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Everything you need to know about CompTIA Network+, the vendor-neutral networking foundation, as of 2026. This guide covers the current N10-009 exam, the five domains and their weights, the exam format and passing score, DoD 8140 status, the jobs Network+ opens, and how it compares to A+ and Security+.
The OSI model, ports and protocols, IP addressing, and subnetting. 23% of the exam.
Configuring routing and switching and deploying wired and wireless networks.
Monitoring, documentation, disaster recovery, and keeping a network running.
Network-layer hardening, common attacks, and access control. The lightest domain at 14%.
Structured methodology and root-cause isolation. The heaviest domain at 24%.
CompTIA Network+ is the vendor-neutral networking certification, first introduced in 1999, that validates the ability to design, configure, manage, and troubleshoot wired and wireless networks.
It is the networking foundation most IT professionals build on before moving toward security, cloud, or a vendor track like Cisco. The point is not any single product. It is proving you understand how networks actually move data, from the physical cabling up through addressing, routing, operations, and the troubleshooting methodology that real network jobs run on.
Network+ 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 A+ plus 9 to 12 months of hands-on experience. The certification is issued and maintained by CompTIA, the vendor-neutral nonprofit behind the credential since 1999.
Four things that have made Network+ the credential employers name first when they describe a networking hire in 2026.
Network+ proves how networks work rather than how one vendor's gear works, which is exactly what hybrid, multi-vendor environments need. It is ANSI accredited under ISO/IEC 17024 and recognized across the industry as the baseline that networking roles are measured against.
Network+ is rarely the destination. It is the credential that makes the next one easier. Security+ assumes networking knowledge, CCNA leans on the same protocols and addressing, and cloud work builds on the same foundation.
The June 2024 N10-009 revision shifted weight toward troubleshooting and operations and added cloud, SD-WAN, and zero trust. Our N10-009 exam guide breaks down what each domain is worth.
Network+ is an approved qualification under DoD Manual 8140.03 at the Basic proficiency level, mapped to five work roles in the DoD Cyber Workforce Framework (DCWF), including Network Operations Specialist, System Administrator, and Technical Support Specialist.
That gives Network+ a recognized place in the federal IT workforce, which matters for government and defense positions. Current qualification matrices are published at the DoD Cyber Exchange.
Everything you need to know about the certification, the N10-009 exam, and how to maintain Network+ as of 2026.
Network+ is the cleanest on-ramp to security, vendor networking, or cloud. The three credentials below are the most common next steps, each pointing a different direction. None require Network+ formally, but each assumes the networking foundation it teaches.
The most common next step for a security direction. Security+ assumes networking knowledge and builds threats, cryptography, identity, and security operations on top of it. It sits at the Intermediate level under DoD 8140. CompTIA recommends Network+ and two years of experience first.
The vendor track for anyone going deeper into networking. Network+ makes the CCNA far less intimidating, because the protocols, addressing, and troubleshooting are already familiar. It moves you from vendor-neutral fundamentals into Cisco-specific configuration and routing.
For a cloud and infrastructure direction. Cloud+ covers deploying, securing, and operating cloud and hybrid environments, and it leans directly on the networking, virtualization, and troubleshooting foundation Network+ establishes.
Network+ sits one rung above A+ in the CompTIA stack. It builds on the broad IT foundation A+ provides, and from there the path branches toward security, vendor networking, or cloud and infrastructure work.
The IT groundwork
The vendor-neutral base
Two questions to answer before you commit: can you sit it, and should you pursue Network+ specifically. Here's a straight answer to both.
No prerequisites, no gatekeeping.
Network+ has no formal prerequisites. You can register and take N10-009 with no other certification to your name. That open door makes it a realistic first or second credential for anyone moving into networking, whether or not they hold A+ first.
Experience changes the timeline.
CompTIA recommends A+ plus 9 to 12 months of hands-on experience, and it exists for a reason. With under six months of real IT exposure, A+ first makes networking concepts land faster. Already working a help desk with hands on real equipment? Go straight to Network+.
