The CompTIA A+ cert costs $506 total — two exams at $253 each — and most employers still list it as a baseline requirement for help desk and IT support roles. That price tag and the two-exam format trip up a lot of people who assume it works like other single-exam certifications. Before you spend money on study materials or schedule an exam, here's exactly what you're signing up for.
What the CompTIA A+ Cert Actually Tests
The A+ is split across two exams: Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202). You need to pass both to earn the certification. There's no shortcut — failing one means retaking it separately, which adds cost.
Core 1 (220-1201) covers hardware and networking fundamentals: installing and configuring RAM, storage, CPUs, and mobile devices; troubleshooting printers and display issues; and understanding network protocols (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP). About 90 questions, 90 minutes, passing score 675/900.
Core 2 (220-1202) shifts to operating systems and security: Windows 10/11 installation and configuration, macOS/Linux basics, Active Directory fundamentals, malware removal procedures, and scripting basics. Same format — 90 questions, 90 minutes, passing score 700/900.
Both exams include performance-based questions (PBQs) — drag-and-drop or simulation tasks where you configure a router, troubleshoot a network, or set up a SOHO network. These are harder than the multiple-choice questions and catch people off guard if they only memorized definitions.
How Long It Takes to Prepare for the CompTIA A+ Cert
CompTIA's own estimate is 9-12 months of experience in the field before sitting the exam. In practice, people without IT experience typically spend 2-4 months studying if they're putting in 1-2 hours per day. People with some hands-on background (built a PC, done basic networking) can compress that to 4-6 weeks per exam.
The common mistake is studying only with reading material and skipping labs. PBQs require you to actually move through a simulated environment under time pressure — knowing what subnetting is doesn't help if you've never clicked through a router config interface.
A realistic study plan for one exam:
- Week 1-4: Work through a video course covering all domains
- Week 5-6: Lab work — build a VM, practice Windows installs, use Professor Messer's free labs
- Week 7-8: Practice exams under timed conditions, hitting 80%+ before booking the real exam
Don't book the exam date before you're hitting 75-80% on practice tests consistently. The exam difficulty varies by testing session (CompTIA uses adaptive scoring), but consistently underperforming on practice tests means you're not ready.
CompTIA A+ Cert Exam Costs and Discount Options
Each voucher costs $253 USD as of 2026. That's $506 if you pass both on the first attempt. Factor in possible retakes: the first retake has no waiting period, but after a second failed attempt you wait 14 days between each subsequent try.
Legitimate ways to reduce the cost:
- CompTIA Academic Marketplace: Students and faculty with a verified .edu email get up to 30% off exam vouchers directly from CompTIA
- CertMaster bundles: CompTIA's own learning platform bundles vouchers with practice labs — sometimes cheaper than buying the voucher alone if you need the study material anyway
- Military and veteran discounts: CompTIA partners with the DoD and offers vouchers at significant discount through programs like MyCAA and the GI Bill
- Workforce development programs: Many state workforce agencies and community colleges subsidize or fully cover CompTIA exam vouchers for unemployed job seekers
- Employer reimbursement: Many IT employers and staffing agencies reimburse exam costs after you pass — worth asking before you self-fund
Third-party discount voucher sites exist but carry real risk — some sell expired or fraudulent vouchers. Stick to CompTIA's official site, Pearson VUE, or authorized training partners for voucher purchases.
Is the CompTIA A+ Cert Worth It in 2026?
The honest answer: it depends heavily on where you're starting from and what you want to do next.
The A+ is worth getting if you're targeting help desk, desktop support, or IT technician roles, especially at companies that run structured hiring processes with HR screening job applications. HR departments filter by certifications because they lack the technical background to evaluate candidates otherwise — the A+ clears that filter.
It's less valuable if you're already working in IT. Employers hiring for sysadmin, cloud, or security roles care more about hands-on experience and role-specific certs (Microsoft AZ-900, AWS Cloud Practitioner, Security+) than an entry-level hardware cert.
Salary data from BLS and industry surveys puts entry-level IT support roles at $42,000-$55,000 in most U.S. markets. The A+ doesn't guarantee a pay bump on its own — but it helps you get the first role that gets you the experience that does lead to better pay. It's a door-opener, not a salary driver.
