The CompTIA Network+ cert sits in a strange spot. It's vendor-neutral, well-recognized by HR filters, and cheap compared to Cisco or Juniper tracks — but plenty of networking forums will tell you to skip it entirely and go straight to CCNA. That debate is worth having before you spend $369 on a voucher and 3 months of study time.
Here's the honest version: Network+ makes sense for a specific type of career move. It's not the right cert for everyone, and knowing where it fits — and where it doesn't — will save you from wasting time on the wrong path.
What the Network+ Cert Actually Tests
The current exam is N10-009 (released in 2024, replacing N10-008). It covers five domains:
- Networking Concepts (23%): OSI model, protocols (DNS, DHCP, HTTP/S, FTP, SSH), ports, encapsulation, network topologies
- Network Implementation (20%): Routing protocols (OSPF, BGP basics), switching, VLANs, wireless standards (802.11ax/Wi-Fi 6), cable types
- Network Operations (17%): Monitoring, documentation, SNMP, NetFlow, change management, backup/recovery
- Network Security (20%): Firewalls, IDS/IPS, VPNs, zero-trust concepts, physical security
- Network Troubleshooting (20%): Systematic diagnostic methodology, tools (ping, traceroute, nmap basics, cable testers), common failure scenarios
The exam is 90 questions (a mix of multiple choice and performance-based scenarios), 90 minutes, and the passing score is 720 out of 900. CompTIA recommends you have A+ first plus 9-12 months of networking experience, though many people take it without A+ and pass fine.
Performance-based questions (PBQs) are the part most people underestimate. These drop you into a simulated environment — configure a switch VLAN, diagnose a connectivity issue from a topology diagram, set up a wireless network — and they take time. If you bank all your PBQs for last and run out of clock, you will fail. Practice those first.
Who Should Get the Network+ Cert (and Who Shouldn't)
Network+ is genuinely useful if you're in one of these situations:
- Moving from help desk to networking: The cert signals intent and proves baseline knowledge to hiring managers who won't take a chance on someone with zero networking credentials.
- IT generalist who needs networking credibility: Sysadmins and support techs who handle network tasks but have no formal credential often find Network+ opens doors to network administrator titles.
- Government/DoD jobs: Network+ is listed on the DoD 8570 / DoD 8140 approved list for CSSP Infrastructure Support and several other IAT/IAM roles. If you're pursuing federal IT work, this cert has outsized value.
- Managed service providers (MSPs): MSPs love CompTIA certs for junior techs — they're cheaper to train, vendor-neutral, and easy to verify.
Skip Network+ if you're an experienced network engineer with hands-on routing and switching experience. At that level, the CCNA or a cloud networking cert (AWS Advanced Networking, GCP Professional Cloud Network Engineer) will do far more for your salary than a cert that's largely entry-level validation. The Network+ cert won't move the needle for someone who's already managing BGP peering.
Network+ Cert vs. the Alternatives
Before committing, compare Network+ to the two most common alternatives at the same career stage:
Network+ vs. CCNA
CCNA is harder, longer, and more expensive (~$330 for one exam vs. $369 for Network+, but CCNA requires significantly more study time). CCNA is Cisco-specific, which matters if your employer runs Cisco gear — and most enterprise networks do. If you're targeting network engineer roles specifically, CCNA typically commands a higher salary premium than Network+. The tradeoff: Network+ is achievable in 6-8 weeks for someone with basic IT background; CCNA realistically takes 4-6 months.
Network+ vs. Security+
Security+ has more overlap with Network+ than you'd expect (20% of Network+ is security). If your goal is a cybersecurity role rather than pure networking, go straight to Security+. Employers in SOC and security analyst roles care about Security+ far more than Network+. Some people do both; the foundational networking knowledge from Network+ genuinely helps with Security+.
Network+ vs. Cloud Networking Certs
If you already have some networking background and your environment is cloud-heavy, a cloud-specific credential (AWS Certified Advanced Networking, or Google Cloud's networking track) will likely have a higher ROI. These certs are more specialized but prove you can work in the environments most companies actually run today.
Network+ Cert Salary and Career Outlook
Average salaries for roles that list Network+ as a requirement or preferred credential:
- Network Administrator: $58,000–$82,000 (median ~$68,000)
- IT Technician / Field Tech: $42,000–$62,000
- Help Desk Tier 2: $45,000–$60,000
- DoD IT Support (GS-7/9): $48,000–$72,000 depending on location
- Junior Network Engineer: $62,000–$85,000
The cert by itself doesn't produce dramatic salary jumps. What it does is get your resume past the keyword filter so you can get the interview. The salary increase comes from the role change, not the cert. People who treat Network+ as a career pivot tool — moving from retail or help desk into a network admin role — often see $15,000–$25,000 income jumps, but that's because the role change is doing the heavy lifting.
