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Everything you need to know about CompTIA A+, the most widely held entry-level IT certification, as of 2026. This guide covers the two-exam Core 1 and Core 2 structure, the nine domains, the exam format and passing scores, DoD 8140 status, the jobs A+ opens, and how it compares to Network+ and Security+.
Laptop and mobile hardware, accessories, and connectivity. 13% of Core 1.
Ports, protocols, wireless standards, and small office network setup.
Cables, storage, motherboards, CPUs, power, and printers. The biggest Core 1 domain at 25%.
Virtual machines and cloud service and deployment models.
Diagnosing real device and connectivity failures. The heaviest Core 1 domain at 28%.
Windows, macOS, and Linux administration. The largest domain on either exam at 31%.
Malware, social engineering, authentication, and workstation hardening.
OS and application symptoms and the malware removal process.
Safety, documentation, change management, and basic AI concepts.
CompTIA A+ is CompTIA's foundational IT certification, first introduced in 1993 and the most widely held entry-level credential in the IT industry.
It validates the broad, vendor-neutral skill set an IT support professional actually uses on the job: installing and troubleshooting hardware, configuring networks and mobile devices, supporting Windows, macOS, and Linux, applying basic security, and following the operational procedures of real IT work. You earn it by passing two exams, Core 1 and Core 2, which together cover nine domains.
A+ is ANSI accredited under ISO/IEC 17024 and approved under DoD 8140 at the Basic proficiency level. It has no formal prerequisites, though CompTIA recommends about 12 months of hands-on experience. The certification is issued and maintained by CompTIA, the vendor-neutral nonprofit behind the credential since 1993.
Four things that have made A+ the credential employers name first when they describe an entry-level IT hire in 2026.
A+ is the most widely held IT certification in the world and the first credential most employers look for on a support resume. It is vendor-neutral, so it proves how technology works rather than how one company's product works, which is exactly what a first-line support role needs.
Core 1 covers the physical side, hardware, mobile, networking, and troubleshooting. Core 2 covers the software side, operating systems, security, and operational procedures. Together they mirror the day-to-day reality of an IT generalist who has to handle both.
A+ opens help desk, desktop support, and field technician roles, then feeds a clear progression. Our guide to what comes after A+ maps the networking, security, and infrastructure tracks it leads into.
A+ is an approved qualification under DoD Manual 8140.03 at the Basic proficiency level, mapped to three work roles in the DoD Cyber Workforce Framework (DCWF): Technical Support Specialist, System Administrator, and Cyber Defense Infrastructure Support Specialist.
That is a distinction most entry-level certifications do not carry, and it gives A+ a recognized place in the federal IT workforce. Current qualification matrices are published at the DoD Cyber Exchange.
Everything you need to know about the certification, the two-exam structure, and how to maintain A+ as of 2026.
A+ is a foundation, not a finish line. The three certifications below are the most common next steps, each pointing a different direction. None require A+ formally, but each assumes the fundamentals A+ teaches.
The direct next step for a networking track. Network+ goes deep on configuration, management, and troubleshooting of wired and wireless networks. CompTIA recommends A+ plus 9 to 12 months of experience first, though it is not required.
The most common move for anyone heading toward cybersecurity. Security+ covers threats, cryptography, identity, and security operations, and it sits at the Intermediate level under DoD 8140. CompTIA recommends Network+ and two years of experience first.
For a systems and infrastructure direction. Linux runs a large share of the world's servers and most cloud infrastructure, so Linux+ opens roles closed to Windows-only technicians. It covers administration, scripting, security hardening, and troubleshooting across distributions.
A+ is where most IT careers begin. It sits at the base of the CompTIA stack, and from there the path branches toward networking, security, or systems and infrastructure work depending on where you want to go.
The IT foundation
Networking and security
Two questions to answer before you commit: can you sit it, and should you pursue A+ specifically. Here's a straight answer to both.
No prerequisites, no gatekeeping.
A+ has no formal prerequisites. You can register and take both exams with no prior certification and no minimum experience. That open door is exactly why A+ works as a first credential for career changers and people breaking into IT from scratch.
