Our CompTIA Tech+ Class is designed to provide students with a solid foundation in IT skills and knowledge. This class covers essential IT concepts, including: hardware, software, security, & networking.
Oct 28 - Dec 04, 2026
CompTIA Tech+ Independent Study
Tuesday, Septeembar 15, 2026 to Saturday, Septeembar 26, 2026
Self-paced program information
Independent Study is a great option for learners who prefer to work on their own. It is best for students who are self-motivated, organized, and committed to completing their goals on time.
The course must be finished within three months of the activation date. After finishing the course, the exam must be taken within one month. If a retake is needed, it must be completed within two months of the first exam.
Please note that course materials and exam vouchers have expiration dates. These expiration dates cannot be extended.
Students will receive access codes for all of the course materials.
This virtual program, provided through CompTIA, includes:
Strengths and Weaknesses Assessment
Lessons
Performance-Based Questions (PBQs)
Labs
Practice Assessments
Flashcards
Game Center
Additional Resources
Instructor support
One to two exam vouchers are included where you will complete the exam through Pearson Vue onsite or virtual.
The course must be finished within three months of the activation date. After finishing the course, the exam must be taken within one month. If a retake is needed, it must be completed within two months of the first exam.
Please note that course materials and exam vouchers have expiration dates. These expiration dates cannot be extended.
Students will receive access codes for all of the course materials.
This virtual program, provided through CompTIA, includes:
Strengths and Weaknesses Assessment
Lessons
Performance-Based Questions (PBQs)
Labs
Practice Assessments
Flashcards
Game Center
Additional Resources
Instructor support
One to two exam vouchers are included where you will complete the exam through Pearson Vue onsite or virtual.
CompTIA Tech+ is an important certification for anyone interested in a career in technology. It gives you the basic knowledge and hands-on skills you need to work with today’s digital tools. With this certification, you’ll gain the confidence to start a tech career. CompTIA Tech+ focuses on practical, real-world skills that help you understand key tech ideas, solve common problems, and build a strong foundation for learning more and growing in the tech industry.
Tech Concepts and Terminology (13%)
- Computing basics: How input, processing, output, and storage work.
- Number systems: Binary, decimal, hexadecimal, and octal.
- Units of measure: Storage (bit, byte, KB, GB, TB), speed (MHz, GHz), and network throughput (bps, Mbps, Gbps).
- Troubleshooting: How to identify problems, test solutions, fix issues, and document what you did.
Infrastructure (24%)
- Devices: Smartphones, tablets, laptops, servers, IoT devices, and gaming consoles.
- Internal parts: Motherboard, CPU, RAM, storage (HDD, SSD, NVMe), NIC, and GPU.
- Storage types: Volatile vs. non-volatile, local, network, and cloud storage.
- Peripherals: Setting up printers, scanners, monitors, and installing drivers.
- Connections: USB, HDMI, Ethernet, Bluetooth, NFC.
- Virtualization & cloud: Hypervisors, SaaS, PaaS, IaaS, hybrid and on-site setups.
- Networking basics: LAN vs. WAN, IP and MAC addresses, routers, switches, firewalls.
- Wireless: Wi-Fi standards, speeds, and interference.
Applications and Software (18%)
- Operating systems: Mobile, desktop, server, and embedded systems.
- OS parts: File systems (NTFS, FAT32), interfaces (GUI, command line), utilities, and drivers.
- Software types: Productivity, collaboration tools, web browsers, remote support apps.
- Web browsers: Private browsing, add-ons, password managers, clearing cache.
- Artificial intelligence: Chatbots, virtual assistants, and AI that helps create content or make predictions.
Software Development Concepts (13%)
- Programming languages: Interpreted, compiled, scripting, markup, and assembly languages.
- Data types: Characters, strings, numbers (integers, floats), Boolean.
- Programming ideas: Variables, constants, arrays, functions, objects.
- Organization techniques: Pseudocode, flowcharts, object-oriented methods, branching, looping.
Data and Database Fundamentals (13%)
- Why data matters: Decisions, reports, and making money from data.
- Databases: Relational vs. non-relational, tables, rows, fields, primary and foreign keys.
- Using databases: Queries, reports, cloud vs. local storage, scaling.
- Backups: File and system backups, local vs. cloud storage.
Security (19%)
- Security basics: Confidentiality, integrity, availability, authentication, and authorization.
- Device protection: Anti-malware, firewalls, updates, physical security, safe browsing.
- Passwords: Length, complexity, privacy, not reusing, password managers.
- Encryption: Protecting data at rest and in transit, HTTPS, VPNs, and mobile device security.
