Note: This program provides exam preparation for the CompTIA A+ certification but does not include the official certification exam. Students who complete the pathway will be ready to register and take the CompTIA A+ certification exam separately.

Career Snapshot

• Median Salary: Approximately $60,000 annually for entry-level IT support specialists.
• Job Outlook: 5% projected growth through 2032 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• Time to Complete: Around 6–9 months, at 5–8 hours per week.
• Credential: CompTIA A+ Professional Certificate (multiple courses) — offered by SchoolDay Academy, powered by Coursera.
• Delivery Options: Classroom-based or virtual, allowing students to learn during or after school hours.

Why CompTIA A+ Belongs in Your CTE Programs

CompTIA A+ is the industry’s most trusted entry-level IT certification, covering the fundamentals of hardware, software, networking, and security. Employers across education, healthcare, and finance rely on it as proof of job-ready technical skills.

Integrating CompTIA A+ through SchoolDay Academy delivers a dual impact:

• For Students: Hands-on technical training aligned to Perkins V priorities, leading to a nationally recognized credential.
• For Districts: Lower repair costs, faster turnaround times, and a student workforce gaining real-world experience servicing district devices.

By turning everyday device challenges into authentic learning, you create a living lab where students gain practical IT skills while supporting school operations.

Skills You’ll Develop

Students gain essential skills across IT support, networking, and cybersecurity fundamentals, including:

• Hardware Repair & Maintenance: Diagnose and replace hardware components such as RAM, drives, and peripherals.
• Technical Support Operations: Learn help desk workflows, ticket management, and remote support best practices.
• Networking & Security Essentials: Troubleshoot wired/wireless connections and apply data protection measures.
• Cloud Computing & Virtualization: Understand cloud environments and virtualization tools.
• Customer Support & Communication: Build soft skills for professional IT service and teamwork.

Pathway Details & Certifications

The CompTIA A+ Learning Path through SchoolDay Academy powered by Coursera includes a sequence of courses that build both knowledge and hands-on experience:

• IT Fundamentals & Hardware Essentials (Packt) – Install, configure, and troubleshoot hardware devices; understand computer architecture and support workflows.
• Introduction to Technical Support (IBM) – Explore help desk operations, ticketing systems, and customer communication.
• Networking, Cloud & Security Foundations – Troubleshoot networks, apply security protocols, and learn about virtualization.
• Practice Exams for CompTIA A+ Core 1 & Core 2 (IBM) – Simulate certification tests, identify knowledge gaps, and build confidence.

Upon completion, students earn a Learning Path badge signaling readiness for the official CompTIA A+ Certification Exam.

All certifications are offered by SchoolDay Academy, powered by Coursera.

Real-World Impact for Students and Districts

For Students:

• Graduate with an industry-recognized IT certification.
• Gain hands-on experience repairing and maintaining real devices.
• Build career-ready skills in troubleshooting, networking, and customer service.
• Enter the workforce prepared for IT support, help desk, or technical operations roles.

For Districts:

• Reduce repair costs by keeping maintenance in-house.
• Shorten turnaround times, minimizing classroom downtime.
• Develop a talent pipeline—students trained in IT today can become your technicians tomorrow.
• Demonstrate innovation and efficiency, blending workforce development with operational success.

Few programs benefit both students and operations equally—CompTIA A+ delivers on both fronts.

Why SchoolDay Academy Recommends This Pathway

At SchoolDay Academy (SDA), we help districts merge career readiness with operational excellence.

The CompTIA A+ Learning Path, offered through SchoolDay Academy powered by Coursera, stands out because it:

• Aligns with Perkins V and state workforce readiness priorities.
• Supports both student certification and district efficiency goals.
• Scales easily across districts of any size, using existing devices and classrooms.

By curating CompTIA A+ through Coursera, SDA ensures students receive industry-validated, cost-effective training that delivers immediate value to schools.

Conclusion

With CompTIA A+, districts aren’t just fixing broken devices—they’re building future-ready IT professionals. Students earn valuable certifications, districts save money, and classrooms get devices back in service faster.

Explore and enroll in the CompTIA A+ Career Pathway on SchoolDay Academy (powered by Coursera) to transform your device repair challenges into career-ready success stories.