About 40,500 people search for "comptia a+ cert" every month. Most of them are trying to answer one question: is $492 and several months of study actually going to move the needle on getting hired in IT? The short answer is yes — but with caveats that most guides skip. This one won't.
What the CompTIA A+ Cert Actually Covers
The CompTIA A+ certification is vendor-neutral, which is marketing-speak for "it doesn't care whether you're working on Dell servers, MacBooks, or Android tablets." That breadth is both its strength and the reason some experienced IT folks look down on it — it's wide, not deep.
The cert is split across two exams, each covering distinct territory:
- Core 1 (220-1201): Hardware, networking fundamentals, mobile devices, virtualization, cloud computing basics, and hardware/network troubleshooting. Think physical components, ports, cable types, and how to diagnose a machine that won't boot.
- Core 2 (220-1202): Operating systems (Windows, Linux, macOS, Chrome OS), security, software troubleshooting, and operational procedures. This is the exam that covers malware removal, user account management, and basic hardening.
The 2026 exam versions (220-1201 and 220-1202) added heavier weighting on cloud services and AI-adjacent topics compared to the older 1101/1102 series. If you're using study materials from 2022 or earlier, some of that content is now out of scope or underweighted.
One thing CompTIA doesn't advertise loudly: the A+ Core 2 exam satisfies the DoD 8140 IAT Level I requirement. That means if you want to work IT support on a government contract or military base, the A+ cert is often a hard prerequisite — not just a nice-to-have. That single fact explains why federal IT contractors specifically list it in job postings at a much higher rate than private sector employers.
CompTIA A+ Exam Structure, Costs, and Pass Rates
You cannot pass the A+ by taking just one exam. Both exams are required for certification, and they must be passed within three years of each other. Here's what you're looking at financially:
- Each exam voucher: $246 (as of 2025–2026 pricing)
- Total cost for both: $492
- Retake fee: Same price as original — there's no discount
- Exam delivery: Pearson VUE testing centers or online proctored
- Passing score: 675/900 for Core 1, 700/900 for Core 2
- Format: Up to 90 questions per exam, including multiple-choice and performance-based questions (PBQs)
- Time limit: 90 minutes per exam
The performance-based questions — where you actually configure a simulated network or troubleshoot a virtual machine — trip up candidates who studied purely through flashcards. You need hands-on practice, not just memorization. CompTIA doesn't publish official pass rates, but third-party estimates put first-attempt pass rates somewhere in the 60–70% range, which makes retakes a realistic budget item.
CompTIA recommends 9–12 months of IT experience before attempting, but candidates with zero experience routinely pass in 3–4 months of dedicated study. The experience recommendation is more about comfort than gatekeeping.
Who Hires A+ Certified Candidates and What They Pay
The CompTIA A+ cert opens the door to entry-level IT roles. That's not a put-down — "entry-level IT" in 2026 means roles that often pay $45,000–$65,000 depending on location, and in government contracting, sometimes more.
Common job titles that list the A+ as required or preferred:
- Help Desk Technician / IT Support Specialist ($42K–$58K nationally)
- Desktop Support Analyst ($45K–$62K)
- Field Service Technician ($40K–$55K)
- IT Support Analyst ($48K–$65K)
- DoD/Government IT Support (GS-5 to GS-7 scale, often $38K–$55K plus benefits)
The salary jump from no cert to A+ certified is most visible in markets where employers have formalized IT job descriptions. In practice, a help desk posting that lists "CompTIA A+ required" tends to pay $4K–$8K more than a similarly scoped posting that doesn't mention certifications, because the cert signals that the employer can spend less on onboarding.
The A+ is also the most common first step on a cert stacking ladder: A+ → Network+ → Security+ is a well-worn path, and many employers who hire A+ holders will reimburse the next exam as a retention benefit.
Top Courses for the CompTIA A+ Cert
The A+ exam is passable with free YouTube content and CompTIA's own study guides, but structured courses with practice exams dramatically reduce the retake risk. The courses below are specific to the current 220-1201/1202 exam versions.
CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) Full Course & Practice Exam
Covers the full Core 1 domain with video lectures and a bundled practice exam. Rated 9.4 on Udemy — useful as a primary study resource rather than just a supplement, particularly for the hardware and networking sections where visual walkthroughs matter more than reading.
CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) 6 Practice Tests [2026]
Six full-length practice exams keyed to the current exam objectives. If you've already done your content study and want to stress-test your weak spots before the real exam, this is the right tool — the volume of questions gives you a statistically meaningful signal on where you'll fail on exam day.
CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) Exam Prep 2026
Not an A+ course, but relevant as the logical next cert after you pass. If you're planning to stack A+ → Security+, studying the Security+ material while the A+ security concepts are fresh cuts your total prep time significantly. Rated 9.5, beginner-friendly.
CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) 1,000+ Practice Questions 2026
Over 1,000 Security+ practice questions for when you're ready to move up. Worth bookmarking now if you intend to pursue the cert path past A+.
CompTIA A+ Cert vs. Other Entry-Level IT Credentials
A few certifications compete for the same entry-level audience, and the comparison is worth being honest about:
A+ vs. Google IT Support Certificate (Coursera): Google's cert is cheaper ($240 for ~6 months of Coursera subscription) and faster to complete. It's recognized at Google partner employers, but it doesn't satisfy DoD 8140, isn't listed in most formal enterprise job descriptions, and carries less weight in traditional IT hiring than the A+. Good for a resume with no certs; not a substitute if the job posting specifically asks for A+.
A+ vs. CompTIA IT Fundamentals+ (ITF+): The ITF+ is explicitly pre-A+, aimed at people who aren't sure if IT is right for them. It's a single exam ($123) and doesn't qualify for most job postings. Think of it as a trial run, not a hiring credential.
A+ vs. Microsoft MOS or Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900): AZ-900 is worth having if you're going toward cloud administration, but it doesn't cover the hardware and desktop support fundamentals that help desk roles require. These are complements, not substitutes.
If you're specifically targeting government IT jobs, the A+ is functionally mandatory. For private sector help desk roles, it's the most universally accepted credential at the entry level — no other single cert has the same breadth of employer recognition.
CompTIA A+ Cert FAQ
How long does it take to prepare for the CompTIA A+ cert?
Most candidates without prior IT experience pass in 3–5 months studying part-time (1–2 hours per day). Candidates with some hands-on experience — even personal computer building or home networking — often do it in 6–10 weeks. The Core 2 exam (operating systems and security) typically requires more study time than Core 1 for most people, since it's more concept-heavy and less visual.
Do you have to take both A+ exams at the same time?
No. You can take Core 1 and Core 2 at separate sittings, and there's no required order — you can take Core 2 first if you want. The only rule is that both must be passed within three years of each other for the certification to be awarded. Most candidates take Core 1 first since it's the foundational hardware and networking exam.
Is the CompTIA A+ cert worth it in 2026?
For someone with no formal IT credentials targeting their first IT support role, yes. The $492 cost is recovered in salary delta within the first few months of employment in most markets. For someone already working in IT with 2+ years of experience, the A+ offers diminishing returns — the Security+ or Network+ would be a better spend of time and money at that stage.
How many questions are on each CompTIA A+ exam?
Each exam has a maximum of 90 questions. The question types include standard multiple-choice (single and multi-answer) and performance-based questions (PBQs), which are interactive simulations. PBQs typically appear at the beginning of the exam and cannot be skipped and returned to in the same way as multiple-choice questions.
Does the CompTIA A+ cert expire?
Yes. The A+ certification is valid for three years. To renew, you can either retake the current exam, pass a higher-level CompTIA cert (like Network+ or Security+), or accumulate 20 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) through CompTIA's CertMaster CE platform or qualifying IT activities. Most people working in IT naturally accumulate enough activity to renew without doing anything extra.
Can I study for both A+ exams simultaneously?
Yes, and some candidates prefer it, since Core 1 and Core 2 content overlaps in areas like security and troubleshooting methodology. The risk is diluting your focus — it's harder to go deep on either exam when you're splitting attention. The more common approach is to focus on Core 1, pass it, then shift fully to Core 2.
Bottom Line
The CompTIA A+ cert is the most employer-recognized entry point into IT support, and it's the only entry-level credential that satisfies DoD 8140 compliance requirements. At $492 for both exams and 3–5 months of realistic prep time, it has a faster ROI than nearly any other credential at this level.
If you're starting from zero, take Core 1 first using a structured video course paired with practice exam sets — the performance-based questions will punish anyone who only memorizes definitions. Pass Core 1, then pivot to Core 2. After both exams, Security+ is the natural next target if you want to move toward cybersecurity roles, or Network+ if infrastructure and networking is your direction.
Don't overthink the study materials. The courses rated 9.4 and above from Udemy's current catalog for the 220-1201 series cover the exam objectives thoroughly. The differentiator between candidates who pass on the first attempt versus those who need a retake is almost always practice exam volume, not study hours.