39 questions answered
Frequently asked questions
Everything you want to know about ElyIT, our courses, certifications, and starting a career in IT, answered in plain language.
Careers & Outcomes
Entry-level IT roles including help desk technician, desktop support specialist, IT support analyst, and field technician commonly list CompTIA A+ as a baseline requirement. Network+ and CCNA open paths to network technician, NOC analyst, and junior network administrator roles. Security+ is widely required in government and defense contracting and opens cybersecurity pathways. Linux+ supports system administration, DevOps, and cloud roles. CySA+ is aligned to security analyst and SOC analyst positions.
No. ElyIT does not guarantee employment, job placement, salary outcomes, or any specific career result. Certification completion improves your qualifications and signals competence to employers, but outcomes depend on many factors outside our control including effort, local job market conditions, individual experience, and broader economic factors. We are honest about this because we respect your time and investment.
There is no single answer — it varies significantly based on your background, the role, your location, and how actively you pursue opportunities. Some students land roles within weeks of passing their exam. Others take several months. The combination of a recognized certification, a strong resume, and active networking tends to produce the best results. Our career planner tool can help you map a realistic timeline.
CompTIA and Cisco certifications are industry credentials, not academic credit. However, some colleges and universities do offer credit for certain certifications through prior learning assessment programs. This varies by institution. ElyIT does not administer or guarantee any college credit equivalency.
Reach out. Our instructors are here throughout your enrollment. If you have completed the material and are still not confident, work through weak domains in the skills assessment, review your practice exam scores by topic, and contact your instructor for targeted guidance. Most students who struggle have specific gaps — not a general lack of readiness — and focused review usually closes them.
Certifications
CompTIA is one of the largest and most recognized IT certification bodies in the world. Their certifications — A+, Network+, Security+, Linux+, CySA+, and others — are vendor-neutral, meaning they apply to real-world environments regardless of what operating system, hardware, or cloud platform an employer uses. CompTIA certifications are required or preferred by thousands of employers and government agencies.
Cisco certifications validate networking and infrastructure skills using Cisco technologies, which are among the most widely deployed in enterprise and government environments. The CCNA is the foundational associate-level certification and is one of the most recognized networking credentials in the world. The CCNP Enterprise is the professional-level follow-on covering advanced enterprise network design, implementation, and troubleshooting.
No. ElyIT is an independent exam preparation provider. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or authorized by CompTIA, Cisco, or any other certification body. CompTIA and Cisco certifications are issued by those organizations directly — you register and test with them. Our role is to help you prepare effectively. The use of their names on our site is solely to identify the exams our programs are designed for.
No. No preparation provider can guarantee an exam outcome. Certification exams are administered by CompTIA and Cisco independently, and results depend on your preparation, effort, and performance on test day. Our programs are built to give you the best possible foundation, but the exam is yours to take and pass. We encourage students to use practice exams, review weak domains, and schedule their exam when they are consistently scoring above passing thresholds.
Most CompTIA certifications are valid for three years and can be renewed through continuing education credits or by passing a higher-level exam. Cisco certifications also expire on a three-year cycle and renew similarly. Staying current with renewals keeps your credentials active and signals to employers that your knowledge is up to date.
CompTIA exams are taken through Pearson VUE, either in person at a testing center or online via remote proctoring. Cisco exams are also available through Pearson VUE. Exam registration, fees, and scheduling are handled directly with Pearson VUE — not through ElyIT. Course fees paid to ElyIT cover your training only, not the exam voucher.
Courses & Programs
We offer preparation programs for CompTIA certifications including Tech+, A+, Network+, Security+, Linux+, CySA+, and SecAI+, as well as Cisco CCNA and CCNP Enterprise. We also offer introductory Cisco NetAcad courses including Computer Hardware Basics, Intro to Cybersecurity, and HTML Essentials. Each course page describes what is covered, what the exam looks like, and who the program is for.
If you have no IT background, start with CompTIA Tech+ or CompTIA A+. Tech+ gives you a broad technology foundation before committing to a specialty. A+ is the most widely recognized entry-level certification and opens doors to help desk, desktop support, and technician roles. If you are already working in IT and want to specialize, our Skills Assessment can help identify your strongest next step.
It depends on the course and how much time you can dedicate each week. Computer Hardware Basics and Intro to Cybersecurity each run approximately 6 hours. HTML Essentials runs approximately 30 hours. Tech+ and A+ typically take 8 to 12 weeks studying part-time. Network+, Security+, and Linux+ run 8 to 12 weeks as well. CCNA runs approximately 12 to 16 weeks, and CCNP Enterprise can take 6 months or more depending on pace. All programs are self-paced — you move faster or slower based on your schedule.
Each course includes access to structured learning modules on our Moodle-based platform at learn.elyit.com, aligned to current exam objectives. Depending on the program, this includes CertMaster Learn content from CompTIA or Cisco NetAcad courseware, guided study materials, quizzes, a skills assessment, and instructor support. Course content, included platforms, and hours are listed on each course page.
Our programs are structured as self-paced with instructor availability. You work through material on your own schedule, but you are not alone — our instructors are available for questions, guidance, and support throughout your enrollment. This model gives you the flexibility of self-paced study without the isolation of purely on-demand video courses.
You can, but we generally recommend completing one certification path before starting another, especially at the beginner level. Certifications build on each other — A+ before Network+, Network+ before Security+, Security+ before CySA+. Studying two foundational courses simultaneously tends to slow both down.
