The CompTIA A+ exam voucher alone costs $253 per attempt (and you need two exams to earn the cert). Add prep materials and you're easily looking at $600–$900 before you sit in the testing chair. That number surprises most people who assumed a "beginner" certification would be cheap. This guide breaks down every real cost—exam fees, training, retakes, and renewal—so you can budget accurately and avoid the common traps.
CompTIA Exam Cost by Certification (2026)
CompTIA publishes exam prices directly. Here's what each voucher costs as of 2026:
- CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) — $253 per exam
- CompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1202) — $253 per exam (A+ requires both, so $506 total in exam fees alone)
- CompTIA Network+ — $338
- CompTIA Security+ — $404
- CompTIA CySA+ — $404
- CompTIA SecurityX (CASP+) — $508
- CompTIA Cloud+ — $338
- CompTIA Linux+ — $338
These are the base voucher prices from Pearson VUE, the exclusive testing partner. You won't find lower at the test center window. The only legitimate way to reduce exam cost is through employer reimbursement, academic discounts (CompTIA's Academic Marketplace), or bundled exam+training packages.
Total CompTIA Cost: What You'll Actually Spend
The voucher is the floor, not the ceiling. Here's a realistic budget for the most common paths:
CompTIA A+ Total Cost
- Exam vouchers (x2): $506
- Self-study course + practice tests: $30–$80 (Udemy sales)
- Study guide book (optional): $35–$50
- Professor Messer video notes (optional): $15
- Realistic self-study total: $570–$650
- Instructor-led bootcamp (if employer doesn't pay): add $800–$2,000
CompTIA Security+ Total Cost
- Exam voucher: $404
- Self-study course + practice tests: $30–$80
- Study guide (optional): $40–$55
- Realistic self-study total: $470–$540
Retake Policy and Retake Costs
If you fail, you pay full price again. There's no discounted retake voucher. CompTIA does sell a "Retake Bundle" at checkout—typically $50–$100 more than a single voucher—which gives you one free retake if you fail. It's worth considering if you're underprepared or testing under time pressure. Pass rates aren't publicly disclosed by CompTIA, but community data suggests A+ Core 1 has roughly a 65–70% first-attempt pass rate for candidates who prepped with a structured course.
How to Reduce Your CompTIA Cost
There are a few legitimate ways to spend less:
Employer and GI Bill Coverage
Many IT employers—especially managed service providers and government contractors—reimburse CompTIA exam fees as a condition of employment or after passing. DoD 8570/8140 compliance requirements mean federal contractors nearly always cover Security+ and CySA+. If you're job-searching, asking about cert reimbursement in the interview is reasonable and normal. Active-duty military and veterans can use MyCAA or GI Bill benefits to cover both training and exam costs entirely.
Academic Discounts
Students and educators at accredited institutions can buy vouchers at a significant discount through CompTIA's Academic Marketplace (academicmarketplace.comptia.org). Discounts typically run 25–35% off the standard voucher price. You need a valid .edu email or institutional purchase order.
Bundle vs. Standalone Vouchers
CompTIA sells "CertMaster" bundles that combine their official learning platform, practice labs, and an exam voucher. These run $450–$600 per exam but the training material quality is genuinely good—better than most third-party courses for exam-specific content. If you're starting from zero and want one-stop coverage, the CertMaster bundle can actually come out cheaper than buying a third-party course + official voucher separately, especially if you catch a promotional price.
Third-Party Courses on Sale
Udemy lists full A+ and Security+ courses at $200 but runs sitewide sales (often to $15–$30) multiple times per month. Never buy at full price. The courses below are consistently rated among the highest-quality options available.
Top Courses for CompTIA Prep
These are the current highest-rated CompTIA prep courses available, ranked by verified student ratings:
CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) Full Course & Practice Exam
Covers the full 220-1201 exam objectives with video instruction and integrated practice exams. Rated 9.4/10 on Udemy—one of the most comprehensive single-course options for Core 1 prep before you spend $253 on the voucher.
CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) 6 Practice Tests [2026]
Six full-length timed practice exams mirroring the real test format. Rated 9.4/10. Use this after finishing a video course—repeated timed testing is the single most effective predictor of whether you'll pass on exam day.
CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) Exam Prep 2026 - For Beginners
Rated 9.5/10. Covers the current SY0-701 objectives with a beginner-accessible structure—good if you're coming from A+ and moving toward Security+ as the next step in the CompTIA certification pathway.
CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) 1,000+ Practice Questions 2026
Rated 9.5/10. Over 1,000 practice questions mapped to SY0-701 domains. The Security+ exam heavily tests scenario-based questions—volume practice like this is what closes the gap between "knows the content" and "passes the exam."