CompTIA certs don't expire the way Cisco certs used to — instead, they use a Continuing Education (CE) program. Network+ is valid for 3 years. You can renew by earning 30 CE units (training, higher-level exams, etc.) or by retaking the exam. Passing Security+ or CASP+ also automatically renews Network+.
Top Courses to Prepare for the Network+ Cert
Most Network+ prep courses cover the same domains. The differentiator is whether they include hands-on labs — memorizing theory will not get you through the PBQ questions.
The Bits and Bytes of Computer Networking
This Coursera course covers TCP/IP, DNS, routing, and network troubleshooting in a way that actually builds intuition rather than just fact-memorization — the mental model you need before any Network+ exam prep. Rated 9.7/10 across thousands of reviews, and it's part of Google's IT Support Certificate if you want a broader credential alongside your Network+ prep.
Networking in Google Cloud: Fundamentals
Once you have Network+ in hand and want to extend into cloud networking, this course covers VPCs, firewall rules, and hybrid connectivity in Google Cloud — directly applicable to the cloud-hybrid environments most enterprise networks run today. Rated 9.7/10.
Networking in Google Cloud: Routing and Addressing
Goes deeper on BGP, ECMP, and IP addressing within cloud environments. Pairs naturally with the Fundamentals course above as a logical next step after Network+ for anyone moving toward cloud network engineering. Rated 9.7/10.
Google Cloud IAM and Networking for AWS Professionals
Useful if you're coming from an AWS environment and want to understand how network security and IAM patterns translate to GCP. The security overlap reinforces concepts that also appear on Network+ and Security+. Rated 9.7/10.
FAQ
How hard is the Network+ cert exam?
Most people with 1-2 years of IT experience pass in 6-10 weeks of dedicated study (1-2 hours/day). The multiple choice questions are manageable; the performance-based questions require hands-on practice, not just reading. Pass rates aren't publicly disclosed by CompTIA, but anecdotally most prepared candidates pass on the first attempt.
How much does the Network+ cert cost?
The exam voucher is $369 USD (retail). CompTIA runs sales periodically, and you can often find vouchers through exam prep bundles for $20-30 less. Retake vouchers are available if you fail, but avoid the bundled retake voucher on your first attempt — most people don't need it and it adds ~$150 to your cost.
Does the Network+ cert expire?
It's valid for 3 years. Renewal is through CompTIA's CE program: earn 30 CE units through training, teaching, or passing a higher-level exam (Security+, CASP+, etc.), or retake the current version of Network+.
Is Network+ worth it in 2025?
It depends on where you're starting. For someone making a career move from non-IT into networking, or from help desk into a network administrator role, it's worth it. For someone already working in networking with hands-on experience, the CCNA or a cloud networking cert will provide better ROI on exam prep time and cost.
Do I need A+ before Network+?
CompTIA recommends it but doesn't require it. If you already have solid IT fundamentals from hands-on work, you can skip A+ and go straight to Network+. A+ knowledge (hardware, OS basics, help desk fundamentals) does help with some of the contextual questions on Network+, but it's not a prerequisite.
What jobs can I get with a Network+ cert?
Common job titles that list Network+ as required or preferred: Network Administrator, IT Support Specialist, Systems Administrator (small environments), Network Technician, Junior Network Engineer, and various DoD/government IT roles covered under DoD 8570/8140 (IAT Level I-II). In practice, it's most often paired with 1-2 years of hands-on experience to land network administrator roles.
Bottom Line
The Network+ cert is a legitimate entry credential for networking careers — not a shortcut, not a golden ticket, but a real signal that you understand how networks function at a level that goes beyond reading Wikipedia articles. For people pivoting from help desk or general IT support into a networking-focused role, it's often the fastest credentialed path that HR systems will recognize.
Don't get it if you're already a working network engineer hoping for a salary bump. Do get it if you need to clear the ATS keyword filter to get a networking interview, or if your target employer specifically lists it (DoD contractors especially).
Start with The Bits and Bytes of Computer Networking to build your conceptual foundation, then move to a dedicated Network+ exam prep course with labs. Budget 6-10 weeks of consistent study. The $369 voucher is the least expensive part of the process — your time is the real cost.