1/12/2005 -- Those enrolled in Microsoft IT Academy classes may now take the Computing Technology Industry Association's (CompTIA's) A+ exams for $99 each.

According to CompTIA, the discount is an extension of a promotion that CompTIA offers for several learning partners. Cisco Academy students can also take A+ exams for $99, and those attending schools that are members of the organization's Education to Careers (E2C) learning consortium receive deeper discounts on all CompTIA exams.

CompTIA's A+ title certifies entry-level computer hardware skills. It consists of two exams: Hardware and Operating Systems. Microsoft accepts the credential in combination with other CompTIA titles as electives toward its Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) and Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MSCA) certifications.

The promotion currently applies to students in the United States and Canada only. The organization said in a statement that it hopes to extend the promotion worldwide within the next six months.

More information about this promotion should be posted on the Microsoft IT Academy Web site shortly. To view CompTIA's official announcement of the discount and learn more about A+, go here. -Becky Nagel