A+ Exam (2)
If you are competing in the national contest, and you have considered scheduling (or have already scheduled) A+ exams on your own time, we recommend that you do not. Instead, take the free A+ exams at the National Contest. The reason being is that the A+ exams at the national contest are provided free of charge. Pearson VUE offers a full refund if you cancel your exam at least a minimum of 7 days prior to your appointment.
Please Note: This answer applies only to the National Contest. Your state, local, or regional contest may operate differently.
If you have an A+ certification, you will still take the exam on the contest floor. The national contest always takes the latest published A+ exam (as of 2022, it’s the 1101/1102). All students are required to take the exam on the contest floor, as it is a component of the final contest score.
If you pass or fail the exam given on the contest floor, your certification status will remain unchanged.
If you’ve taken a prior version of the A+ exam (801/802, 901/902, 1001/1002), you will receive the certification for the latest version of the exam (1101/1102)
Please Note: This answer applies only to the National Contest. Your state, local, or regional contest may operate differently.
General (8)
In general, using diagnostic software is not encouraged during the contest. If you do want to use diagnostic software, the contestant must bring inform the contest chair prior to the contest starting, and they must provide proof that the software is released as “Open Source”. A list of permitted “Open Source” licenses can be found at https://opensource.org/licenses
The contest is designed in a way where diagnostic software will likely not be effective in solving the modules. We want contestants to demonstrate their knowledge of the skills standards, not just run software.
There are only two required material for the national contest
- Pencils/writing utensils
- A one-page résumé (submitted during the contest briefing)
- Be knowledgeable the SkillsUSA ITS Skills Standards
- Be knowledgeable with the content in the CompTIA A+
- Practice getting help from inside the tool or program (ex ipconfig /?)
- Talk to your advisor or past contestants
- Check this website for good resources
Yes. Roll call will be taken at the briefing session. If there is an extenuating circumstance (such as travel delays), please see the contest chair on the contest floor as soon as possible.
No. We recommend not bringing your any electronic devices to the contest floor. If your mobile device is brought to the competition floor, it is required to be labeled, turned off, and placed in a container. We are not responsible for your mobile device.
For the national contest: Yes. If you pass the exam, you will receive the actual A+ certification.
For state, local, and regional contests: No. You may take an exam that’s based off of the A+, but it won’t earn you your actual certification.
For men: Official SkillsUSA white polo shirt with black dress slacks, black socks and black leather shoes.
For women: Official SkillsUSA white polo shirt with black dress slacks or knee-length skirt, black socks or black or skin-tone seamless hose and black leather dress shoes.
These regulations refer to clothing items that are pictured and described at: www.skillsusastore.org. If you have questions about clothing or other logo items, call 800-401-1560.
Note: Contestants must wear their official contest clothing to the contest orientation meeting.
We used to communicate information via a Google+ page. Google has announced that they are shutting down the platform. This is the new official informational site for the Skills USA ITS Contest.
National Contest (9)
If you are competing in the national contest, and you have considered scheduling (or have already scheduled) A+ exams on your own time, we recommend that you do not. Instead, take the free A+ exams at the National Contest. The reason being is that the A+ exams at the national contest are provided free of charge. Pearson VUE offers a full refund if you cancel your exam at least a minimum of 7 days prior to your appointment.
Please Note: This answer applies only to the National Contest. Your state, local, or regional contest may operate differently.
In general, using diagnostic software is not encouraged during the contest. If you do want to use diagnostic software, the contestant must bring inform the contest chair prior to the contest starting, and they must provide proof that the software is released as “Open Source”. A list of permitted “Open Source” licenses can be found at https://opensource.org/licenses
The contest is designed in a way where diagnostic software will likely not be effective in solving the modules. We want contestants to demonstrate their knowledge of the skills standards, not just run software.
There are only two required material for the national contest
- Pencils/writing utensils
- A one-page résumé (submitted during the contest briefing)
- Be knowledgeable the SkillsUSA ITS Skills Standards
- Be knowledgeable with the content in the CompTIA A+
- Practice getting help from inside the tool or program (ex ipconfig /?)
- Talk to your advisor or past contestants
- Check this website for good resources
Yes. Roll call will be taken at the briefing session. If there is an extenuating circumstance (such as travel delays), please see the contest chair on the contest floor as soon as possible.
If you have an A+ certification, you will still take the exam on the contest floor. The national contest always takes the latest published A+ exam (as of 2022, it’s the 1101/1102). All students are required to take the exam on the contest floor, as it is a component of the final contest score.
If you pass or fail the exam given on the contest floor, your certification status will remain unchanged.
If you’ve taken a prior version of the A+ exam (801/802, 901/902, 1001/1002), you will receive the certification for the latest version of the exam (1101/1102)
Please Note: This answer applies only to the National Contest. Your state, local, or regional contest may operate differently.
For the national contest: No – all computers will be provided
For state, local, and regional contest: Please check with your contest leadership for guidance. Every contest is run slightly different. Some contests do require contestants to bring a computer.
The ITS contest is always based on the latest publicly available CompTIA A+ exam. In the year 2022, that version is the 220‑1101 and 220‑1102 exams.
Please note: The ITS Skills Standards may not reflect the proper A+ version due to publishing deadlines.
The national contests in 2021 was the last year that the contest was aligned with the 220-1001 & 220-1002. The national contest held in 2018 was the last year that the contest was aligned with the 220-901 & 220-902