Launch Your Certified IT Career with General Assembly’s IT Bootcamp

Table of Contents

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• What Does an IT Career Look Like in 2025?
• Why You Should Get CompTIA-Certified 
• Learning IT at General Assembly

Breaking into the information technology (IT) field has never been more accessible, thanks to the online IT Bootcamp at General Assembly, which equips aspiring professionals with the skills and certifications needed to succeed. This comprehensive course prepares students to pass the industry-recognized CompTIA A+ and Network+ certification exams and opens doors to various entry-level IT roles. Beatrice Partain (Senior Product Manager at General Assembly) and David Stinson (Learning Experience Designer at General Assembly) delve into what it takes to pass the CompTIA exams, what an IT career looks like in 2025, and the difference between IT and software engineering.

What Does an IT Career Look Like in 2025?

IT covers both software and hardware as well as managing existing systems. In an IT career, professionals may interface with internal or external customers to resolve issues or they may support network professionals with hardware and infrastructure. This work can be really hands-on, which means you’ll be learning a lot while working with different technologies.

There are many entry-level IT positions, such as help desk technician and IT support technician, making this a great option for those interested in a tech career!

What could a typical day look like as an IT professional?

No two IT careers look the same and IT may look different for each organization. IT professionals in a more user-interfacing support role will be ready to respond to daily requests from others, such as helping someone if their computer dies or they are locked out of their email.

IT professionals who work more closely with network engineers or network administrators will deal with hardware and infrastructure. 

What does the IT career path look like?

IT is a more generalized field, so professionals can elevate their careers by specializing in a certain aspect, such as networking, cybersecurity, or systems administration. These folks become network analysts, cybersecurity analysts, or systems administrators. IT is an excellent way to get into a cybersecurity career! 

What is the difference between IT and software engineering?

Software engineers and IT professionals both work in tech and are technical, but they look very different on the job. The biggest difference between IT and software engineering is that IT is managing existing systems whereas software engineering is building new ones in software. In IT, you are more concerned with implementing tools or techniques that already exist. You may customize those things for what you're trying to solve, but not creating them. 

IT can be more accessible than software engineering to those new to tech and making a career change. IT can also be a solid starting point if you do want to end up in software engineering! Understanding how a computer works is beneficial to IT professionals and software engineers.

Why You Should Get CompTIA-Certified 

What are the benefits of getting CompTIA-certified, especially as a new IT professional?

CompTIA certifications are the gold standard for entry-level cybersecurity and IT certifications. Since they are a standardized way to prove your competency, hiring managers are seeking professionals who have these certifications on their resumes. Getting certified is especially helpful if you’re thinking about working in the public sector. Many government agencies, such as the Department of Defense, require CompTIA A+ and Network+ certifications. 

What's the difference between the CompTIA A+ certification and the CompTIA Network+ certification?

These CompTIA certifications should be seen as a progression of your skills. First, you get A+ to learn IT fundamentals, and then you move to Network+, which covers network engineering. 

The A+ certification is two exams called Core 1 and Core 2, whereas Network+ is one exam. 

Is the CompTIA A+ certification enough to land a job or do you increase your hireability by getting A+ and Network+?

If you don’t come from a tech background, we believe that the A+ and Network+ certifications together create a solid foundation to showcase your IT skills. 

If you have extensive experience working in tech, then just an A+ certification can get you the job you might be looking for.

How many hours of study does it take to pass the A+ exams and the Network+ exam?

The IT Bootcamp at General Assembly covers exam preparation for both the A+ and the Network+ exams. We dedicate 120 hours of study time to each certification. 

What is the passing score for the CompTIA certification exams? 

Passing scores vary depending on the CompTIA certification: 

• For the A+ Core 1 exam (on a scale of 0-900), you have to score 675 or greater.
• For the A+ Core 2 exam, you have to score 700 or greater.
• For the Network+ exam (on a scale of 100-900), you have to score 720.

How long does CompTIA certification last? 

CompTIA certifications are valid for three years.

