Search "CompTIA A+ course" anywhere online and Mike Meyers shows up within the first few results. His Udemy course has hundreds of thousands of enrolled students. His All-in-One Exam Guide has been in print since the late 1990s and is now past its tenth edition. That kind of staying power doesn't happen by accident—it happens because the material actually prepares people for both the exam and the job.
This guide covers what Mike Meyers CompTIA A+ prep actually includes, who it's right for, where it falls short, and how to structure a study plan around it whether you're starting from zero or switching careers into IT.
Who Is Mike Meyers and Why Does His CompTIA A+ Material Stand Out?
Mike Meyers co-founded Total Seminars and has been teaching CompTIA content since before most of his current students were in high school. He holds multiple CompTIA certifications himself and has authored CompTIA's official exam objectives documentation in the past. That background shows in how his courses are structured—he doesn't just teach you what the answer is, he teaches you why the answer is what it is, which matters when the exam throws a scenario-based question you've never seen before.
His teaching style is conversational and sometimes deliberately low-production. No motion graphics or slick animations. Just someone who knows hardware explaining hardware. For some learners that's a turnoff. For the majority of people who've passed A+ using his materials, it's exactly what they needed.
The other thing that separates Meyers from generic cert prep content is currency. CompTIA updates the A+ exam objectives periodically, and Meyers updates his materials to match. When the 220-1101 and 220-1102 objectives came out, his course was updated. When CompTIA moves to the next iteration, his materials follow. That matters because outdated prep materials are one of the most common reasons people fail certification exams.
Mike Meyers CompTIA A+ Study Materials: What's Actually Available
Meyers produces content across several formats. Here's what exists and what each one is good for:
The All-in-One Exam Guide (Book)
This is the flagship. It's long—over 1,400 pages in recent editions—but it's comprehensive in a way that shorter prep books aren't. If you're the kind of person who learns by reading and taking notes, this is the best single resource for A+. It covers both Core 1 (220-1101) and Core 2 (220-1102) in full, with chapter-end quizzes, practice scenarios, and cross-references to exam objectives. McGraw Hill publishes it, and it's available in print and digital formats.
Video Course (Udemy / Total Seminars)
The video course is where most people start because it's accessible and often discounted to under $20 on Udemy. The course runs roughly 20+ hours and covers all major A+ domains: hardware, networking, mobile devices, virtualization, security, troubleshooting, and operational procedures. Meyers uses actual hardware on camera—you'll see him physically open drives, swap RAM, and demonstrate cable types. For visual learners or anyone who hasn't worked inside a computer before, that's genuinely useful.
Practice Exams
Total Seminars offers standalone practice exam banks through their website and bundled within the book. These are worth doing before sitting the actual exam. CompTIA A+ questions have moved heavily toward performance-based questions (PBQs)—simulations where you configure a setting, match components, or troubleshoot a scenario. Meyers' practice questions skew more traditional, so supplement with Professor Messer's practice exams or Jason Dion's question banks if PBQs are a weak spot.
Mike Meyers CompTIA A+ via Professor Messer's Site
Worth clarifying a common confusion: Professor Messer (James Messer) is a separate instructor, not affiliated with Mike Meyers. Both are well-regarded in the CompTIA space. Meyers is stronger on hardware depth and storytelling. Messer's free video series is more structured and concise. Many candidates use both—Messer for a fast first pass, Meyers for depth on topics they didn't fully grasp.
Mike Meyers CompTIA A+ vs. Other Study Options
Here's a direct comparison of the main approaches people use for A+ prep:
- Mike Meyers (book + video): Best for deep understanding, especially hardware. Takes longer. Better for retaining knowledge past the exam date.
- Professor Messer (free video series): Best free option available. Structured around exam objectives. Less hardware depth than Meyers.
- Jason Dion (Udemy): Strong on practice questions and PBQ simulation. Less personality than Meyers, more exam-drill focused.
- CompTIA CertMaster: Official prep from CompTIA. Adaptive learning built in. Expensive. Worth it if your employer pays for it.
- Bootcamp-style courses: Fastest path. High cost. Variable quality depending on instructor.
For most self-study candidates, the best combination is Meyers' video course + practice exam banks from a second source + Professor Messer's notes PDF for quick reference in the final week before the exam.
Top CompTIA A+ and Related Courses
If you're looking for structured courses to pair with Mike Meyers CompTIA prep—or to build on A+ after you pass—these are worth considering:
CompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1202) Full Course & Practice Exam
Core 2 covers operating systems, security, software troubleshooting, and operational procedures—the areas most candidates underestimate. A structured course here fills the gaps that Meyers' hardware-heavy content leaves.
CompTIA Network+ (N10-009) Full Course & Practice Exam
The natural next step after A+. Network+ moves from workstation-level troubleshooting into infrastructure, switching, routing, and wireless—skills that expand your job eligibility significantly. Most A+ holders can sit Network+ within a few months of passing.
CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) Exam Certification Training
Security+ is where the salary jump happens. It's DoD 8570 approved and required for a wide range of government contractor positions. The A+ to Network+ to Security+ path is the standard track for moving from help desk into security-adjacent roles.
