Students working on computers

CompTIA Academy

The CompTIA Academy offers certification training programs designed to meet the needs of information technology educators and learning professionals, including A+, Network+, Security+, CTP+ and Project+.

CompTIA certifications are credentials achieved through a testing process to validate knowledge within a specific IT support function. The CompTIA certifications are recognized throughout the industry as the standard for proving foundation-level skill sets and are the only industry-supported, vendor-neutral programs on the market today. Many top organizations including Canon, Cisco, IBM and Novell, require CompTIA certification for their IT employees. CompTIA certifications are also prerequisites for several advanced, vendor-specific credentials such as the Microsoft MCSA and MCSE tracks, Novell CNE and HP Certified Systems Administrator. 

College of DuPage is a proud Academy Partner of CompTIA.

CompTia Authorized Academy
 

CompTIA Certifications

Learn more about earning a certification in A+, Network+, Security+, CTP+ and Project+.

CompTIA A+ certification is an international industry credential that validates the knowledge of Computer Service Technicians. A+ certification means that the candidate can adequately diagnose, repair, configure and install hardware and operating systems as well as troubleshoot and upgrade personal computers.

Career concentrations that benefit from CompTIA A+ training include Network Infrastructure (network support technician, network analyst, network administrator, hardware installation coordinator, computer operator, project manager); Programming (systems analyst, software quality assurance specialist, software architect, software application support, programmer, operating systems specialist, project manager); and Technical Writing (technical writer, project manager).

CIT 1100, PC Maintenance and Upgrading

  • 2 credit hours
  • Introduction to maintaining and upgrading personal computers (PCs).
  • Includes system component identification, configuration, assembly and disassembly, upgrading procedures, basic troubleshooting techniques and preventative maintenance

CIT 1111, Computer and Hardware Maintenance

  • 3 credit hours
  • Covers aspects of hardware support relating to personal computers (PCs) in preparation for the CompTIA A+ Core exam.
  • Includes system troubleshooting, system board, drive subsystems, memory, input/output devices and multimedia

CIT 1112, Advanced System Maintenance

  • 3 credit hours
  • Covers maintaining and servicing modern personal computer systems.
  • Includes advanced hardware, operating systems, troubleshooting, networks, printers and other peripheral devices

The CompTIA CTP+ certification is an international, vendor-neutral certification that recognizes a technician's ability to design, implement and manage both data and voice networking. The ability to merge text, audio and video over the same media has become increasingly popular as digital technology continues to improve. The need for qualified convergence (VOIP) specialists has increased as the technology improves.

CIT 1640Security+

  • 3 credit hours
  • Information security principles and tools for implementing and managing security in the enterprise.
  • Includes terminology and overview of security management, preparation for CompTIA Security+ examination

CIT 1645, Internet Telephony

  • 3 credit hours
  • Covers aspects of converging voice, data, messaging and video as well as emerging Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) in preparation for the CompTIA CTP+ certification exam.
  • Includes circuit and packet switched networks, number and dialing plans, traffic engineering, converged network endpoints, network performance, session Initiation Protocol (SIP), real-time Transfer Control Protocol (RTP), video protocol encoding, decoding and compression, messaging applications, soft phones

Prerequisite: CIT 1121, Networking Fundamentals, with a grade of C or better or equivalent 

CompTIA Network+ certification is an international industrial credential that validates the knowledge of networking professionals. Network+ certification means that the candidate can describe the features and functions of networking components and possesses the knowledge and skills necessary to install, configure and troubleshoot basic networking hardware, protocols and services.

Career concentrations that benefit from CompTIA Network+ training include Network Devices (service center technician, PC technician, Help Desk technician, field support technician, customer service technician, project manager) and Network Infrastructure (network support technician, network analyst, network administrator, hardware installation coordinator, computer operator, project manager).

CIT 1121, Networking Fundamentals

  • 3 credit hours
  • Information in current and emerging internetworking technologies, including Open Systems Interconnect (OSI) reference model, binary numbers, hexadecimal numbers, address classes, Internet Protocol (IP) addressing and subnetting, protocols, standards, basic electrical concepts, cabling techniques.

CIT 1116, Data Communications and Networks

  • 3 credit hours
  • Principles of microcomputer data communications and network systems in preparation for the CompTIA Network+ exam.
  • Includes serial and parallel data communications, basic telephony, electronic Industry Association (EIA) standards, Local Area Networks (LANs), Wide Area Networks (WANs)

The CompTIA Project+ certification is an international, vendor-neutral certification that covers the entire project life cycle from initiation and planning through execution, acceptance, support and closure. Project+ gives project managers skills necessary to complete projects on time and within budget, and creates a common project management language among project team members. CompTIA Project+ covers the business and technical project management skills needed to successfully manage business projects.

CIT 1650, IT Project+

  • 3 credit hours
  • Introduction to IT project management tools and methodology as needed for the CompTIA Project+ certification
  • Includes, project initiation, project planning, estimating and scheduling, team building, controlling cost, budgeting and resource allocation, project quality closure

Prerequisite:  CIT 1635, Data Communications and Networks with a grade of C or better, or equivalent 

CompTIA Security+ validates knowledge of communication security, infrastructure security, cryptography, operational security and general security concepts. It is an international, vendor-neutral certification that is taught at colleges, universities and commercial training centers around the world. Because human error is the No. 1 cause for a network security breach, CompTIA Security+ is recognized by the technology community as a valuable credential that proves competency with information security.

Career concentrations that benefit from CompTIA Security+ training include Database Development and Administration (knowledge architect, database technician, database analyst, database administrator, data architect, data analyst, project manager); Network Devices (service center technician, PC technician, Help Desk technician, field support technician, customer service technician, project manager); and Network Infrastructure (network support technician, network analyst, network administrator, hardware installation coordinator, computer operator, project manager).

CIT 1121, Networking Fundamentals

  • 3 credit hours
  • Information in current and emerging internetworking technologies
  • Includes Open Systems Interconnect (OSI) reference model, binary numbers, hexadecimal numbers, address classes, Internet Protocol (IP) addressing and subnetting, protocols, standards, basic electrical concepts, cabling techniques

CIT 1635, Data Communications and Networks

  • 3 credit hours
  • Principles of microcomputer data communications and network systems in preparation for the CompTIA Network+ exam.
  • Includes serial and parallel data communications, basic telephony, Electronic Industry Association (EIA) standards, Local Area Networks (LANs), Wide Area Networks (WANs)

CIT 1640, Security+

  • 3 credit hours
  • Information security principles and tools for implementing and managing security in the enterprise.
  • Includes, terminology and overview of security management, preparation for CompTIA Security+ examination

Contact Information

Dr. Felix Davis, Coordinator
Berg Instructional Center (BIC), Room 1536
(630) 942-2134
Email: davisfe@cod.edu

Nazia Naqvi, Program Advisor
Berg Instructional Center (BIC), Room 1E13
(630) 942-2081
Email: naqvin@cod.edu

Dan Jacobson, Program Support Specialist
Email: jacobsond@cod.edu

Business and Applied Technology Division
Technical Education Center (TEC), Room 1034
(630) 942-2592