Network+ maps to the networking and operations roles that keep organizations connected. Several are DCWF work roles where Network+ qualifies at the Basic proficiency level under DoD 8140.
The flagship destination for a Network+ holder. Configures, manages, and maintains an organization's wired and wireless network, from switches and routers to addressing and uptime.
Monitors and maintains network health across the environment. This is DCWF work role 441, where Network+ qualifies at the Basic proficiency level under DoD 8140.
Manages servers, accounts, and the systems the network connects. This is DCWF work role 451, where Network+ qualifies at the Basic proficiency level.
Provides hands-on and remote support across devices and network connectivity. This is DCWF work role 411, where Network+ qualifies at the Basic proficiency level under DoD 8140.
Works the network operations center, watching dashboards and alerts and responding to outages and performance issues before they reach users.
Installs and services network equipment on site, from cabling and access points to switches and routers, and troubleshoots connectivity where it physically lives.
All three are CompTIA credentials, but they sit at different rungs of the same ladder. Here's how they line up.
| Network+ | A+ | Security+ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Issuer | CompTIA | CompTIA | CompTIA |
| Focus | Networking | Broad IT support fundamentals | Cybersecurity fundamentals |
| Prerequisites | None (rec. A+ and 9 to 12 months) | None (rec. 12 months experience) | None (rec. Network+ and 2 years) |
| Exam Format | 1 exam, up to 90 items | 2 exams, up to 90 items each | 1 exam, up to 90 items |
| Passing Score | 720 of 900 | 675 and 700 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 | Network technician roles | Your first IT support role | 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 and security.
Our CompTIA Network+ boot camp covers all five N10-009 domains over four days, with hands-on labs, subnetting and troubleshooting drills, and your exam voucher included, so you leave exam-ready.
Exam prep, salary outlook, cost, and the certifications that come next after Network+.
A domain-by-domain breakdown of the N10-009 blueprint, what changed in the June 2024 revision, how hard the exam really is, and a study plan built around the weights that move your score.
The earning picture for Network+ holders, from entry-level network support through administrator and engineer roles, plus how the credential pays off against its cost.
The Cisco vendor track that Network+ leads into. What the CCNA covers, how it builds on Network+ fundamentals, and when it makes sense as your next networking step.
The most common move after Network+ for anyone heading into cybersecurity. A candid look at what Security+ costs, what it opens up, and whether it earns its place.
How the CompTIA stack fits together, from A+ through Network+ and up into the security and infrastructure tracks, and how to sequence certifications in the right order.
Legitimate ways to cut Network+ exam costs, from authorized partner and academic discounts to employer reimbursement and military programs, updated for current pricing.
Where Network+ sits between the two. How the broad A+ foundation and the security-focused Security+ compare, and how networking fits the path between them.
The N10-009 exam is organized into five domains, each carrying its own weight. Troubleshooting and Networking Concepts together make up almost half the exam. Click any domain for what it covers.
The OSI model, ports and protocols, IP addressing and subnetting, and modern additions like software-defined networking, SD-WAN, and zero trust. The foundation every other domain builds on, and where the subnetting questions put the most pressure on the clock.
Configuring routing and switching, deploying wired and wireless networks, and setting up network devices. Expect performance-based questions that ask you to apply a configuration rather than define a term.
Monitoring, documentation, disaster recovery, and the day-to-day work of keeping a network running. N10-009 leaned further into operations to reflect what junior network staff actually handle on the job.
Network-layer hardening, common attacks, and access control. Security carries a lighter share here than in the prior version, since the deeper security work moves onto the Security+ track where it belongs.
The single largest domain. Following a structured methodology, isolating a root cause with tools like ping, traceroute, and interface counters, and resolving common DHCP, DNS, wireless, and cabling problems. This is where real network jobs live.
Domains and weights reflect the CompTIA Network+ N10-009 (V9) exam objectives, launched June 20, 2024. CompTIA refreshes the exam on roughly a three-year cycle.
