• IT Industry Certification Credentials are issued by a certification body such as a trade, industry, or professional association.
• Earning an IT Industry Certification Credential verifies that you have achieved mastery and competency in specific knowledge, skills, and abilities accepted as IT industry standards.
• CompTIA is an example of an IT trade professional association.
• Certifications expire and must be renewed.

Earning an IT industry-certification significantly increases your potential to develop a successful career. Calculate Your Potential IT Salary (courtesy of CompTIA)
NOVA recognizes that over the past decade employers increasingly request and seek employees that have earned IT industry-recognized certification credentials.

NOVA Workforce, in partnership with Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation and other grant sponsors, is providing ITF+ classes that include a pre-career certification exam voucher to help students or career changers determine if they have competency for a career in the Information Technology (IT) field and if the path is a good fit for their career goals.

The exam will certify the successful candidate has the knowledge and skills required to identify and explain the basics of computing, IT infrastructure, application and software, software development, database fundamentals and security. In addition, candidates will have the ability to demonstrate their knowledge to:

• Install software
• Establish basic network connectivity
• Identify/prevent basic security risks
• Explain troubleshooting theory and preventative maintenance of devices

Pre-Career to Entry-Level Certifications
Students that earn the ITF+ credential are prepared and invited to continue their studies and enroll in a NOVA FastForward CompTIA A+ class which prepares students for the certification exam and entry-level jobs in the IT Industry.

Voucher will be emailed beginning the week following the class end date only to students that have a passing grade (S) posted to their student records. The dates vary by class.

Term	Class ID	Class Dates	Vouchers Issued
2023 Spring	18516	2/13/23 - 3/15/23	Beginning the week of 3/20/23
2023 Spring	18517	4/1/23 - 4/29/23	Beginning the week of 5/3/23
2023 Spring	19140 Talent Ready	4/17/23 - 5/17/23	Beginning the week of 5/22/23
2023 Summer	18992	6/12/23 - 7/19/23	Beginning the week of 7/24/23
2023 Summer	18993	7/22/23 - 8/19/23	Beginning the week of 8/21/23

Term	Class ID	Class Dates	Complete Exam No Later Than	Report Scores No Later Than	Complete Retake No Later Than
2023 Spring	18516	2/13/23 - 3/15/23	4/14/23	4/16/23	5/14/23
2023 Spring	18517	4/1/23 - 4/29/23	5/29/23	5/31/23	6/28/23
2023 Spring	19140 Talent Ready	4/17/23 - 5/17/23	6/16/23	6/18/23	7/16/23
2023 Summer	18992	6/12/23 - 7/19/23	8/18/23	8/20/23	9/17/23
2023 Summer	18993	7/22/23 - 8/19/23	9/18/23	9/20/23	10/20/23

Click on the link below for details about your exam.

CompTIA ITF+

• Exam Scheduling Code: Exam FC0-U61
• Number of Questions: Maximum of 75 questions per exam
• Type of Questions: Multiple choice
• Length of Test: 60 Minutes
• Passing Score: 650 (on a scale of 900)

Begin preparing for your exam while you are learning and be sure to understand the objectives included in the certification exams. Commit to studying outside of scheduled class hours. Practice time management to create focused study time.

Test-Taking Skills: Develop and use critical thinking test-taking skills to select the BEST answer(s).

Video Recommendations - Effective Study Method:

• Study Tips - How to learn new content
• Evidence-based study tips Part 1 - Active Recall
• Evidence-based study tips Part 2 - Spaced Repetition

CertMaster Practice Login for CompTIA Exams

Within the first few days of your class, all students are sent an access codes to CertMaster Practice, the CompTIA online training tool included with your class tuition.

Students are expected to use CertMaster Practice to reinforce learning new information taught during class and to complete practice tests to prepare for the certification exams.

Pearson Vue manages test delivery for CompTIA ITF+ certification exams.

Test Location Options
Students may choose to complete an exam at:

• a Pearson Vue test center.
• at home using remote test proctoring with Pearson OnVue.

