About half of first-time CompTIA A+ 220-1101 candidates don't pass — that's the rough consensus from r/CompTIA, Pearson VUE retake data, and instructor forums. The exam itself isn't brutal, but most people underestimate the performance-based questions and over-rely on video-only prep. Choosing the right online CompTIA course format makes a measurable difference in whether you pass on attempt one or spend another $253 on a retake.
This guide covers what the 220-1101 exam actually tests, how online CompTIA courses differ in format and depth, what career outcomes look like post-certification, and how to pick prep material that matches how you actually learn.
What the 220-1101 Exam Tests (and What People Get Wrong)
The CompTIA A+ certification requires passing two exams: 220-1101 (Core 1) and 220-1102 (Core 2). The 220-1101 covers hardware, networking, mobile devices, virtualization and cloud, and hardware/network troubleshooting. You get 90 minutes, up to 90 questions, and need a 675 out of 900 to pass.
The breakdown by domain weight:
- Mobile Devices — 15%
- Networking — 20%
- Hardware — 25%
- Virtualization and Cloud Computing — 11%
- Hardware and Network Troubleshooting — 29%
The troubleshooting domain is the heaviest and the one most test-takers underweight in their prep. It's also where performance-based questions (PBQs) concentrate — drag-and-drop network diagrams, simulated cable troubleshooting, identifying failed hardware from symptoms. Video lectures alone don't prepare you for these. You need labs or at minimum interactive practice tools.
A common mistake: spending 80% of study time on hardware specs and memorizing connector types, then running out of time on the PBQs. The 220-1101 is testing whether you can diagnose, not just identify.
How Online CompTIA Courses Differ: What to Look For
Online CompTIA A+ prep falls into a few distinct categories. Understanding the difference saves you both money and time.
Video + Practice Test Bundles
The most common format. Platforms like Udemy, Professor Messer's site, and CompTIA's own CertMaster Learn deliver video walkthroughs of exam objectives paired with timed practice exams. These work well if you already have some hands-on IT experience and just need to systematically cover the exam domains. If you're coming in completely cold, video-only often leaves gaps in the troubleshooting domains.
Lab-Based Online Courses
Providers like CompTIA CertMaster Labs and some Coursera offerings include browser-based virtual environments where you configure networks, swap simulated hardware, and work through scenarios. These cost more — typically $100–$200 more than video-only bundles — but address the PBQ gap directly. If you've never physically built a PC or configured a router, the lab component is worth the premium.
Bootcamp-Style Instructor-Led Courses
Live online cohorts with scheduled sessions, instructor access, and exam guarantees. CompTIA partners like New Horizons and Global Knowledge offer these, often aimed at employer-sponsored candidates. Pricing is substantially higher ($800–$2,000+), justified if your employer is paying or if you need the accountability structure to actually complete the material.
Self-Paced Text + Community
Mike Meyers' books paired with Messer's free YouTube videos and the r/CompTIA community is a legitimate zero-cost route that passes people regularly. The weakness is no practice labs and requires self-direction. Works for people who read actively and have some background in IT support.
Online CompTIA Courses: What They Actually Cost
Cost varies significantly by format and provider. Rough ranges as of 2025:
- Udemy (sale pricing): $15–$30 for video + practice tests. Udemy runs sales constantly; never pay full price.
- Professor Messer Study Groups: ~$30 for enhanced study materials; video content free on YouTube
- CompTIA CertMaster Learn (A+ bundle): ~$219–$349 depending on whether you add Labs
- Coursera (Google IT Support): ~$49/month subscription; covers A+ domains broadly but not exam-specific
- LinkedIn Learning: ~$40/month subscription includes A+ prep content
- Bootcamps (instructor-led): $800–$2,000+
The exam voucher itself is $253 for the 220-1101. Budget accordingly — most candidates spend $50–$150 on prep material plus the voucher cost.
Career Outcomes: What CompTIA A+ Actually Gets You
The A+ is the entry-level certification most IT support roles list as "preferred" or "required." It doesn't get you into security engineering or cloud architecture — it gets you into the door for:
- Help Desk Technician (Tier 1–2)
- Desktop Support Analyst
- IT Support Specialist
- Field Service Technician
- Junior Systems Administrator
Median salary for A+-certified roles runs $45,000–$58,000 in the US, with significant variance by location. The DoD 8570 mandate requires A+ for certain information assurance roles in federal contracting, which inflates demand in DC-area markets.
The honest assessment: A+ alone rarely commands a significant salary premium over uncertified candidates in private-sector IT. Its value is primarily as a credential that gets your resume past automated filters and into the hands of a hiring manager. Paired with Network+ and Security+, the stack becomes considerably more valuable — most IT career paths treat these three as a foundation.
Average time from starting online CompTIA A+ study to first IT job: roughly 3–6 months for candidates with no prior experience, based on self-reported data in IT career communities. Those with existing technical backgrounds often certify and place faster.
