{"id":303,"date":"2026-10-03T05:56:20","date_gmt":"2026-10-03T05:56:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.certification-exam.com\/en\/blog\/uncategorized\/auto-draft\/"},"modified":"2026-10-05T07:21:54","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T07:21:54","slug":"comptia-a-plus-certification-exam-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.certification-exam.com\/en\/blog\/certification-prep\/comptia-a-plus-certification-exam-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"CompTIA A+ Certification: Exam Guide, Cost, Requirements &#038; Study Plan"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You&#8217;re thinking about your first move into IT. CompTIA A+ probably came up in every search you ran. There&#8217;s a reason for that. Help desk job postings mention it by name. It&#8217;s vendor-neutral. It doesn&#8217;t need a degree. It&#8217;s built around real troubleshooting work, the kind entry-level techs handle every day. A <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.certification-exam.com\/en\/study-guides\/comptia-exam\/220-1202-questions\/quiz.html\"><b>CompTIA A+ certification<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> backs that hands-on skill with proof.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CompTIA A+ is now on version V15 in 2026. This version replaced the older 1101\/1102 exam series in 2025. That detail matters more than it sounds. Study guides built for the old version skip newer content. They miss virtualization, cloud basics, and security updates. Check the exam codes before you buy any course.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This guide covers the real requirements. It breaks down the cost. It explains the exam structure. It also shows you how to prepare without wasting money on outdated resources.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>What Is CompTIA A+ Certification?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A+ is an entry-level IT certification. It tests hands-on skills across hardware, networking, operating systems, and basic cybersecurity. CompTIA built it for people starting out in technical support, help desk, or IT operations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some certifications test theory. A+ leans on scenarios and performance-based questions instead. You won&#8217;t just define terms on this exam. You&#8217;ll diagnose a failed boot. You&#8217;ll configure a small office network. You&#8217;ll spot a phishing attempt inside a support ticket.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cybersecurity beginners often start here too. A+ builds the base knowledge that Network+ and Security+ build on later. Most cybersecurity roadmaps start with A+ for this exact reason. Jumping straight to a security exam skips that foundation.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Certification Structure: Core 1 and Core 2<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A+ isn&#8217;t one exam. You need to pass two separate exams:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Core 1 (220-1201)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> covers mobile devices, networking, hardware, and virtualization and cloud computing<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Core 2 (220-1202)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> covers operating systems, security, software troubleshooting, and operational procedures<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both exams belong to the same V15 series. CompTIA requires you to take both from the same version. You can&#8217;t mix an old Core 1 attempt with a new Core 2 exam.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There&#8217;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.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eligibility Requirements<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A+ has no formal prerequisites. A <\/span><b>CompTIA A+ certification<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> doesn&#8217;t ask for prior credentials. You don&#8217;t need a degree to register. You don&#8217;t need a certification either. Verified work history isn&#8217;t required.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Exam Domains and Weighting<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each domain carries a different weight on the exam. This tells you where to spend your study hours.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Core 1 (220-1201) domains:<\/b><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Domain<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Weight<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mobile Devices<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">13%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Networking<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">23%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hardware<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">25%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Virtualization and Cloud Computing<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">11%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hardware and Network Troubleshooting<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">28%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Core 2 (220-1202) domains:<\/b><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Domain<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Weight<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Operating Systems<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">28%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Security<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">28%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Software Troubleshooting<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">23%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Operational Procedures<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">21%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Exam Format<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here&#8217;s what the <\/span><b>A+ exam<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> actually looks like:<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Exam feature<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Requirement<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Questions<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Up to 90 per exam<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Question types<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Multiple choice, drag-and-drop, performance-based<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Time<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">90 minutes per exam<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Passing score<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Core 1: 675 \/ Core 2: 700 (scale of 900)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Delivery<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pearson VUE, test center or online proctored<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Performance-based questions catch a lot of candidates off guard. You won&#8217;t just pick an answer for these. You&#8217;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.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>How to Register<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Getting scheduled is simple. Follow these steps:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Choose your exam voucher. Core 1 and Core 2 are purchased separately.