The CompTIA A+ exam has a first-attempt pass rate estimated around 60%. Most people who fail aren't unprepared — they studied with a Udemy CompTIA A+ course that was still covering the old 220-1001 and 220-1002 objectives after CompTIA revised the exam in April 2022. Courses don't auto-update when objectives change, and many listings with 50,000+ enrollments are quietly out of date.
Checking the "Last Updated" date and reading the 10 most recent reviews matters more than the overall star rating. A 4.7-star course updated in 2020 will teach you things that no longer appear on the exam while leaving gaps in domains that do.
This guide covers what the current exams actually test, how to evaluate a Udemy CompTIA A+ course before buying, and how to build a study plan that gets you through both Core 1 and Core 2.
What CompTIA A+ Actually Tests
CompTIA A+ is a two-exam certification: Core 1 (220-1101) and Core 2 (220-1102). You need to pass both. There is no exemption for work experience.
Core 1 (220-1101) domain breakdown:
- Mobile devices (15%) — smartphones, tablets, connectivity
- Networking (20%) — TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, ports, wireless protocols
- Hardware (25%) — CPUs, RAM, storage types, motherboards, expansion cards
- Virtualization and cloud computing (11%) — hypervisors, cloud service models, VMs
- Hardware and network troubleshooting (29%) — the largest single domain
Core 2 (220-1102) domain breakdown:
- Operating systems (31%) — Windows, macOS, Linux, mobile OS
- Security (25%) — threats, physical security, protocols, data disposal
- Software troubleshooting (22%) — malware removal, OS issues, application problems
- Operational procedures (22%) — documentation, change management, safety, environmental
Each exam is 90 minutes, up to 90 questions, with a 675/900 passing score. Questions include multiple choice and performance-based questions (PBQs) — simulated scenarios where you configure or troubleshoot a system. PBQs are where underprepared candidates fail. Video lectures and flashcards alone won't get you through them.
Why Choose Udemy for CompTIA A+ Prep
Udemy CompTIA A+ courses are the most cost-efficient structured preparation available. Major courses run $15–$20 during sales (which happen constantly) versus $200–$400 for CompTIA's official CertMaster or instructor-led classroom training.
The best Udemy CompTIA A+ instructors — Jason Dion and Mike Meyers' Total Seminars are the two names that consistently hold up — update their content when objectives change and respond to Q&A actively. That matters when you're stuck on a concept at 11pm before an exam.
Where Udemy falls short:
- No pacing or accountability. Progress is entirely self-directed.
- Practice exams recycle question pools. If Udemy's tests are your only practice source, you'll recognize questions on test day but struggle with novel phrasing.
- Hands-on lab coverage is shallow. Courses describe labs more than they provide interactive environments.
- Content quality varies significantly. Some popular listings have poor audio, slow pacing, or outdated diagrams that weren't updated when the course was.
The practical approach: use a Udemy CompTIA A+ course as your primary learning resource, supplement with Professor Messer's free notes and video series, and purchase a separate practice exam package. Dion's standalone practice test packs or ExamCompass (free) are better for exam simulation than Udemy's built-in quizzes.
What to Look for in a Udemy CompTIA A+ Course
Check these in order before buying:
- Exam version. The current exams are 220-1101 and 220-1102. If a course title or curriculum only mentions 220-1001 or 220-1002, skip it entirely.
- Last updated date. CompTIA revised A+ objectives in April 2022. Any course last updated before mid-2022 doesn't reflect current content.
- Recent reviews. Sort by "Most Recent," not overall rating. A 4.7-star course with its latest reviews saying "practice exams are recycled" or "content feels dated" is a warning sign regardless of total enrollment.
- Practice exam count. You want 4–6 full practice exams (90 questions each, timed). Courses with only 1–2 practice tests aren't enough for proper exam simulation.
- Q&A activity. Check if the instructor has responded to questions within the last 30 days. Thousands of unanswered questions means you're studying solo when you hit a confusing topic.
- PBQ coverage. The course should explicitly address performance-based questions. If it never mentions PBQs, assume it doesn't prepare you for them.
Top Courses
The following Udemy courses are relevant for IT professionals and those working within the Udemy platform ecosystem:
Udemy Business Onboarding for Admins
If your employer provides Udemy Business access — common in enterprise IT departments — this course covers how to configure team learning paths and set up certification tracks like CompTIA A+ for staff. Rated 9/10. Practical for IT admins managing training programs rather than just taking them.
Achieve Udemy Success with Course Marketing
Aimed at course creators rather than certification candidates — worth considering if you're an IT professional looking to build and publish your own CompTIA A+ prep content on Udemy's marketplace.
Amazon Video Direct, Skillshare and Udemy (Unofficial)
Covers the business model behind major e-learning platforms including Udemy — relevant context if you're evaluating whether to host technical certification training yourself or through Udemy's instructor program.
How to Create and Sell Courses on Udemy (Unofficial)
For IT professionals who want to teach CompTIA A+ content on Udemy, this covers the mechanics of course creation and monetization on the platform.