Top Online Courses to Build Your IT Toolkit
While dedicated CompTIA A+ prep courses are the core of your study plan, IT support professionals consistently need skills beyond the exam objectives. Employers hiring for help desk and desktop support roles increasingly expect familiarity with business software, productivity tools, and customer service workflows. These highly-rated online courses fill those gaps:
Satisfaction Guaranteed: Develop Customer Loyalty Online Course
Help desk work is fundamentally customer-facing, and technical ability alone doesn't determine who gets hired or promoted. This Coursera course (rated 9.7) covers service recovery, expectations management, and the soft skills that separate good technicians from great ones — skills that rarely appear in CompTIA study materials but come up constantly in interviews.
Microsoft Excel 2013 Advanced: Online Excel Training Course
IT support roles in corporate environments routinely involve managing asset inventories, tracking tickets in spreadsheets, and reporting metrics to management. This Udemy course (rated 9.2) covers pivot tables, advanced formulas, and data management — practical skills that show up in IT support job descriptions more often than candidates expect.
QuickBooks Online Bank Feeds And Importing Transactions Course
If you're targeting IT support roles at small businesses or accounting firms — a large share of the entry-level market — QuickBooks familiarity differentiates your application. This Udemy course (rated 9.4) covers the software that a significant portion of your future users will be running and asking you to troubleshoot.
Learning to Teach Online Course
Senior technicians and those on a path toward IT training or documentation roles will find this Coursera course (rated 9.8) useful. The ability to create clear instructional content — user guides, onboarding docs, knowledge base articles — is a genuine differentiator at the T2/T3 level and in technical writing adjacent IT roles.
Study Strategy: How to Actually Pass the 220-1101
A realistic study plan for someone working full-time:
- Weeks 1–2: Complete one full pass through your chosen video course. Don't stop to memorize — get the map of what's covered.
- Weeks 3–4: Domain-by-domain review with practice questions after each section. Flag anything you answer wrong and revisit it.
- Week 5: Full-length timed practice exams. Aim for consistent 80%+ before booking the real exam. If you're scoring 70%, you're not ready.
- Final days: Focus on your weak domains, especially troubleshooting. Do PBQ simulations if your prep material includes them.
One practical note on performance-based questions: they appear early in the exam and take disproportionate time. Many candidates run the clock down on PBQs and rush through the multiple-choice section. Practice PBQ-style questions explicitly, and consider skipping them initially in the real exam to lock in the easier points first, then return with remaining time.
FAQ
What's the difference between online CompTIA courses and the official CompTIA training?
CompTIA sells its own prep (CertMaster Learn and Labs) which is mapped directly to exam objectives and updated when exam content changes. Third-party online courses on platforms like Udemy or Coursera are often cheaper and have good reviews, but may lag on content updates when CompTIA revises the exam. For the 220-1101 specifically, the exam version released in 2022 is current and most major providers are up to date.
How long does it take to study for the CompTIA A+ 220-1101 online?
CompTIA recommends 6–12 months of hands-on experience before attempting. For those coming in cold with dedicated online study, 6–10 weeks of consistent effort (1–2 hours daily) is a reasonable estimate. Candidates with existing IT background often need only 2–4 weeks of exam-focused prep.
Can I pass the 220-1101 using only free online resources?
Yes. Professor Messer's free YouTube CompTIA A+ series is genuinely comprehensive and many people pass using it alongside free practice tests from sites like ExamCompass. The gap is labs — if you don't have access to physical hardware or virtual lab environments, you'll want to find hands-on practice somewhere, even if it means setting up a home lab with spare equipment.
Is the CompTIA A+ worth it in 2025?
For entry-level IT candidates without a degree or existing experience, yes — it's a widely recognized credential that opens doors with employers who filter resumes by certification. For someone with 3+ years of IT support experience, the A+ has diminishing returns; at that point, Network+ or Security+ signals more to hiring managers. The DoD 8570 requirement makes it specifically valuable for federal IT contracting roles.
What's harder — the 220-1101 or the 220-1102?
Community consensus is that 220-1102 (covering operating systems, security, software troubleshooting, and operational procedures) is more conceptually dense but that 220-1101 has trickier hardware-specific PBQs. Neither is significantly harder than the other — most people take them within 1–2 months of each other and find that studying for Core 1 builds momentum for Core 2.
Do online CompTIA courses include exam vouchers?
Most don't. The exam voucher ($253 for 220-1101) is purchased separately from Pearson VUE or through CompTIA's store. Some bundles marketed as "complete" do include a voucher — verify before purchasing. CompTIA periodically offers bundle discounts through partners, especially for active military (CertNexus and CompTIA both have military discount programs).
Bottom Line
The best online CompTIA A+ 220-1101 course is whichever one you'll actually finish. A $15 Udemy course you complete beats a $300 CertMaster subscription you abandon in week two. That said, if you can budget for labs — either through CertMaster Labs or a platform with virtual environments — the investment meaningfully reduces the PBQ risk that trips up otherwise well-prepared candidates.
For most people: Professor Messer's videos (free) + a Udemy practice exam bundle ($15–$30) + one full-length timed practice exam scoring above 80% before you book the real thing. That stack has passed thousands of candidates and costs under $50 before the exam voucher. Add labs if you're genuinely new to hardware and networking.
The A+ is a starting point, not a destination. Have a plan for what comes next — Network+ for infrastructure roles, Security+ for anything touching compliance or federal work, or a vendor-specific cert (AWS, Azure, Microsoft 365) depending on which direction your IT career is heading.