At-home remote test delivery has unique rules and requirements you must follow.

• Read the Pearson OnVue Testing Guide (PDF) for detailed information.
• Students must be able to meet Technical Requirements for at-home remote test proctoring appointments.

Contacting Pearson Vue

• Students must contact Pearson Vue directly upon receipt of the test voucher to schedule an appointment.
• Do not wait to schedule your appointment!
• Call Pearson Vue Customer Service at 877-551-7587 for questions about scheduling your appointment.

• Students must follow ALL testing policies set by Pearson Vue and the test sponsor for test center delivery and at-home remote test delivery while completing their exam.
• Failure to follow policies may result in your testing session being canceled by the proctor or invalidated by Pearson Vue in cooperation with the test sponsor, and your voucher will be forfeited.
• Read the CompTIA Certification Exam Policies for detailed information.

• Click the link for your test sponsor below to schedule your appointment.
• Your appointment is officially scheduled only after you receive an email directly from Pearson VUE confirming your appointment.

For CompTIA Exams

1. Create Your CompTIA Account
2. Log in and Schedule a CompTIA exam

Call Pearson Vue Customer Service at 877-551-7587 for questions about scheduling your appointment.

IT Fundamentals+ Score Reporting File
Talent Ready: IT Fundamentals+ Score Reporting File

ALL students must UPLOAD a PDF copy of their score report whether they have passed or did not pass their exam no later than 48 hours after the last test date for each exam. (refer to testing schedule above)

Exam results are used:

• To verify you used the voucher issued to you.
• To determine eligibility for a Merit-Based RETAKE exam voucher.
• As evidence that you earned a credential from CompTIA.
• To add your credential to your student record.

Instructions for CompTIA:

1. Log into your CompTIA account on a computer
2. Open 'Manage Exams'
3. Under 'My Account' click 'View Score Reports'
4. Click 'View' to open a PDF copy of your score report
5. Save a copy to your computer and upload

Visit the CompTIA 'After Your Exam' webpage for more information.

One (1) retake exam voucher is available at no cost to eligible students that do not pass their exam on the first attempt.

Included Benefit: Extra Study Time Benefit
The retake policy includes an additional 30-calendar days for eligible students to study for a retake exam. As a result, requests for extra study time to complete the initial exam will not be approved.

Students MUST Meet ALL Eligibility Requirements as Listed Below:

1. Complete initial exam no later than LAST DAY OF TESTING SESSION FOR YOUR CLASS
2. UPLOAD a PDF of your score report to the Score Reporting File for your exam no later than 2-calendar days after last day of testing session
3. Score within 150 points of passing the exam

Completing the Initial Exam After the Last Day of Scheduled Testing
Students that complete their exam after the last day of testing for their class forfeit their eligibility for a retake exam voucher if they do not pass their exam on the first attempt.

Exam Name	Passing Score	To receive a Retake Voucher, your score must be between
ITF+	650	500-649

Students are responsible for contacting the test sponsor directly.

CompTIA offers discounted prices and payment options.
https://Academic-Store.CompTIA.org

NO SHOW
NOVA does not provide a 'retake/replacement voucher' for students with a 'NO SHOW' status for their scheduled exam appointment.

• A 'NO SHOW' appointment status is assigned when a student misses a confirmed scheduled appointment.
• It is the student's responsibility to cancel or reschedule an appointment at least 24-48 hours before a confirmed scheduled appointment by contacting Pearson Vue directly.
• Call Pearson Vue Customer Service at 877-551-7587 for questions about scheduling your appointment.

Proctor Cancelled Testing Sessions
NOVA does not provide a ‘retake/'replacement voucher' for students whose testing session is stopped by an exam proctor.

• Proctors may stop a testing session due to a violation of the Pearson Vue testing policy.
• It is the student's responsibility to follow all testing policies set by Pearson Vue and the test sponsor.

Invalidated Test Scores
NOVA does not provide a 'retake/replacement voucher' for students whose exam results have been invalidated by Pearson Vue and the test sponsor after their testing session has ended.