The average CompTIA A+ exam attempt costs $246. Fail once, that's $492 out of pocket before you even hold the credential. Most candidates who fail do so not because the content is too hard — it's because they didn't know what Pearson VUE's testing environment actually demands of them, and they prepped for the wrong version of the exam. This guide closes that gap.
Pearson VUE is CompTIA's exclusive testing partner. Every CompTIA exam — A+, Network+, Security+, CySA+, PenTest+, and the rest — is delivered through Pearson VUE, either at a physical test center or via online proctoring at home. Understanding how Pearson VUE works is not optional; it directly affects your scheduling options, cancellation rights, and what happens on exam day.
How Pearson VUE Delivers CompTIA Exams
Pearson VUE operates two exam delivery modes for CompTIA candidates:
- Test center (in-person): You show up at an authorized Pearson VUE location with two forms of ID, go through a biometric check-in, and take the exam in a monitored room on their hardware. No personal devices allowed.
- OnVUE (online proctoring): You take the exam at home through the OnVUE software, with a live remote proctor watching via webcam. You need a quiet, private room, a stable internet connection, and a webcam that can pan 360 degrees on request.
Both modes deliver identical exams and scoring. The difference is logistics and risk profile. Test centers eliminate the home environment variables (internet drop, pets, a flatmate walking in) but require you to travel. OnVUE is convenient but has a higher incident rate — proctors can and do terminate sessions for environmental violations mid-exam, with no refund.
For your first CompTIA exam, a test center is the lower-risk option unless you have a reliable, private workspace and have tested your OnVUE setup well in advance using Pearson's system check tool.
Scheduling a CompTIA Exam Through Pearson VUE
You schedule directly through the Pearson VUE website at pearsonvue.com/comptia. The process:
- Create a Pearson VUE account (separate from your CompTIA account, though they link).
- Select your exam — for A+, you'll book 220-1101 and 220-1102 as separate sessions.
- Choose test center or OnVUE, pick a date and time slot.
- Pay with credit card. Vouchers (from CompTIA's store or authorized resellers) can be applied at checkout.
Slots open up to six months out. Popular test centers in metro areas fill two to three weeks out on weekends. If you're planning around a specific date — a job application deadline, a performance review, an employer reimbursement cutoff — book the moment you decide you're ready to sit.
Vouchers and Discounts
CompTIA sells exam vouchers through its own store, often at a discount bundled with study materials. Academic pricing is available to students at accredited institutions — typically 20% off. Some employers, particularly those in the IT managed services space, pre-purchase vouchers in bulk; if your company has a training budget, ask before paying out of pocket.
Pearson VUE also sells a "retake" bundle at checkout that covers one free re-sit if you fail. At current A+ pricing, the bundle math usually works out if you have any doubt about your readiness.
Rescheduling and Cancellations
The Pearson VUE policy for CompTIA exams: cancel or reschedule more than 24 hours before your appointment and you get a full refund or credit. Cancel within 24 hours and you forfeit the full exam fee. No-shows forfeit the fee with no exceptions.
If Pearson VUE has a system outage on exam day (it happens), they will reschedule you at no charge. Document everything if this occurs — get a case number from their support before you leave the test center.
The CompTIA A+ Exam Structure on Pearson VUE
The A+ credential requires passing two exams. Both are delivered through Pearson VUE under identical conditions.
- 220-1101 (Core 1): Mobile devices, networking, hardware, virtualization and cloud computing, hardware and network troubleshooting. Up to 90 questions, 90 minutes, passing score 675/900.
- 220-1102 (Core 2): Operating systems, security, software troubleshooting, operational procedures. Up to 90 questions, 90 minutes, passing score 700/900.
Question types include multiple choice (single and multiple answer), drag-and-drop, and performance-based questions (PBQs). PBQs are simulations — you might be asked to configure a firewall rule, set up a SOHO network, or troubleshoot a device in a virtual environment. They appear early in the exam and can eat 15-20 minutes if you're unprepared. Many candidates skip them on first pass and return; that's a valid strategy if you're watching the clock.
Pearson VUE delivers scores immediately on screen after you submit. The physical score report is printed by the test center staff. You'll also receive an email from CompTIA within 24-48 hours confirming the result and, if passing, instructions for accessing your digital badge through Credly.
Top Courses for Pearson VUE CompTIA A+ Prep
The Pearson-authored courses on Coursera are the closest alignment to the actual exam objectives you'll find outside of CompTIA's own materials. They're structured around the official exam domains and written by the same publisher that produces CompTIA's official study guides.
A+ Core 1 V15 - Pearson Cert Prep Course
Covers the full 220-1101 domain map — hardware, networking, mobile devices, cloud, and troubleshooting. The V15 version aligns to the current exam objectives, which matters more than most candidates realize; older prep courses still floating around on YouTube are teaching retired content.
A+ Core 1 V15 - Pearson Cert Prep: Unit 2
Digs into networking and hardware troubleshooting in greater depth — the domain areas with the highest PBQ frequency on the 220-1101. Worth running through if your lab practice has been light.