The questions candidates ask most often when researching the CompTIA Network+ certification.
CompTIA Network+ is a vendor-neutral certification that validates your ability to design, configure, manage, and troubleshoot wired and wireless networks. It's the networking foundation most IT professionals build on before moving into security, cloud, or a vendor track like Cisco, and it's recognized across the industry for network technician and administrator roles.
The current exam is N10-009, also called Version 9, which CompTIA launched on June 20, 2024. It's expected to stay current through roughly 2027. It updated the previous N10-008 with expanded coverage of cloud and hybrid networking, software-defined networking and SD-WAN, zero trust, modern wireless, and basic network automation.
No. Network+ has no formal prerequisites, so anyone can register and sit the exam. CompTIA recommends holding the A+ certification first, along with 9 to 12 months of hands-on experience in a junior network administrator or network support role, but that's a recommendation, not a requirement.
The N10-009 has a maximum of 90 questions and a 90-minute time limit. It's a mix of standard multiple choice and performance-based questions that drop you into a simulated task. You need a scaled score of 720 on a scale of 100 to 900 to pass, which works out to roughly 80 percent, though CompTIA uses scaled scoring rather than a clean percentage.
Under N10-009 the five domains are Networking Concepts (23 percent), Network Implementation (20 percent), Network Operations (19 percent), Network Security (14 percent), and Network Troubleshooting (24 percent). Troubleshooting and Networking Concepts together make up almost half the exam, so they deserve the most study time.
As of 2026, the Network+ exam voucher runs about $390 at CompTIA retail in the United States, with small regional variations. As an authorized CompTIA partner, Training Camp offers the N10-009 voucher at a discounted rate, and boot camp packages typically include the voucher in the course price. Employer and workforce programs frequently cover the fee.
Network+ opens roles such as Network Administrator, Network Operations Specialist, Systems Administrator, Technical Support Specialist, NOC Technician, and Network Field Engineer. Several of these map to DoD Cyber Workforce Framework work roles where Network+ qualifies at the Basic proficiency level under DoD 8140.
Yes. CompTIA Network+ appears on the DoD 8140 Approved Qualifications Matrix V2.1 at the Basic proficiency level, mapped to five DCWF work roles: Technical Support Specialist, Network Operations Specialist, System Administrator, Cyber Defense Infrastructure Support Specialist, and System Testing and Evaluation Specialist. That gives it a recognized place in the federal IT workforce. See the full DoD 8140 work role paths.
Network+ carries the Continuing Education designation and is valid for three years from your pass date. You renew through CompTIA's Continuing Education program by earning continuing education units, by passing a higher-level CompTIA certification such as Security+, or by retaking the current exam version.
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.
No, A+ is recommended but not required. A+ provides the hardware and operating system grounding that makes networking concepts click faster. If you have under six months of real IT exposure, A+ first is the smoother path. If you already work a help desk or support role with hands-on experience, you can go straight to Network+.
Network+ is the cleanest on-ramp to either security or vendor networking. Many people stack Security+ next, since networking knowledge is the floor Security+ assumes. Others move toward Cisco's CCNA, where Network+ makes the protocols and addressing familiar. Cloud and infrastructure credentials like Cloud+ and Linux+ are also common next steps.
Network+ is a moderate-difficulty exam, harder than A+ and roughly comparable to Security+. The difficulty is concentrated in pacing, subnetting, and the performance-based questions rather than exotic concepts. Candidates who can subnet quickly, know the troubleshooting methodology as a process, and rehearse the PBQ formats tend to pass on the first attempt.
For anyone building toward networking, security, cloud, or a vendor track, yes. Network+ is the vendor-neutral networking baseline that almost every next credential assumes, it carries DoD 8140 standing at the Basic level, and it renews automatically when you earn a higher CompTIA cert. It's less essential for those who already hold strong networking experience or a current CCNA.
Whether you're weighing the certification, working out funding, or planning training for a team, tell us where you are and we'll help you map out the right path.