CompTIA A+ Certification: Exam Guide, Cost, Requirements & Study Plan

Certification Structure: Core 1 and Core 2

A+ isn’t one exam. You need to pass two separate exams:

• Core 1 (220-1201) covers mobile devices, networking, hardware, and virtualization and cloud computing
• Core 2 (220-1202) covers operating systems, security, software troubleshooting, and operational procedures

Both exams belong to the same V15 series. CompTIA requires you to take both from the same version. You can’t mix an old Core 1 attempt with a new Core 2 exam.

There’s no required order here. Some candidates start with Core 1 first. Physical components and cabling feel more concrete to beginners. Others move to Core 2 once they feel steady with OS-level work.

Eligibility Requirements

A+ has no formal prerequisites. A CompTIA A+ certification doesn’t ask for prior credentials. You don’t need a degree to register. You don’t need a certification either. Verified work history isn’t required.

CompTIA suggests 12 months of hands-on IT support experience before you attempt the exams. This is a suggestion, not a rule. Many candidates study on their own and pass with zero job experience. A home lab helps close that gap. Real troubleshooting practice matters more than a job title.

Exam Domains and Weighting

Each domain carries a different weight on the exam. This tells you where to spend your study hours.

Core 1 (220-1201) domains:

Core 2 (220-1202) domains:

Troubleshooting carries the heaviest weight on Core 1. Security ties for the top spot on Core 2. Is your time limited before an exam date? Prioritize these domains first.

Exam Format

Here’s what the A+ exam actually looks like:

Performance-based questions catch a lot of candidates off guard. You won’t just pick an answer for these. You’ll complete a simulated task. Maybe you configure an IP address. Maybe you identify a bad cable. These questions often show up early in the exam. They can eat into your time budget fast without practice.

How to Register

Getting scheduled is simple. Follow these steps:

1. Choose your exam voucher. Core 1 and Core 2 are purchased separately.
2. Pick your path. Go with self-study or a bundled CertMaster package.
3. Create a Pearson VUE account if you’re testing for the first time.
4. Select a test center slot or choose online proctoring.
5. Prepare with current V15 material only.
6. Sit the exam. Get your score right after you submit.

Rescheduling is possible. Pearson VUE has timing rules around this. Don’t book a slot before you’re actually ready.

CompTIA A+ Cost in 2026

This is where A+ trips people up. It gets marketed as a cheap beginner cert. In reality, it needs two separate voucher purchases.

Exam pricing shifted through 2026. Vouchers generally land between $250 and $275 per exam. That puts both exams in the $500 to $550 range. Study materials cost extra on top of that.

Budget for a realistic total. A study guide, some practice tests, and one paid video course usually land you at $600 to $900. Official CertMaster bundles cost more, but they include retake protection. That protection reduces your financial risk after a failed attempt.

Pricing varies by region. Currency shifts pricing too. CompTIA can adjust rates without much warning. Don’t trust a number from any blog post, including this one. Check the live price at checkout instead.

Study Timeline and Plan

Your starting point decides your timeline. Someone with zero IT background needs three to four months of steady study for both exams. Some candidates already have hands-on tech experience. Maybe they fixed family computers. Maybe they ran a home network. That experience can shrink the timeline to six or eight weeks.

Try this weekly structure:

• Weeks 1 to 3: Study Core 1 domains. Build a home lab for hardware and networking practice.
• Weeks 4 to 5: Take Core 1 practice exams. Drill performance-based questions hard.
• Weeks 6 to 8: Study Core 2 domains. Spend extra time on security and OS troubleshooting.
• Weeks 9 to 10: Take Core 2 practice exams. Review your weak areas before you book the test.

Two hours a day works for most candidates. Cramming both cores together tends to backfire. The domains barely overlap between them. Each exam rewards different kinds of prep.

Practice Strategy

Reading alone won’t carry you through the performance-based sections. Build your routine around active practice:

• Set up a virtual machine. Practice OS installs, account setup, and permission settings.
• Use a home network or a lab kit. Physically wire and troubleshoot real connections.
• Take a timed A+ practice test. Match the real format: 90 questions, 90 minutes.
• Track your weak domains. Revisit them again before your test date.
• Don’t skip drag-and-drop questions. Don’t skip simulation questions either. These map straight to the exam’s hardest section.

Hardware access can be limited for some candidates. CertMaster Practice includes simulated labs for this. These labs replicate hands-on tasks without physical equipment.

Renewal Requirements

CompTIA A+ stays valid for three years from your pass date. Renewal doesn’t mean retaking both exams from scratch. You have a few paths here:

• Pass the current version of the A+ exam
• Earn 20 Continuing Education Units through approved training or work experience
• Earn a higher-level CompTIA certification, like Network+ or Security+, which renews A+ automatically
• Complete CertMaster CE for A+

An annual continuing education fee applies too. It’s $25 per year, or $75 upfront for the full three-year cycle. Most working professionals earn Network+ or Security+ within that window anyway. That path satisfies renewal and moves your career forward at the same time.

Career Benefits

A+ targets entry-level roles directly, and it delivers results there. Common starting positions include:

• IT support specialist
• Help desk technician
• Desktop support technician
• Field service technician
• Associate system administrator

The certification is also DoD 8140 approved. This matters for technical support specialist roles. It matters for system administrator and cyber defense infrastructure support roles too. Government or contractor work often requires this approval.

Is cybersecurity your target? A+ isn’t a security certification by itself. It builds the OS, networking, and troubleshooting foundation that Security+ assumes you already have. Skip that base and jump straight to Security+, and you’ll likely relearn fundamentals mid-course. That slows you down instead of speeding things up.

Is CompTIA A+ Worth It in 2026?

Zero IT background? Then yes, it’s worth it. It meets the baseline knowledge employers expect. It gives you a structured curriculum instead of scattered self-teaching. It opens doors to help desk and support roles that skip the degree requirement.

Already have a year or two of hands-on IT experience? Your time might serve you better elsewhere. Jump straight to Network+ or Security+ instead. Both open higher-paying roles faster. A+ still adds resume value in that case. It’s just not the most efficient next step for you.

Conclusion

A CompTIA A+ certification remains one of the most practical entry points into IT. It tests real troubleshooting skills instead of abstract theory. The two-exam structure catches people off guard on cost. A clear study timeline fixes that problem, though. Consistent hands-on practice gets most beginners certified within two to three months.

Build your prep plan with Certification Exam and take the exam confidently.

FAQs

Do I need to pass Core 1 and Core 2 together?

No, you don’t. Take them in either order. Take them on separate dates too. Many candidates space them a few weeks apart. This helps them focus fully on one domain set at a time.

Can I skip A+ and go straight to Security+?

You can, technically. There’s no formal prerequisite blocking this path. But Security+ assumes the networking and OS fundamentals A+ teaches. Skip A+, and you’ll likely backtrack mid-study.

How many attempts do I get if I fail an exam?

There’s no attempt limit here. Each retake needs a new voucher purchase, though. Retake Assurance bundles cover this cost upfront. A short waiting period applies before your next attempt.

Is CompTIA A+ enough to get a cybersecurity job?

Not on its own, no. A CompTIA A+ certification works as your first step only. Network+ and Security+ come next in that path.

Does A+ expire if I don’t renew it?

Yes, it does expire. Miss the CEU requirement, skip the current exam, and skip a higher certification too? Your A+ status lapses after three years. You’d need to recertify completely from scratch.