CompTIA hit 2 million Network+ certifications issued in 2024 — and job boards still show hundreds of open network technician roles requiring it every week. If you're an A+ holder or an IT support tech with 12–18 months of experience, the Network+ cert is probably the single highest-ROI move you can make right now. This guide cuts through the fluff and tells you exactly what the exam covers, how long it realistically takes to pass, what you'll earn after, and which courses are actually worth your time.
What the Network+ Cert Actually Tests
The current Network+ cert exam is the N10-009, released in 2024. It replaced the N10-008 and puts significantly more weight on cloud and security topics than previous versions — roughly 35% of the exam now touches network security concepts, reflecting how inseparable those disciplines have become in real infrastructure jobs.
The N10-009 is organized into five domain areas:
- Networking Concepts (23%): OSI model, TCP/IP stack, common ports and protocols, virtualization, and cloud networking basics.
- Network Implementation (19%): Routing protocols (OSPF, BGP basics), switching (VLANs, STP), wireless standards (Wi-Fi 6/6E), and cabling.
- Network Operations (17%): Network monitoring, documentation, change management, high availability concepts.
- Network Security (21%): Zero trust architecture, firewalls, IDS/IPS, VPNs, network hardening, and common attack vectors.
- Network Troubleshooting (20%): Systematic troubleshooting methodology, using tools like ping, traceroute, nslookup, Wireshark, and cable testers.
One thing the Network+ cert does not test: vendor-specific syntax. You will not be configuring Cisco IOS commands or AWS-specific routing tables. That's deliberate — Network+ is intentionally vendor-neutral, which is both its strength (universal applicability) and its limitation (you still need vendor certs for deep implementation work).
N10-009 Exam Details at a Glance
Before you start studying, know exactly what you're signing up for:
- Exam code: N10-009
- Number of questions: Maximum 90 (mix of multiple choice and performance-based questions)
- Time limit: 90 minutes
- Passing score: 720 out of 900
- Exam cost: $369 USD (vouchers available through Pearson VUE and often discounted via employer reimbursement or CompTIA's academic program)
- Delivery: In-person testing center or online proctored
- Renewal: Every 3 years (36 CEUs or higher CompTIA cert)
The performance-based questions (PBQs) are where most people run out of time. These are drag-and-drop, click-and-configure, or scenario simulations. They appear early in the exam. A common tactical error is spending 20 minutes on the first two PBQs and rushing through 80 multiple-choice questions. Flag PBQs you're unsure about, answer what you can, and come back.
CompTIA recommends candidates have at least 9–12 months of networking experience before sitting for the Network+ cert exam. In practice, a motivated candidate with strong A+ knowledge can prepare in 8–12 weeks with 1–2 hours of daily study.
Is the Network+ Cert Worth It? Salary and Career Outcomes
The honest answer is yes — with caveats. The Network+ cert by itself rarely lands you a $90K job. It's a floor-setter that qualifies you for roles you otherwise get screened out of, and it's a prerequisite for stacking higher-value certifications (Security+, CCNA, CySA+).
Typical roles and salary ranges for Network+ holders in 2026:
- Network Technician: $45,000–$62,000/year
- Help Desk Analyst (Tier 2): $42,000–$58,000/year
- Junior Network Administrator: $55,000–$72,000/year
- IT Support Specialist: $48,000–$65,000/year
- NOC Technician: $50,000–$68,000/year
The biggest career multiplier is the DoD 8570.01-M alignment. The Network+ cert satisfies IAT Level I and IAM Level I requirements under the DoD directive, which means government contractors actively seek it. Federal IT roles frequently pay 15–25% above equivalent private sector positions and include benefits that inflate total compensation further. If you're anywhere near government contracting markets (DC, Virginia, Maryland, San Antonio, Colorado Springs), the Network+ cert has outsized value.
Stacking certifications amplifies returns. Network+ → Security+ holders average $15,000–$20,000 more annually than Network+ alone. Network+ → CCNA is a common path into network engineering roles at $80K+. Think of the Network+ cert as Year 1 infrastructure, not the end destination.
Top Courses for Networking Fundamentals
The best course for you depends on where you're starting. These picks cover the conceptual foundations that the Network+ cert exam builds on — particularly network communication principles and cloud networking, which have grown weight in the N10-009.
Fundamentals of Network Communication (Coursera)
This course covers the core protocols, layered architecture, and data transmission concepts that underpin every Network+ cert domain. If your OSI model knowledge is shaky or you want a structured walkthrough of how packets actually move, start here before diving into exam-specific prep materials.
Networking in Google Cloud: Fundamentals (Coursera)
The N10-009 added meaningful cloud networking content, and this Google Cloud course covers VPCs, subnetting in cloud environments, load balancing, and firewall rules in a hands-on lab format. Even if you're not targeting cloud roles, understanding how cloud networking maps to on-premise concepts is fair game on the exam and increasingly expected in interviews.