Learning IT at General Assembly

The IT Bootcamp at General Assembly not only gets folks CompTIA certification-ready but also job-ready! This bootcamp is for people with no previous coding or technical experience, but who desire to learn and start an IT career. Students will learn critical IT skills and be prepared to take the CompTIA A+ exams and the Network+ exam. 

You can get a sense of the IT Bootcamp with our two-day IT & Cybersecurity Fundamentals Workshop! It meets for two evenings and gives learners a high-level overview of hardware, software, and what IT is. 

What kinds of jobs does the IT Bootcamp prepare students for?

Students will be prepared for IT roles, such as: 

• Help desk technician
• Field technician
• System support specialist
• Junior systems administrator
• Network engineer
• Network analyst
• Computer technician
• Systems engineer

What does the IT Bootcamp curriculum cover?

In addition to exam preparation for the CompTIA A+ and Network+ exams, we teach the skills needed to land entry-level IT roles. Students will explore different tools that they might use on the job, like Oracle VirtualBox, Docker, and nmap. We also dive into scripting with Python so that students are more prepared to enter a world where routine tasks are increasingly automated with code. 

What kinds of projects will students work on in the IT Bootcamp?

This course has plenty of quizzes and assessments to get students CompTIA exam-ready.. Students will also complete labs  to help them build those IT skills, which means they will have a unique portfolio of work when they graduate.  

Who are the instructors for the IT Bootcamp? 

The IT Bootcamp is staffed with cybersecurity professionals. We have hired folks who know this material, have done their own CompTIA certifications, and have worked in the field. Students will have access to these instructors throughout the course.

Will students take the CompTIA certification exams during or after completing the bootcamp?

To complete the bootcamp, we require that students pass the CompTIA practice exams. We do this to guarantee that you have the skills necessary to pass the actual CompTIA certification exams. We don't, however, require you to sit the certification exams in class. If a student wants to take the certification exam while still in the course, they are welcome to do so.

Does the IT bootcamp tuition cover one or both of the CompTIA exam costs?

The IT Bootcamp tuition includes the cost of both CompTIA exams, plus a retake if needed. 

What is the time commitment like for General Assembly’s IT Bootcamp?

The bootcamp requires a weekly 20-hour commitment. Two evenings a week (four hours total) will be with a live instructor, and the other 16 hours each week will be self-led. This makes the IT Bootcamp well-suited for someone who is currently working either full-time or part-time.

What are the benefits of doing General Assembly’s IT Bootcamp versus a completely self-paced CompTIA certification course?

The IT Bootcamp at General Assembly is more than just CompTIA certification prep — We are equipping you with the skills and tools you need to start a career in tech. In addition to preparing you for the CompTIA certification exams, IT bootcamp students have access to live instructors, General Assembly’s student success team, a community of fellow learners and alumni, and career support. For students who want to go further, we offer extra labs and lectures. Being able to practice new skills with fellow learners and talk through problems is an effective way to launch a new career. 

The IT Bootcamp’s mix of self-paced and instructor-led means our students get the same flexibility of an entirely self-paced course. It also means that students get more time to apply what they are learning to prepare them for the real work environment. 

What do career services look like for the IT bootcamp at General Assembly?

Students will have access to a career coach and can book as many one-on-ones as they need. These career coaches can help them with their resume and cover letter. Students will also have access to General Assembly’s vast alumni network. Career services remain unlimited for students up to three months after graduation.

How can students make the most of the IT Bootcamp at General Assembly?

Remember that you get back exactly what you put into this bootcamp. Dig into the material! The more you give to this course, the more you engage with the material, the more you will get out of it. Utilize your resources! Remember that your instructors, your student success contacts, and your career services team are there to help you. The students who land jobs shortly after they finish are the ones who have the motivation and drive to succeed. 

Get the most out of this General Assembly community by being a part of it. Your classmates are also there to help you! You don’t know who may be a future hiring manager or specializing in the track that you want to be in. Build your network while you’re learning these skills with others who are doing the same.

Communication is really important in this bootcamp. Collaborate on things, asking your instructors and classmates questions — that kind of interaction again is what this course is about. Speak up whenever you are having problems with an assignment or a concept.

Find out more and read General Assembly reviews on Course Report. This article was produced by the Course Report team in partnership with General Assembly.