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Classroom training
For some, self-study isn’t the way to go, and classroom training is either available to them or simply the better choice for them to learn. CompTIA A+ certification training is offered by many public academic institutions, such as colleges, as well as private academic institutions such as professional training centers.
The cost of classroom training depends on your choice and can range from a few hundred to several thousands of dollars. You can find classroom training in your area on our classroom training page. For organizations looking for instructor-led training, CompTIA offers classroom training for organizations.
Free and Almost Free CompTIA A+ Certification (Seriously!)
Depending on where you live and what sponsorships you qualify for, special programs may be available to help you get trained and certified for free (or nearly free). Such programs are usually geared toward one or more of the following groups:
- Unemployed or under-employed individuals
- Displaced workers
- Military veterans
- Ethnic minorities
- Women
Typically, such free training programs fall into one of two categories: government-sponsored programs and nonprofit charitable programs.
Government-Sponsored IT Training
These are programs that are typically funded with federal dollars and advertised through your county’s workforce investment board or your local American Jobs Center. To search for local training programs, go to Career One Stop.
Nonprofit Charitable Programs
These programs are scattered throughout the United States and may be a bit harder to locate. Here are a few on our radar (and if you learn of others, please let us know):
- Per Scholas: Locations in New York City, National Capital Region, Cincinnati, Columbus, Atlanta and Dallas.
- IT-Ready from Creating IT Futures: Locations in Minneapolis-St. Paul and varying cities. Visit the location page for a list of current training sites that are accepting applications.
- Stride Center: Located in the San Francisco Bay Area.
- Tech901: Located exclusively in Memphis.
Because these programs typically exist to prepare people for entry-level IT jobs (such as help desk and technical support) they typically reject applicants who already have such a job and are just looking to add a certification to their resume.
As you can imagine, competition for such programs is often fierce. But, if you live in one of the areas where free training is offered and fall into a group that such programs are trying to help, it may be worth applying
Available Student Discount
If you are a student in the United States and have a valid student ID and .edu email address, you can take advantage of CompTIA's student discounts. Certification vouchers and training materials are offered at considerable discounts at the CompTIA Academic Marketplace. At this time, a single CompTIA A+ certification voucher is offered to students for $97.