Hands-on practice moves the needle.
CompTIA recommends about 12 months of hands-on IT support experience, and the performance-based questions reward it. If you are starting cold, budget real lab time so you can actually configure a network or troubleshoot a device, not just recognize the terms.
A+ maps to the entry-level IT support roles that keep organizations running. Three of these are DCWF work roles where A+ qualifies at the Basic proficiency level under DoD 8140.
The most common first destination for an A+ holder. Fields support tickets, resets accounts, and resolves the everyday hardware and software issues that keep users working.
Provides hands-on and remote support across devices and applications. This is DCWF work role 411, where A+ qualifies at the Basic proficiency level under DoD 8140.
Owns the workstations, peripherals, and software that a business runs on day to day, from imaging and deployment to troubleshooting and lifecycle replacement.
Travels to sites to install, repair, and maintain equipment. A+ validates exactly the broad hardware and troubleshooting skill set this role depends on.
Assists with user accounts, endpoints, and basic server and network tasks. This is DCWF work role 451, where A+ qualifies at the Basic proficiency level.
Helps keep defensive tools and infrastructure running. This is DCWF work role 521, where A+ qualifies at the Basic proficiency level under DoD 8140.
All three are CompTIA credentials, but they sit at different rungs of the same ladder. Here's how they line up.
| A+ | Network+ | Security+ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Issuer | CompTIA | CompTIA | CompTIA |
| Focus | Broad IT support fundamentals | Networking | Cybersecurity fundamentals |
| Prerequisites | None (rec. 12 months experience) | None (rec. A+ and 9 to 12 months) | None (rec. Network+ and 2 years) |
| Exam Format | 2 exams, up to 90 items each | 1 exam, up to 90 items | 1 exam, up to 90 items |
| Passing Score | 675 and 700 of 900 | 720 of 900 | 750 of 900 |
| Renewal | 3 years, CE program | 3 years, CE program | 3 years, CE program |
| DoD 8140 Approved | Yes (Basic) | Yes (Basic) | Yes (Intermediate) |
| Best For | Your first IT support role | Network technician roles | Entry cybersecurity roles |
Pricing and renewal details vary by region and membership status. Many professionals earn all three in sequence as they move from support into networking or security.
Our CompTIA A+ boot camp covers both Core 1 and Core 2 over five days, with hands-on labs, your exam vouchers, and a free retake included, so you leave exam-ready for both tests.
Career direction, cost, salary outlook, and the certifications that come next after A+.
A straight walkthrough of where A+ leads: the networking, security, and Linux tracks, which next credential fits which goal, and how to avoid picking the wrong one.
A+ builds a broad IT foundation while Security+ heads straight into cybersecurity. This guide breaks down the differences, the job outcomes, and which to take first.
The real earning picture for A+ holders, from entry-level help desk pay through progression by experience, industry, and location, plus how to negotiate an offer.
Legitimate ways to cut A+ exam costs, from authorized partner and academic discounts to employer reimbursement and military programs, updated for current pricing.
How the CompTIA stack fits together, from A+ as the foundation up through the infrastructure and cybersecurity tracks, and how to sequence certifications in the right order.
The natural next step after A+. A domain-by-domain look at the N10-009 blueprint, what changed, how hard it really is, and how to build a study plan around the weights.
The other common move after A+. A candid look at what Security+ costs, what it opens up, and whether it earns its place for someone heading toward cybersecurity.
A+ is split across two exams. Core 1 (220-1201) covers five domains on the hardware and networking side, and Core 2 (220-1202) covers four on the software, security, and operations side. Click any domain for what it covers and its weight.
Installing and configuring laptop hardware, displays, and mobile accessories, plus the connectivity and synchronization options that keep phones and tablets working in a business environment.
TCP and UDP ports and protocols, wireless standards, network hardware, IP addressing, and the small office and home office setups an entry technician configures and supports.
The largest Core 1 domain. Cables and connectors, RAM and storage including RAID, motherboards, CPUs, power supplies, expansion cards, and printers and multifunction devices.
Virtual machines, client-side virtualization, and cloud concepts such as deployment and service models, shared resources, and the basics of cloud-based file storage.