Cybersecurity Assessment: CompTIA Security+ & CySA+ Course
Bundles Security+ preparation with CySA+ (Cybersecurity Analyst), which covers threat detection, behavioral analytics, and security monitoring. Relevant if your target is a SOC analyst or security operations role rather than general IT support.
CompTIA PenTest+ (PT0-003) Course
For anyone considering offensive security or penetration testing as a long-term direction. PenTest+ sits alongside CEH and OSCP in employer searches, though OSCP carries more weight in pure pen testing roles. Best taken after Security+.
What the CompTIA A+ Exams Actually Cover
The current A+ certification requires passing two separate exams:
- Core 1 (220-1101): Mobile devices, networking, hardware, virtualization and cloud computing, hardware and network troubleshooting
- Core 2 (220-1102): Operating systems, security, software troubleshooting, operational procedures
Each exam is 90 minutes with up to 90 questions. The question formats include multiple choice, drag-and-drop, and performance-based questions. Passing scores are 675 for Core 1 and 700 for Core 2 on a 900-point scale.
CompTIA recommends 9-12 months of hands-on IT experience before sitting the exams, but this is a guideline, not a requirement. People pass with less experience if they study thoroughly. People fail with more experience if they don't study the exam objectives specifically—there's enough niche content in the objectives (specific port numbers, cable types, printer troubleshooting steps) that experienced techs sometimes fail because they never studied the material formally.
Career Outcomes and Salary After CompTIA A+
CompTIA A+ opens doors to entry-level IT support roles. Common job titles include:
- Help Desk Technician
- Desktop Support Analyst
- IT Support Specialist
- Field Service Technician
- Technical Support Representative
Entry-level salaries for A+ holders typically range from $38,000 to $55,000 annually depending on location, employer type, and how competitive the local IT job market is. Government and defense contractor positions often pay at the higher end and explicitly require CompTIA A+ because of DoD 8570/8140 compliance requirements.
A+ alone rarely pushes you past the $55,000-$60,000 ceiling. The real ROI comes from using it as the first step in a credential stack: A+ → Network+ → Security+ is the most common path, and Security+ holders with a couple years of experience routinely see salaries in the $70,000-$90,000 range, sometimes higher in high cost-of-living markets or federal contracting.
The certificate itself doesn't expire—it requires renewal every three years through CompTIA's continuing education program (CEUs or higher-level exams).
FAQ
Is Mike Meyers CompTIA A+ course worth it in 2025?
Yes, with a caveat. Meyers' course is strong on hardware fundamentals and building real understanding rather than just exam-drilling. But it's not sufficient on its own—supplement with current practice exam banks that include performance-based questions, which have become a larger part of the A+ exam in recent years.
Which is better: Mike Meyers or Professor Messer for CompTIA A+?
They serve different needs. Messer's free course is concise and objective-aligned, good for a first pass or for candidates who learn best from structured outlines. Meyers goes deeper on hardware and troubleshooting logic. Many candidates use Messer to get the lay of the land, then Meyers for the topics they need to understand more thoroughly. Neither alone is the complete answer.
How long does it take to study for CompTIA A+ using Mike Meyers' materials?
Most candidates with limited IT experience take 3-6 months of consistent study. If you already work in IT support, 6-8 weeks of focused prep is often enough. Meyers' full video course is 20+ hours; the book is longer. Factor in practice exam time on top of that.
Does Mike Meyers' course cover both Core 1 and Core 2?
Yes. Both the book and video course cover all domains for both 220-1101 (Core 1) and 220-1102 (Core 2). Some candidates buy separate Core 1 and Core 2 materials from Meyers if they prefer to study and sit each exam individually, which is a reasonable approach.
Is CompTIA A+ still worth getting if you want to work in cybersecurity?
It's a valid starting point but not a destination. Most cybersecurity roles require at minimum Security+, and many want CySA+, CEH, or hands-on experience beyond certifications. A+ is worth it early in your career because it builds the foundational IT knowledge that security work assumes you have—but plan to keep stacking credentials.
Where can I buy Mike Meyers' CompTIA A+ course?
The video course is available on Udemy (watch for sales—it's frequently discounted) and through Total Seminars' own website (totalsem.com). The All-in-One Exam Guide is available from major book retailers and through McGraw Hill directly. Some libraries carry it if you want to read before buying.
Bottom Line
Mike Meyers CompTIA A+ prep is a legitimate choice and a good one for most people approaching this certification for the first time. The depth on hardware is unmatched at this price point, and his teaching style builds actual understanding rather than surface-level exam memorization—which matters when you're sitting across from a hiring manager asking you to explain why a workstation won't POST.
The weaknesses are real: the production style puts some learners off, and the practice question banks alone aren't sufficient for the current exam's performance-based question emphasis. Use Meyers as your primary resource, add a second practice exam source, and don't neglect the software and security domains in Core 2, which are easier to underestimate than the hardware content.
After you pass, the A+ is the beginning of a credential path, not a finish line. Network+ within six months and Security+ within a year is an achievable and financially meaningful progression for most people who complete A+ with Meyers' materials.