CompTIA issued its one-millionth A+ certification back in 2013. More than a decade later, it still appears in a disproportionate share of entry-level IT job postings — not because it's the most rigorous credential on the market, but because hiring managers at help desks and MSPs have agreed, informally, to use it as a baseline filter. If you're targeting your first IT role, the IT A+ certification is the closest thing to a universally accepted entry ticket the industry has.
This guide covers what the exam actually tests, what it costs, what salary you can realistically expect afterward, and where to study for it in 2026.
What the IT A+ Certification Actually Tests
The CompTIA A+ is a vendor-neutral certification that covers foundational IT support skills. "Vendor-neutral" means it doesn't prep you specifically for Cisco hardware or Microsoft Azure — it covers the underlying concepts that apply regardless of whose equipment you're working with.
The current version consists of two separate exams:
- Core 1 (220-1101): Mobile devices, networking, hardware, virtualization, cloud computing, and hardware troubleshooting
- Core 2 (220-1102): Operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS), security, software troubleshooting, and operational procedures
Both exams must be passed to earn the certification. Each exam is 90 questions maximum, with a mix of multiple-choice and performance-based questions (PBQs). PBQs are simulations — you might be asked to configure a firewall, set up a SOHO router, or diagnose a failing drive — and they carry more weight than standard multiple-choice. Many candidates underestimate the PBQs and study only for recall-based questions. That's a common reason for first-attempt failures.
Passing scores are 675/900 for Core 1 and 700/900 for Core 2.
Who the Exam Is Designed For
CompTIA targets candidates with 9–12 months of hands-on lab or field experience. In practice, many people sit the exam with zero professional experience — they've built their own PCs, worked on home networks, or done IT work informally. That background is often enough if paired with structured study. What the exam won't accommodate is someone who only reads but never touches hardware or configures actual systems.
IT A+ Certification Costs and Logistics
Each exam voucher costs $253 USD as of 2026 (prices vary slightly by region and through resellers). Since you need to pass two exams, budget approximately $506 for exam fees alone. CompTIA periodically runs promotions through its website and authorized training partners that reduce this cost.
Other costs to factor in:
- Study materials: $0–$300 depending on whether you use free resources, a video course, or a full bootcamp
- Practice exams: $30–$80 for a quality test bank
- Retake fee: Same as the original voucher if you fail. CompTIA's policy allows unlimited retakes, but there's a 14-day waiting period after a second failure
Exams are available at Pearson VUE test centers and online via remote proctoring. The online option is convenient but has stricter environmental requirements — a locked room, cleared desk, and stable internet. Test center is the safer choice if your home environment is unpredictable.
Certification Renewal
The A+ is valid for three years. After that, you must either pass a current version of the exam or earn 20 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) through CompTIA's renewal program. CEUs can be earned through training courses, attending events, or passing other exams. If you're actively working in IT, renewal is usually straightforward.
Salary and Career Outcomes After the IT A+ Certification
The IT A+ certification by itself won't get you a six-figure salary. That's not what it's for. What it does is qualify you for entry-level roles that have defined career ladders — and those ladders matter more than the starting salary.
Roles commonly requiring or preferring the A+:
- IT Support Specialist / Help Desk Technician: $38,000–$52,000 starting; $55,000–$75,000 with 3–5 years experience
- Desktop Support Analyst: $42,000–$58,000
- Field Service Technician: $40,000–$56,000
- Systems Administrator (junior): Often requires A+ plus Network+ or Security+; $55,000–$75,000
The certification's real value is as a stepping stone. Most people who earn the A+ and stay in IT for 3–4 years have added Network+, Security+, or a cloud certification (AWS, Azure, GCP) by then — and those combinations push salaries significantly higher. The A+ gets you in the door; the follow-on certifications determine your ceiling.
Government and defense contractors are worth targeting specifically. Many federal IT positions require DoD 8570 compliance, and the A+ satisfies that requirement for IAT Level I roles. Government work often pays above-market for IT support and offers stability that private sector help desks don't.
Is the A+ Worth It in 2026?
The honest answer: it depends on what you're comparing it to. If the alternative is no certification and no degree, the A+ is almost certainly worth $506 + study time — it's a recognized credential that gives resume screeners something to look for. If you already have IT experience and are weighing it against a more advanced certification, the calculus changes. Network+ and Security+ command higher salaries and aren't significantly harder; someone with real-world experience might be better served by jumping to those directly.
For complete career changers with no IT background, the A+ remains the recommended starting point precisely because its exam objectives map closely to what entry-level support jobs actually require.
Top Courses to Help You Prepare
The best preparation combines structured video content with a dedicated practice exam bank. Don't underestimate the practice exams — they're not optional. The CompTIA A+ exam's performance-based questions require scenario reasoning, not just memorization, and practice tests expose the gaps that reading alone won't.