The heaviest Core 1 domain. Diagnosing and resolving problems with hardware, storage, displays, mobile devices, printers, and wired and wireless network connectivity.
The largest domain across both exams. Windows editions and features, command line tools, file systems, macOS and Linux basics, and installing and configuring operating systems.
Malware types and removal, social engineering, authentication and multifactor methods, wireless security, workstation hardening, and NTFS versus share permissions.
Resolving common Windows, application, and mobile OS symptoms, and applying the best-practice malware removal process in the correct order.
Safety and environmental controls, documentation and change management, backup and recovery, communication and professionalism, and a new objective on basic AI concepts.
Domains and weights reflect the CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202) exam objectives, V15, released in 2025. CompTIA updates the objectives on a regular cycle.
The questions candidates ask most often when researching the CompTIA A+ certification.
CompTIA A+ is CompTIA's foundational IT certification and the most widely held entry-level credential in the industry. It validates broad, vendor-neutral IT support skills across hardware, networking, operating systems, security, and troubleshooting, and it's the credential most employers recognize for a first IT role.
No. CompTIA A+ has no formal prerequisites, so anyone can register and sit the exams. CompTIA recommends roughly 12 months of hands-on experience in an IT support role, but that's a recommendation, not a requirement. Complete beginners pass it every day with structured study and lab practice.
Two. A+ requires passing both Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202), and both must come from the same exam series. You can take them in either order, and most candidates sit them on separate days rather than both at once.
Core 1 (220-1201) covers mobile devices, networking, hardware, virtualization and cloud, and hardware and network troubleshooting. Core 2 (220-1202) covers operating systems, security, software troubleshooting, and operational procedures. Both exams mix multiple choice with drag-and-drop and performance-based questions.
As of 2026, CompTIA retail pricing is about $274 per exam, or roughly $548 for the pair required to certify. As an authorized CompTIA partner, Training Camp offers the exam voucher pair at a discounted rate, and boot camp packages typically include the vouchers in the course price.
Core 1 (220-1201) passes at 675 and Core 2 (220-1202) passes at 700, both on a scale of 100 to 900. The scores are scaled rather than a simple percentage, so a strong domain can offset a weaker one within the same exam. You must clear both exams to earn the certification.
A+ opens entry-level IT roles such as Help Desk Technician, IT Support Specialist, Desktop Support Analyst, Field Service Technician, and junior System Administrator. Three of these map to DoD Cyber Workforce Framework work roles where A+ qualifies at the Basic proficiency level under DoD 8140.
Yes. CompTIA A+ appears on the DoD 8140 Approved Qualifications Matrix V2.1 at the Basic proficiency level, mapped to three DCWF work roles: Technical Support Specialist, System Administrator, and Cyber Defense Infrastructure Support Specialist. That gives A+ a recognized place in the federal IT workforce that most entry certifications don't have. See the full DoD 8140 work role paths.
A+ is the broad IT support foundation. Network+ specializes in networking, and Security+ specializes in cybersecurity fundamentals. All three are CompTIA credentials and all three are DoD 8140 approved, with A+ and Network+ at the Basic level and Security+ at the Intermediate level. Many people earn them in that order.
The two most common next steps are Network+ for a networking track and Security+ for a cybersecurity track. From there the path branches into infrastructure credentials like Linux+ and Server+, or analyst credentials like CySA+. The right choice depends on whether you want to go toward networking, security, or systems work.
A+ is entry-level but broad, and the performance-based questions trip up candidates who only study theory. Most people need four to eight weeks of focused study per exam, weighted toward the heaviest domains: Hardware and Troubleshooting on Core 1, and Operating Systems and Security on Core 2. Hands-on lab practice makes the biggest difference.
For anyone breaking into IT without a prior credential, yes. A+ is the certification hiring managers recognize for first support roles, it carries DoD 8140 standing at the Basic level, and it renews automatically when you earn a higher CompTIA cert. It's less useful for people who already have solid IT experience and can move straight to Network+ or Security+.
Whether you're starting from scratch, working out funding, or planning training for a team, tell us where you are and we'll help you map out the right path.