendor, like Apple, Cisco, or Microsoft.
2. What exactly do the exams cover?
- Core 1 (220-1001) covers PC hardware, mobile devices, networking, troubleshooting, virtualization, cloud computing, and security practices.
- Core 2 (220-1002) covers operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux, and mobile OS), software troubleshooting, operational procedures, and security.
3. What are some examples of IT tasks that I’ll be tested on?
Configuring device operating systems, troubleshooting common service and support challenges, assisting with basic IT infrastructure, demonstrating fundamental IT security skills, configuring computer hardware, and implementing data backup and recovery methods.
4. What are some examples of entry-level IT jobs that CompTIA A+ Certification will prepare me for?
Help desk technician, desktop support specialist, technical support specialist, field service technician, system administrator assistant, network support technician, data support technician, IT service desk analyst, and computer repair technician.
5. Are there any other IT certifications I should get?
CompTIA A+ is the entry-level IT certification. Once you gain industry experience, you may choose to pursue more advanced IT certifications. Which ones you choose will depend on your IT niche, such as cybersecurity, data analytics, or cloud computing.