Network+ Cert Study Strategy: What Actually Works
Most people who fail the Network+ cert exam do so because they over-indexed on reading and under-indexed on subnetting practice and PBQ simulations. Here's a structure that works:
Weeks 1–3: Concepts and Protocol Foundations
Work through the networking fundamentals — OSI layers, TCP/IP stack, DNS, DHCP, HTTP/HTTPS, FTP, and common ports. Don't memorize port numbers in isolation; associate them with the protocol's purpose (port 443 = HTTPS = encrypted web traffic). A course like the Fundamentals of Network Communication pairs well here.
Weeks 4–6: Subnetting and Routing
Subnetting is the skill most candidates underestimate. The exam will give you a scenario — a company with 4 departments needing separate subnets from a /24 — and you need to calculate the right subnet masks quickly. Practice with free tools like SubnettingPractice.com daily. Target 30 subnetting problems per day until you can do a /27 split in under 90 seconds.
Pair subnetting practice with routing protocol concepts: static routing, OSPF basics, and when to use each. You don't need to configure these in CLI — you need to recognize when they apply in a scenario question.
Weeks 7–8: Security and Troubleshooting Domains
These two domains together represent 41% of the exam. For security: focus on attack vectors (man-in-the-middle, VLAN hopping, deauth attacks), defense mechanisms (802.1X, NAC, network segmentation), and terminology (IDS vs IPS, UTM, NGFW). For troubleshooting: memorize CompTIA's official 7-step troubleshooting methodology and practice applying it to multi-paragraph scenario questions. The answer is often determined by which step you're supposed to be at, not just what the symptoms suggest.
Weeks 9–12: Practice Exams and PBQ Simulations
Run at least 4–6 full practice exams under timed conditions. Jason Dion's practice tests on Udemy are the closest analog to real exam difficulty. Mike Meyers' practice questions are good for concept reinforcement but slightly easier than the actual exam. Target 80%+ on practice exams before booking your real sitting — the actual exam tends to feel harder due to time pressure and unfamiliar phrasing.
For PBQ practice specifically: CompTIA releases free sample PBQs on their website. Work through every one. Professor Messer also provides free PBQ walkthroughs on YouTube that are worth your time.
FAQ
How hard is the Network+ cert exam?
Moderately difficult for someone with hands-on IT experience; genuinely hard for someone coming in cold. CompTIA's own pass rate is not publicly disclosed, but third-party estimates put first-attempt pass rates around 70–75% for candidates who studied 60–80 hours. The subnetting questions and performance-based simulations are where unprepared candidates fail.
Do I need A+ before taking the Network+ cert?
CompTIA recommends it but does not require it. If you have 12–18 months of hands-on IT support or networking experience and understand basic hardware concepts, you can go directly to Network+. If you're completely new to IT, earning A+ first gives you the foundational context that makes Network+ study significantly easier.
How long does it take to prepare for the Network+ cert?
Most candidates with some IT background study for 8–12 weeks at 1–2 hours daily (60–100 hours total). Candidates with a strong networking background (sysadmins, IT support with network troubleshooting duties) sometimes pass in 4–6 weeks. Coming in with no IT background, budget 4–6 months.
Is the Network+ cert enough to get a job?
Enough to qualify for entry-level roles — yes. Sufficient to be competitive without experience — probably not on its own. Pair the cert with a home lab (GNS3 or Cisco Packet Tracer simulations) and document what you built. Hiring managers care that you've touched real (or simulated) equipment, not just passed a multiple-choice exam.
How much does the Network+ cert exam cost?
The exam voucher costs $369 USD through CompTIA directly. Many employers reimburse the cost after passing — ask HR before purchasing. CompTIA's Academic Program offers discounted vouchers for students, and Pearson VUE occasionally runs promotions. Avoid third-party voucher resellers unless they're clearly authorized CompTIA partners.
What comes after the Network+ cert?
The most common next steps are Security+ (for security-focused roles), CCNA (for Cisco-heavy environments and higher network engineering salaries), or CySA+ (for SOC and network defense roles). Security+ is generally the fastest follow-on — roughly 60–80 more study hours if you're coming from a fresh Network+ pass.
Bottom Line
The Network+ cert is the right move if you're working in IT support and want to move into networking, or if you're targeting government/defense contracting roles where DoD 8570 compliance matters. The N10-009 exam is harder than its reputation suggests — especially the subnetting and PBQ sections — but 8–12 weeks of structured study is a realistic preparation window for most candidates with some IT background.
Focus your study time on three things: subnetting (practice daily until it's automatic), the security domain (35% of the exam is security-adjacent), and PBQ simulations (most candidates fail on time management, not knowledge). Use the Fundamentals of Network Communication course to solidify your protocol and layered networking foundations, and supplement with Networking in Google Cloud to cover the cloud concepts that carry real weight on the N10-009.
At $369 for the exam voucher and a realistic salary bump of $8,000–$15,000 annually, the Network+ cert has a payback period measured in months, not years.