Study Plan for Udemy CompTIA A+
Most candidates who pass on the first attempt spend 60–90 hours total across both exams. Here is a realistic structure:
Weeks 1–4: Core 1 (220-1101)
- Work through Core 1 video content domain by domain. Don't skip hardware — it's 25% of the exam and tested with scenario-based questions that require genuine understanding, not memorization.
- Memorize networking ports and protocols. TCP/UDP port numbers appear on the exam. They are not hinted at during the test.
- After each domain, do 20–30 practice questions on that domain before moving forward.
- Final week: 2–3 full timed practice exams (90 questions, 90 minutes each). Consistent scores below 80% mean more review before scheduling.
Weeks 5–8: Core 2 (220-1102)
- Operating systems is the largest domain at 31%. If you primarily use Windows, don't skip macOS and Linux sections — they appear on the exam.
- The security domain overlaps with Security+ material. If you plan to pursue Security+ afterward, pay close attention here.
- Software troubleshooting requires knowing the Windows troubleshooting process methodically. Good Udemy CompTIA A+ courses walk through this explicitly.
- Same pattern: domain-by-domain practice questions, then full timed exams in the final week.
Scheduling both exams: Book them within 2–3 weeks of each other. The longer the gap, the more Core 1 content fades. Online proctored exams have strict environment requirements — run the system check at least 24 hours before your test date, not the morning of.
Salary and Career Impact of CompTIA A+
CompTIA A+ is the baseline credential for IT support roles. Bureau of Labor Statistics data puts median pay for Computer Support Specialists at $60,660. With A+, typical entry-level ranges are:
- Help Desk Technician: $40,000–$55,000
- IT Support Specialist: $45,000–$65,000
- Desktop Support Analyst: $50,000–$70,000
- Field Service Technician: $45,000–$60,000
The certification is also a DoD 8570/8140 baseline requirement for IT roles at federal agencies and government contractors. For a substantial segment of IT job postings — particularly in defense, healthcare, and regulated industries — A+ is a hard requirement, not a preference.
A+ alone won't move you into sysadmin, cloud, or engineering roles. The standard progression is A+ → Network+ → Security+, then specialty certifications or vendor credentials depending on your track. Udemy has courses for the entire CompTIA pathway, and buying them as a bundle during a Udemy sale typically costs under $50 total.
FAQ
Are Udemy CompTIA A+ courses sufficient to pass the exam?
For most candidates, a current Udemy CompTIA A+ course combined with a separate practice exam pack and Professor Messer's free materials is sufficient. The gap is performance-based questions — supplement with actual hands-on lab time (real hardware, a VM setup, or CompTIA's CertMaster Labs) if PBQs are a concern after practice testing.
How do I know if a Udemy CompTIA A+ course is up to date?
Check the "Last Updated" date on the course landing page and look for explicit mentions of 220-1101 and 220-1102 in the curriculum. Read the 10 most recent reviews sorted by newest. If reviews from the past 90 days mention outdated content or missing topics, trust those over the overall star rating.
Is CompTIA A+ worth getting in 2026?
Yes, for anyone entering IT support or targeting government and defense IT positions. Less relevant if you're bypassing IT support entirely for cloud engineering or software development — in those cases, vendor certifications (AWS, Azure, GCP) and portfolio projects carry more weight with hiring managers than A+.
How long does Udemy CompTIA A+ prep take?
60–90 hours total across both exams is realistic with no prior IT background. With existing IT experience, 30–40 hours often covers the gaps. Full-time study can compress the timeline but retention suffers below a certain number of review cycles.
What's the difference between CompTIA A+ and ITF+?
ITF+ (IT Fundamentals) doesn't appear in job postings — it's a pre-certification for people exploring IT, not a credential employers recognize. Go straight to A+ if you're serious about an IT career. ITF+ is not a prerequisite for A+ and doesn't substitute for it.
Do Udemy CompTIA A+ completion certificates count toward anything?
Udemy course completion certificates are not recognized by CompTIA or accepted for exam voucher reimbursement programs. They serve as basic proof of coursework for your own records. The CompTIA A+ certification itself — earned by passing both exams — is what employers and credentialing bodies recognize.
Bottom Line
Udemy CompTIA A+ courses are solid prep tools when you pick the right one and use them correctly. The failures come from: buying a course that hasn't been updated for 220-1101/220-1102, treating Udemy's built-in practice exams as the only test simulation, and skipping hands-on practice for performance-based questions.
The approach that works consistently: pick a Udemy CompTIA A+ course updated in 2023 or later with explicit 220-1101/220-1102 coverage, add Professor Messer's free notes as a reference, and buy a standalone practice exam pack (Dion's are the standard recommendation) for exam simulation. Aim for 80%+ consistency on timed practice tests before booking, not 95% — overthinking the prep stage delays the credential without improving the outcome.
The cert has the clearest payoff if you're targeting help desk roles, government IT positions, or building toward Network+ and Security+. If you're skipping the IT support tier entirely, your study time may be better invested elsewhere.