CompTIA SecurityX (CAS-005) 6 Practice Exams
Rated 9.0/10. SecurityX (formerly CASP+) at $508 is the most expensive CompTIA voucher—thorough practice exam prep before attempting it is not optional. Six full practice exams for the CAS-005 objectives.
Is the CompTIA Cost Worth It? ROI by Certification
The honest answer depends on where you are in your career.
CompTIA A+
A+ is most valuable as an entry credential. Help desk and desktop support roles in the $40K–$55K range often list it as required or preferred. It won't get you a senior role, but it demonstrates you can pass a standardized baseline—which matters when hiring managers are screening 200 resumes. If you're already working in IT for 1+ years, its marginal value drops significantly and your time is better spent on Network+ or Security+.
CompTIA Security+
Security+ carries the strongest ROI of the CompTIA lineup for most people. It's DoD 8140 compliant, which means it's required for many government and defense contractor roles. Cybersecurity roles citing Security+ as required pay $65K–$95K at the entry-to-mid level. At $404 for the exam, the payback period is measured in weeks once you land a qualifying role.
CompTIA CySA+ and SecurityX
These are intermediate and advanced credentials that matter mainly if you're already in a security role and need to demonstrate progression for a promotion or government compliance requirement. The $404–$508 cost is harder to justify unless your employer is paying or you're targeting a specific role that requires it.
CompTIA Renewal Cost: Don't Forget This
CompTIA certifications expire every three years. Renewal options:
- Retake the exam — full price, same as a new candidate
- Earn CEUs — free to cheap if you're already doing training, conferences, or higher certs
- CompTIA CE (Continuing Education) — submit 20 CEUs for A+, 30 for Security+/Network+ to renew without retesting
- Higher-level cert renewal — earning SecurityX automatically renews Security+, CySA+, and Network+ simultaneously
The most cost-efficient renewal path is earning CEUs through training you'd be doing anyway. If you're active in your field—taking courses, attending security conferences, reading technical publications—logging CEUs costs nothing extra.
FAQ: CompTIA Cost
How much does the CompTIA A+ exam cost?
Each CompTIA A+ exam voucher costs $253 through Pearson VUE. Since A+ requires passing two separate exams (Core 1 and Core 2), the total exam fee is $506. Prices are updated periodically—always verify at comptia.org before purchasing a voucher.
Can I get a discount on CompTIA exam vouchers?
Yes. Students at accredited institutions can buy discounted vouchers through CompTIA's Academic Marketplace. Employers often reimburse exam fees—ask HR. Military personnel can use GI Bill or MyCAA benefits. Legitimate discount codes occasionally appear through CompTIA's newsletter or authorized training partners, but third-party sites selling "discounted vouchers" are usually scams.
What happens if I fail a CompTIA exam?
You pay the full voucher price again. There's no reduced-cost retake. CompTIA sells a "Retake Bundle" at purchase that includes one free retake if you fail—worth considering if you're not fully confident. You must wait 24 hours before retaking after a first failure, and 14 days after a second failure.
Does CompTIA cost the same worldwide?
No. Prices vary by region and testing location. The $253–$508 figures are for the United States. Candidates in other countries may pay in local currency at a different rate. Check the Pearson VUE site for your country's current pricing.
Is CompTIA A+ worth the cost in 2026?
For people entering IT with no prior credentials, yes. It satisfies baseline requirements for help desk and support roles and provides a structured curriculum if you've been learning ad-hoc. For people already employed in IT with 1–2 years of hands-on experience, the money and time are better invested in Network+ or Security+ which open higher-paying roles.
How long does it take to prepare for CompTIA exams?
Most candidates with no IT background spend 3–4 months preparing for A+ (both exams). Security+ typically takes 2–3 months for someone who already has A+ or equivalent experience. Preparation time directly affects your probability of passing on the first attempt—which matters financially since each retake costs the same as the original attempt.
Bottom Line
The total CompTIA cost for A+ via self-study runs $570–$650 in 2026—dominated by the two $253 exam vouchers. Security+ runs $470–$540 for a single exam. These aren't trivial sums, so the prep decisions matter: a $30 Udemy course (on sale) plus dedicated practice tests covers the same material as a $1,500 bootcamp for most self-directed learners.
The most expensive mistake isn't the training—it's failing the exam and paying $253 again. Invest in quality practice tests, simulate timed exam conditions before your real attempt, and only schedule the exam when you're consistently scoring above passing on practice tests. For A+ prep, the Core 1 full course paired with the practice test bundle is the most cost-effective preparation path available right now.