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pick your path. Go with self-study or a bundled CertMaster package.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Create a Pearson VUE account if you&#8217;re testing for the first time.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Select a test center slot or choose online proctoring.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prepare with current V15 material only.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sit the exam. Get your score right after you submit.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rescheduling is possible. Pearson VUE has timing rules around this. Don&#8217;t book a slot before you&#8217;re actually ready.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>CompTIA A+ Cost in 2026<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is where A+ trips people up. It gets marketed as a cheap beginner cert. In reality, it needs two separate voucher purchases.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pricing varies by region. Currency shifts pricing too. CompTIA can adjust rates without much warning. Don&#8217;t trust a number from any blog post, including this one. Check the live price at checkout instead.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Study Timeline and Plan<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Try this weekly structure:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Weeks 1 to 3:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Study Core 1 domains. Build a home lab for hardware and networking practice.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Weeks 4 to 5:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Take Core 1 practice exams. Drill performance-based questions hard.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Weeks 6 to 8:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Study Core 2 domains. Spend extra time on security and OS troubleshooting.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Weeks 9 to 10:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Take Core 2 practice exams. Review your weak areas before you book the test.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Practice Strategy<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reading alone won&#8217;t carry you through the performance-based sections. Build your routine around active practice:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Set up a virtual machine. Practice OS installs, account setup, and permission settings.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use a home network or a lab kit. Physically wire and troubleshoot real connections.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take a timed <\/span><b>A+ practice test<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Match the real format: 90 questions, 90 minutes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Track your weak domains. Revisit them again before your test date.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don&#8217;t skip drag-and-drop questions. Don&#8217;t skip simulation questions either. These map straight to the exam&#8217;s hardest section.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hardware access can be limited for some candidates. CertMaster Practice includes simulated labs for this. These labs replicate hands-on tasks without physical equipment.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Renewal Requirements<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CompTIA A+ stays valid for three years from your pass date. Renewal doesn&#8217;t mean retaking both exams from scratch. You have a few paths here:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pass the current version of the A+ exam<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Earn 20 Continuing Education Units through approved training or work experience<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Earn a higher-level CompTIA certification, like Network+ or Security+, which renews A+ automatically<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Complete CertMaster CE for A+<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An annual continuing education fee applies too. It&#8217;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.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Career Benefits<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A+ targets entry-level roles directly, and it delivers results there. Common starting positions include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IT support specialist<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Help desk technician<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Desktop support technician<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Field service technician<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Associate system administrator<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is cybersecurity your target? A+ isn&#8217;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&#8217;ll likely relearn fundamentals mid-course. That slows you down instead of speeding things up.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Is CompTIA A+ Worth It in 2026?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zero IT background? Then yes, it&#8217;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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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&#8217;s just not the most efficient next step for you.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <\/span><b>CompTIA A+ certification<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Build your prep plan with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.certification-exam.com\/en\/\"><b>Certification Exam<\/b><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and take the exam confidently.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FAQs<\/span><\/h3>\n<h4><b>Do I need to pass Core 1 and Core 2 together?<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No, you don&#8217;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.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>Can I skip A+ and go straight to Security+?<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can, technically. There&#8217;s no formal prerequisite blocking this path. But Security+ assumes the networking and OS fundamentals A+ teaches. Skip A+, and you&#8217;ll likely backtrack mid-study.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>How many attempts do I get if I fail an exam?<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There&#8217;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.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b style=\"font-style: inherit;\">Is CompTIA A+ enough to get a cybersecurity job?<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not on its own, no. A <\/span><b>CompTIA A+ certification<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> works as your first step only. Network+ and Security+ come next in that path.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b style=\"font-style: inherit;\">Does A+ expire if I don&#8217;t renew it?<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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&#8217;d need to recertify completely from scratch.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You&#8217;re thinking about your first move into IT. CompTIA A+ probably came up in every search you ran. 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