Enrollment & Pricing
Create a free account on elyit.com, browse our course catalog, and add the course you want to your cart. After checkout, your student account is activated and your access to learn.elyit.com is provisioned automatically. If you are enrolling through the Arizona ESA program, contact us before purchasing so we can confirm the correct process for your account.
A one-time Application Fee of $35.00 is charged on your first purchase with ElyIT. This fee covers the administrative cost of creating your student record and is not subject to refund under any circumstances. It is only charged once — not on subsequent course purchases.
We accept all major credit and debit cards through Stripe, our payment processor. ElyIT does not store your card information — all payment data is handled securely by Stripe. We do not currently offer payment plans or buy-now-pay-later options through the site, but contact us if your situation requires a different arrangement.
Our refund policy is detailed on the Refund Policy page. In general, refunds are not available once course access has been granted, except in limited circumstances. The application fee is non-refundable in all cases. We encourage you to review the full policy before enrolling and to reach out with any questions before purchasing.
Yes. ElyIT is enrolled with the Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account program. Qualifying high school-aged students may use ESA funds toward eligible ElyIT programs. Contact us at info@elyit.com before enrolling to confirm the current ESA process for your account, as the enrollment workflow may differ from the standard checkout.
Yes. If your employer is covering the cost, they can pay by credit card during checkout or contact us to arrange an invoice or purchase order. Corporate and team enrollment inquiries should be directed to info@elyit.com.
ESA & Student Programs
The Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account program is administered by the Arizona Department of Education and provides eligible K-12 students with state funds to pay for approved educational services. ElyIT is enrolled as an approved provider, which means qualifying high school-aged students can use ESA funds toward eligible ElyIT programs.
Yes. High school students participating in the Arizona ESA program may enroll in eligible ElyIT programs when a parent or legal guardian completes the enrollment process on their behalf. The parent or guardian agrees to our Terms of Service and is responsible for the student's compliance with our policies.
ESA funds may be used toward eligible ElyIT course tuition. The application fee and any items not approved under your specific ESA account may not be covered. Contact us at info@elyit.com before enrolling to confirm what your ESA account covers and how to complete the transaction correctly.
Yes. Our introductory programs — Tech+, A+, Computer Hardware Basics, and Intro to Cybersecurity — are well-suited to motivated high school students, particularly those interested in IT careers, computer science, or cybersecurity. CompTIA and Cisco certifications earned in high school carry real value with employers and colleges and can support early career positioning.
Getting Started
ElyIT is an Arizona-based IT certification training provider. We help adult learners and high school students build real technical skills and prepare for industry-recognized certifications from CompTIA and Cisco. Our programs are practical and career-focused — we cover what you need to know to pass your exam and perform in the job.
ElyIT serves three main audiences: adults making a career change into IT, working professionals adding certifications to their resume, and high school students building early technical credentials through the Arizona ESA program. You do not need a degree or prior IT experience to get started.
No. Several of our programs — including Tech+, A+, Computer Hardware Basics, Intro to Cybersecurity, and HTML Essentials — are designed for complete beginners. If you are unsure where to start, take our free Skills Assessment or contact us and we will help you find the right starting point.
ElyIT is based in Surprise, Arizona. Most of our instruction and coursework is delivered virtually through our learning platform at learn.elyit.com, so students from any location can participate. In-person events and sessions are held locally in the Surprise area when scheduled.
ElyIT is an exam preparation and instructional support provider — not a licensed college or bootcamp. We do not issue degrees or college credit. What we offer is focused, affordable preparation for specific IT certification exams, with real instructor involvement and a platform built around the actual exam objectives. If your goal is a certification and a job, not a diploma, ElyIT is built for that path.
ElyIT is not accredited by a regional or national accrediting body and is not licensed by the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education. We are an exam preparation and instructional support provider. The credentials we prepare you for — CompTIA and Cisco certifications — are issued by those organizations directly after you pass their exams, and are recognized by employers worldwide independent of any school accreditation.
Learning Experience
After your payment is confirmed, you will receive access through two places: your student dashboard at elyit.com/dashboard, which shows your enrolled courses and progress, and the ElyIT Learning Portal at learn.elyit.com, which is where the actual course content, modules, quizzes, and assignments live.
learn.elyit.com is the ElyIT Learning Portal, powered by Moodle — a widely used open-source learning management system. When you enroll in a course, a Moodle account is automatically created for you using your ElyIT email and name. All course modules, materials, quizzes, and assignments are delivered through this platform.
CertMaster is CompTIA's official learning platform. Several of our CompTIA programs are delivered with CertMaster Learn content, which includes interactive lessons, performance-based questions, and practice assessments built directly by CompTIA. Access to CertMaster, where included, is provided through your ElyIT enrollment.
Cisco Networking Academy — NetAcad — is Cisco's official learning platform. Our CCNA, CCNP Enterprise, and introductory Cisco courses are delivered with NetAcad courseware, which includes hands-on labs, Packet Tracer simulations, and Cisco-authored content. NetAcad access, where included, is provided as part of your ElyIT enrollment.
The ElyIT Skills Assessment is a free benchmark tool available on our site. It covers topic domains for specific certifications — A+, Network+, Security+, SecAI+, and others — and gives you a domain-by-domain score to show where your knowledge is strong and where to focus your studying. The number of questions varies by certification based on the number of exam domains covered. Results are for self-study guidance only and do not predict exam performance. You can retake assessments as often as you like and track improvement over time in your dashboard.
Yes. Our model is self-paced with instructor availability. You are not watching pre-recorded videos in isolation — our instructors are available for questions, guidance, and support throughout your enrollment period. Instructor contact and availability details are provided after enrollment.