A+ Core 1 V15 - Pearson Cert Prep: Unit 1
Foundations module covering mobile devices and hardware identification — the section most candidates underestimate because it looks straightforward until the PBQs surface connector types and cable standards they haven't memorized.
A+ Core 1 V15 - Pearson Cert Prep: Unit 4
Virtualization and cloud computing domain, plus the final troubleshooting scenarios. Cloud concepts on Core 1 have increased in weighting in recent exam versions — this module is more important than it used to be.
A+ Core 2 V15 - Pearson Cert Prep: Unit 4
Covers the operational procedures and security domains for 220-1102. The security content on Core 2 overlaps meaningfully with Security+ at the foundational level — candidates who plan to continue to Sec+ will find this double-duty prep useful.
What Employers Actually Do With Your Pearson VUE CompTIA Score
When you pass through Pearson VUE, CompTIA issues a digital badge via Credly. That badge links to a verification page showing your name, exam number, and pass date. Hiring managers at MSPs and enterprise helpdesks use that URL to verify credentials — a printed certificate is not sufficient on its own for most enterprise hiring processes.
The roles that list CompTIA A+ as a requirement or preference most consistently:
- Help desk / IT support technician (Tier 1 and 2)
- Desktop support analyst
- Field service technician
- IT specialist at state and federal agencies (DoD 8570/8140 baseline requirement)
- Entry-level roles at MSPs (managed service providers)
For U.S. government contracting and DoD roles specifically, the CompTIA A+ satisfies the IAT Level 1 baseline under DoD Directive 8570. It's not optional for those roles — it's a compliance requirement. The Pearson VUE verification trail is part of what makes the credential acceptable to DoD employers.
Salary data for A+-holding technicians: Bureau of Labor Statistics pegs computer support specialist median pay at $60,700 annually as of 2023. Entry-level in high-cost markets (DC, SF, NYC) typically opens at $45,000-$55,000 for helpdesk with A+ only; adding Network+ or Security+ within 18 months moves the range to $65,000-$85,000 for system administrator and junior security analyst roles.
FAQ
What is Pearson VUE's role in CompTIA certification?
Pearson VUE is CompTIA's exclusive exam delivery partner. All CompTIA certification exams — including A+, Network+, Security+, and the advanced certifications — are scheduled and taken through Pearson VUE. CompTIA does not administer exams independently. You create an account on pearsonvue.com/comptia, pay there, and either take the exam at a Pearson VUE test center or through their OnVUE online proctoring platform.
Can I take CompTIA A+ online instead of at a test center?
Yes. Pearson VUE's OnVUE platform allows you to take the exam remotely with a live proctor. Requirements include a private, quiet room, a webcam, stable internet (5+ Mbps upload), and no secondary monitors. Run Pearson VUE's system compatibility test before exam day — OnVUE sessions have been terminated mid-exam due to tech failures that a pre-check would have caught.
How long does it take to get results from Pearson VUE?
Scores are displayed immediately on screen when you submit the exam. You'll receive an official email confirmation from CompTIA within 24-48 hours. Your Credly digital badge, which is what employers use to verify credentials, becomes available after CompTIA processes the result — typically within 5 business days of passing.
What happens if I fail a CompTIA exam at Pearson VUE?
You can retake after a 14-day waiting period following a first failure. After a second failure, the waiting period extends to 14 days between each subsequent attempt. There is no cap on the number of attempts within an active exam version's lifecycle, but each attempt requires a full exam fee payment unless you purchased the retake bundle. Pearson VUE provides a score report showing which domains you underperformed in — use it to focus your retake prep.
How much does a CompTIA exam cost through Pearson VUE?
At current pricing, each CompTIA A+ exam (220-1101 and 220-1102) is $246 USD. Both exams are required for the credential, so the minimum cost is $492. Discounts are available through CompTIA's academic pricing program, volume voucher purchases, and bundled study material packages. Some CompTIA training partners include a voucher as part of their course package — check before buying separately.
Does the Pearson VUE test center matter for the exam difficulty?
No. Exam content is standardized and delivered identically at every Pearson VUE location and through OnVUE. The only variable is the physical environment — some test centers are cramped or noisy. If you've had a poor experience at a specific location, you can select a different center when rebooking. For OnVUE, you control the environment entirely.
Bottom Line
The Pearson VUE and CompTIA relationship is straightforward once you understand it: Pearson VUE is the testing infrastructure, CompTIA is the credential. You need to work with both. Schedule through Pearson VUE, prep using current-version materials (the Pearson Cert Prep courses on Coursera are the safest alignment to live exam objectives), and treat the $246-per-attempt cost as the incentive to be genuinely ready before you book.
For the A+ specifically: clear both Core 1 and Core 2, get your Credly badge live, and start applying. DoD roles, MSPs, and enterprise helpdesks all treat the A+ as a genuine signal for entry-level candidates. The cert pays back faster than most people expect — typically within the first job switch after earning it.
If your goal is to move past helpdesk roles within two years, treat A+ as step one of a three-certification plan: A+ → Network+ → Security+. That path covers the CompTIA trifecta that most mid-level IT roles cite, and all three are delivered through Pearson VUE under the same scheduling and testing conditions you'll have learned with A+.