ITSM: Practice Tests for the Foundation Exam 2026
If you're working toward IT service management alongside your A+ studies, this is one of the highest-rated practice exam resources available. The format mirrors actual certification exams closely — timed tests, randomized question pools, and detailed explanations for every answer. Useful for building the test-taking conditioning that transfers across IT certification exams.
Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking Course
Underrated preparation for any certification exam. The A+ includes troubleshooting scenarios that require systematic elimination and logical reasoning rather than pure recall. This Coursera course (rated 9.8/10) builds the structured thinking that separates candidates who just barely pass from those who do it cleanly on the first attempt.
Project Initiation: Starting a Successful Project Course
Relevant if you're targeting a move beyond tier-1 support. The A+ operational procedures section covers change management and documentation — skills that directly connect to project coordination. This Google-backed Coursera course (rated 9.8/10) is a practical complement if you're planning a longer-term IT career trajectory, not just passing an exam.
How to Study for the IT A+ Certification
The typical study timeline is 6–12 weeks for someone starting from scratch. Here's what works:
- Get the official exam objectives. CompTIA publishes them free on its website. Print them or keep them open. Everything on the exam maps to those objectives.
- Choose one primary video course. Professor Messer's free YouTube course is the most-referenced free option. Paid courses from Mike Meyers (Udemy) or Jason Dion are also widely used. Pick one and complete it — don't jump between multiple courses.
- Take at least 300 practice questions per exam. Use a paid test bank (Jason Dion's or MeasureUp are well-regarded). Flag questions you get wrong and review the explanations, not just the answers.
- Lab the hardware concepts. If you don't have physical hardware to work with, use virtual machines for the OS sections. Sites like Professor Messer's also include virtual lab exercises.
- Take Core 1 before Core 2. The material builds on itself. Core 1's hardware foundation helps contextualize Core 2's OS and security content.
FAQ: IT A+ Certification
How long does it take to get the IT A+ certification?
Most candidates study for 6–12 weeks before sitting Core 1. After passing Core 1, another 4–8 weeks for Core 2 is typical. Someone with existing IT experience can compress this significantly — 4 weeks of focused review per exam is realistic with prior hands-on background. There's no required waiting period between exams; you can take them back-to-back if ready.
What's the pass rate for the CompTIA A+?
CompTIA doesn't publish official pass rates. Third-party estimates and anecdotal reports from test-takers put first-attempt pass rates somewhere around 65–75% for candidates who studied adequately. Performance-based questions account for a significant portion of failures among candidates who only used multiple-choice practice materials.
Can I get an IT job without the A+ certification?
Yes. The A+ is not legally required for any IT role. Plenty of help desk and IT support hires have no certifications — they got in through internships, personal projects, referrals, or demonstrated skills in interviews. That said, the certification removes friction at the resume-screening stage, particularly at larger employers with automated applicant tracking systems that filter for keywords like "CompTIA A+" or "CompTIA certified."
Is CompTIA A+ harder than it looks?
The breadth is the difficulty, not the depth. No single topic on the A+ is deeply technical — you're not writing driver code or designing network architecture. But the exam covers an enormous surface area: memory types, printer troubleshooting, mobile device management, malware removal procedures, Windows registry navigation, Linux command-line basics, and more. Candidates who underestimate this breadth and cram for a week typically fail. The exam rewards consistent, structured study over a longer period.
What comes after the IT A+ certification?
The standard CompTIA progression is A+ → Network+ → Security+. Network+ covers network infrastructure and operations in depth; Security+ is the most-requested cybersecurity entry-level cert and is DoD 8570 compliant for IAT Level II. Both require no prerequisites beyond competence, though Security+ is harder without the networking foundation. After those three, the path forks depending on specialization: cloud (AWS/Azure), Linux (LPIC), or more advanced security (CySA+, CASP+).
Does the IT A+ certification expire?
Yes. The certification is valid for three years from the date you pass Core 2. Renewal requires either passing the latest version of the exam or completing 20 CEUs through CompTIA's Continuing Education program. CEUs can be earned via training courses, industry events, or by passing other CompTIA certifications — which most working IT professionals do anyway as they advance.
Bottom Line
The IT A+ certification isn't glamorous, and it won't impress anyone at a senior level. What it does is solve a specific problem: getting past resume filters at organizations that hire IT support staff at volume. For career changers with no IT background, it's the most efficient credentialing path to a first job — structured enough to teach you what you need, recognized broadly enough to open doors.
If you already have hands-on IT experience, weigh it against CompTIA Network+ or Security+ instead. Those certs are harder but command meaningfully higher starting salaries, and you're not required to take them in sequence.
Study with real practice exams. Lab the hardware. Don't skip the performance-based question format in your prep. That's the difference between passing on the first attempt and paying another $253 for a retake.