One case where it makes clear sense: military IT training programs and GI Bill-funded certifications. The A+ is on CompTIA's approved list, costs are fully covered, and it pairs with Security+ (also DoD 8570 compliant) as a two-cert package that satisfies baseline security clearance requirements.
Top Courses for the CompTIA A+ Cert
These are the highest-rated prep courses available for the A+ exam series.
CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) Full Course & Practice Exam
Covers all Core 1 domains with video lectures and an integrated practice exam — solid choice if you want one resource that takes you from zero to exam-ready on the hardware and networking side of the cert.
CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) 6 Practice Tests [2026]
Six full-length timed practice exams mapped to current exam objectives. Use this in the final 2-3 weeks before your test date to simulate real exam conditions and identify gaps — not as a primary study tool.
CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) Exam Prep 2026 - For Beginners
Once you have the A+, Security+ is the natural next step — especially for DoD 8570 compliance or security-adjacent roles. This course is rated 9.5 and targets the current SY0-701 exam objectives.
CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) 1,000+ Practice Questions 2026
A massive practice question bank for the Security+ — useful if you plan to stack certs after A+ and want to drill the exam format thoroughly before sitting Security+.
CompTIA A+ Cert: Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need experience before taking the CompTIA A+ cert?
CompTIA recommends 9-12 months of hands-on IT experience, but it's a recommendation, not a requirement. You can take the exam with no experience — you'll just need more structured study time. Many people pass with 2-3 months of dedicated prep and zero prior IT work. The performance-based questions favor people who've actually touched hardware or configured systems, so supplementing reading with hands-on labs matters.
How many exams does the CompTIA A+ cert require?
Two: Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202). You must pass both to earn the certification. You can take them in any order and don't have to take them on the same day — most people space them out by 4-8 weeks.
How long does the CompTIA A+ cert stay valid?
Three years. After that, you need to renew through CompTIA's Continuing Education (CE) program — either by earning Continuing Education Units (CEUs) through training activities, passing a higher-level CompTIA exam, or paying a renewal fee. If you earn a higher CompTIA cert (like Network+ or Security+) before your A+ expires, that automatically renews the A+ as well.
What jobs can I get with a CompTIA A+ cert?
The A+ directly targets: IT support specialist, help desk technician, desktop support analyst, field service technician, and IT technician. It's also listed as a baseline requirement for many government IT contractor roles due to DoD 8570/8140 compliance. Median starting salaries for these roles range from $42,000 to $55,000 in the U.S., with higher pay in government contracting markets like the D.C. metro area.
Is the CompTIA A+ cert harder than it looks?
The multiple-choice portion is manageable if you study the objectives thoroughly. The performance-based questions at the start of each exam are where prepared candidates stumble — they're timed, simulate real tasks, and can't be skipped and returned to easily. A common strategy is to skip PBQs on the first pass, complete all multiple-choice, then return to PBQs with remaining time. Practice under timed conditions before the real exam.
Can I self-study for the CompTIA A+ cert without a bootcamp?
Yes — the majority of people who pass self-study using video courses, Professor Messer's free study materials, practice exams, and hands-on labs (either physical hardware or VMs). Bootcamps accelerate the timeline if you have a firm start date at a new job, but they're not necessary for passing the exam.
Bottom Line
The CompTIA A+ cert is a legitimate entry point into IT careers, and it's one of the few certifications where the cost-to-outcome ratio makes sense for people with no prior experience. The two-exam format with a combined ~$506 cost is the main friction point — budget for both exams and at least one retake just in case.
If you're preparing from scratch: start with the Core 1 full course to build your base, add practice tests in the final weeks, and don't schedule the exam until you're consistently hitting 75-80% on timed practice exams. Core 2 follows the same pattern but shifts focus from hardware to operating systems and security — concepts you'll reuse if you continue to Security+ or Network+.
The cert is worth the investment for help desk and IT support roles. It's less useful if you're already in IT and looking to move up — in that case, your time and money go further toward role-specific cloud or security credentials.