Recommended Student Knowledge Level Prior to taking the CompTIA Tech+ course:
- Create, manage, and organize files and folders in Windows
- Use web browsers to search for information and navigate websites
- Use email and basic productivity tools like Word and PowerPoint
- Join and participate in video meetings using tools like Zoom or Teams
- Follow basic online safety practices
Other Recommended Prior Learning:
- High school–level math skills, including basic arithmetic and logic
- High school–level reading and comprehension skills
- General curiosity about technology and how computers work
- Regular experience using personal computers or mobile devices
Recommended Prerequisite CompTIA Certifications (or Analogous Learning):
- No prior certifications are required
- This certification is designed for complete beginners
- It is an ideal first step for students with no background in technology
Pre- Assessment
If you want to assess your basic digital literacy knowledge to see if you're ready to take the CompTIA Tech+, please take the assessments here. Only complete Basic Computer Skills, Internet Basics, and Windows 11. If you do not pass, it would be a good idea to start with our essential courses.
Course is offered as a MTFS scheduled virtual instructor led, virtual independent study or virtual independent study on demand (includes a CompTIA instructor).
For our independent study and on-demand CompTIA courses, there is no set start date. These courses are offered all year long. Students can begin as soon as their enrollment is complete.
When we post these courses on CareerForce, we are required to enter a start date. This date is only for the posting and does not mean the class starts on that day.
Course must be completed within three months of receiving materials and the exam is to be completed a month after completing the course. If an exam retake is needed, it must be taken within two months of the previous exam. Both the course materials and exam vouchers have expiration dates with no extensions.
Certification renewal - no certification renewal for CompTIA Tech+.
Must have basic digital literacy knowledge before taking this course.
Course Level: Beginner
After you complete our course and pass the exam, we offer career exploration and job support through our MTFS Gather Program.
Online or Virtual Information
Virtual platform through CompTIA with MTFS Instructor Support.
How to Participate
Minnesota Tech for Success is a partner of the Careerforce. The course is offered through Minnesota Tech for Success.
For more information about Minnesota Tech for Success, please visit our information session here.
For our independent study and on-demand CompTIA courses, there is no set start date. These courses are offered all year long. Students can begin as soon as their enrollment is complete.
When we post these courses on CareerForce, we are required to enter a start date. This date is only for the posting and does not mean the class starts on that day.
The first step is to complete our Minnesota Tech for Success application here.
Once the application is complete, we will contact you directly via e-mail to proceed with the enrollment steps. Please check your spam/junk mail Please allow up to five business days for a response.
You should have basic knowledge of Basic Computer Skills, Windows 11, and Internet Basics before taking this course. To check your skills, please complete the assessment here. Only complete the Basic Computer Skills, Windows 11, and Internet Basics sections. If you already have a NorthStar account, you can log in. If not, simply enter your first and last name to get started.
In addition to the application, please complete this assessment to see if independent study is a good fit and learning style for you here.
Office visits are by appointment only.
Visit our website here.
Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course and passing the exam, students will receive a certification in CompTIA Tech+.
Students who earn a CompTIA Tech+ certification can pursue careers as a Tech Support Specialist.
Program Costs
Minnesota Tech for Success (MTFS) is a tuition-based training program, which means there is a cost to take our courses. MTFS is not a free training program. However, some students may be eligible for specific grants offered through MTFS or one of our employment service provider partners. If you are eligible for and receive grant funding, the grant may cover 100% of the cost of your MTFS training, so you would not have to pay for the training.
Different grants have different eligibility requirements. The factors listed below are examples of circumstances that may be considered when determining eligibility for certain grants. Meeting one or more of these criteria does not guarantee that you will qualify for a grant or receive funding. Eligibility depends on the specific requirements of the grant program and your individual circumstances.
Examples of factors that may be considered include being an individual of color, lacking a high school diploma, experiencing unstable housing, being unemployed for 15 or more weeks within the past 52 weeks, or having a criminal record. Other factors may include having an income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), living with a disability, or having limited skills proficiency.
You may also be eligible for certain grants if you receive unemployment benefits (UI), TANF/MFIP/DWP, SNAP, free or reduced-price school lunch, or SSI/SSDI benefits. Other circumstances that may be considered for certain grants include having a basic skills deficiency, being a qualified military spouse, or being affected by a non-work-related injury or illness.
If you are already working with an employment counselor, case manager, or other workforce development professional, you may already have access to training funds through their program. We recommend speaking with them first to find out whether you have available funding that can be used toward the cost of MTFS training.
For students currently enrolled in MN WIOA workforce development programs, Minnesota Tech for Success is licensed by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education, is WIOA-approved, and can be found on the Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL). Your employment counselor can help you determine whether you are eligible for WIOA funding or other workforce development funds that may cover the cost of your MTFS training.
Who to Contact for More Information
Name
Jared Fessler
Phone
612-383-2393
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