Network+ holders get filtered in or out of IT job listings before a human reads the resume. On LinkedIn, over 14,000 job postings in the US currently list CompTIA Network+ as a requirement or preference — most of them junior network administrator and IT support roles paying $55,000–$75,000. The net plus certification isn't just a learning milestone; it's a hiring filter that bypasses the "no experience" catch-22 that stalls most early-career IT candidates.
Here's what the credential actually involves, what it costs, and whether it's the right move for your situation.
What the Net+ Certification Covers (Exam N10-009)
CompTIA updated the Network+ exam to N10-009 in 2024. The previous version (N10-008) retired in December 2024. If you're using older study materials, check whether they target N10-009 — the domain structure shifted noticeably, with expanded coverage of cloud networking and zero trust security.
The five exam domains and their weightings:
- Networking Concepts (23%): OSI model, TCP/IP stack, common ports and protocols, IP addressing (IPv4/IPv6), subnetting, cloud concepts, virtual networking
- Network Implementation (19%): Routing protocols (OSPF, BGP basics), switching, VLANs, wireless standards (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax), cable types and connectors
- Network Operations (17%): Network documentation, monitoring tools, performance metrics, high availability, disaster recovery concepts
- Network Security (20%): Zero trust architecture, network hardening, common attacks (MITM, DDoS, ARP poisoning), firewall concepts, VPNs, PKI basics
- Network Troubleshooting (21%): Troubleshooting methodology, tools (ping, traceroute, nslookup, netstat), common wired and wireless issues
N10-009 puts noticeably more weight on cloud networking and security than the previous version — reflecting where actual entry-level network job responsibilities have moved. If you've only used N10-008 study materials, review the updated exam objectives before booking your slot.
Net+ Certification Exam Format and Cost
Format and Passing Score
The exam allows up to 90 questions in 90 minutes. Most questions are multiple choice, but CompTIA includes performance-based questions (PBQs) — drag-and-drop diagrams, simulations, and exhibit analysis. PBQs appear near the start of the exam and take longer; budget roughly 3–5 minutes each and don't let them eat your clock.
Passing score: 720 out of 900. CompTIA uses scaled scoring, so the raw percentage that maps to 720 varies slightly by question set — plan for roughly 80% correct to be safe.
Cost and Retakes
The exam voucher costs $369 USD at Pearson VUE or CompTIA's site. Third-party vendors and CompTIA bundle deals (CertMaster Achieve) can reduce this by $30–$80. A retake costs another full $369 unless your purchase includes a free retake bundle.
There's no mandatory waiting period between attempts, but you need a fresh voucher each time.
Experience Prerequisites
CompTIA recommends 9–12 months of networking experience or CompTIA A+. Neither is enforced — you can sit the exam from day one. In practice, candidates without hands-on exposure to network devices and IP troubleshooting tend to struggle on PBQs, which require applied reasoning rather than recall. A home lab using Cisco Packet Tracer (free) covers most of what you need.
Validity and Renewal
Net+ is valid for three years. Renewal options: earn 30 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and pay a $50 renewal fee, or pass a qualifying higher-level CompTIA exam (Security+, CySA+, etc.), which automatically renews Network+ as a side effect. Most practitioners let it renew through cert progression rather than tracking CEUs manually.
Who Should (and Shouldn't) Get Net+
Good candidates
- Help desk technicians moving toward network or sysadmin roles. Net+ is the standard "next step" after CompTIA A+, and most employers in MSP environments treat it as a minimum bar for Tier 2 promotion.
- Military IT personnel transitioning to civilian employment. DoD 8570/8140 recognizes Net+ for IAT Level I, making it directly relevant for defense contractor and federal IT roles.
- IT support specialists who troubleshoot network issues daily but lack formal credentials. The cert gives employers a verifiable shorthand when your experience is real but not on paper.
- Career changers entering IT without a CS degree. Net+ benchmarks foundational networking knowledge against a standard that hiring managers across industries recognize.
Who can skip it
- Experienced network engineers with 3+ years of hands-on experience. Net+ reads as entry-level at that point; CCNP or higher-tier vendor certs carry more weight in interviews.
- Candidates aiming straight for CCNA. The Cisco CCNA covers substantial overlap with Net+ and is more valued for Cisco-shop roles. If networking is your long-term path, some practitioners argue CCNA alone is a better time investment than Net+ followed by CCNA.
- Security-focused candidates who already hold Security+. The security domain overlap between the two certs is significant enough that Security+ may render Net+ redundant on your resume.
Top Courses for Net+ Prep and Cloud Networking
The following highly-rated courses cover networking fundamentals and cloud networking — both central to N10-009 objectives and to the infrastructure roles that Net+ qualifies you for. They work well as lab supplements alongside traditional Net+ study guides.
Networking in Google Cloud: Fundamentals
Covers VPCs, subnetting, firewall rules, and routing in a live cloud environment — concepts that map directly to the N10-009's virtual networking and IP addressing objectives. Useful if you want applied practice beyond Packet Tracer simulations, especially given how much cloud infrastructure appears in the updated exam.
Networking in Google Cloud: Routing and Addressing
Goes deeper into CIDR, VPC peering, and dynamic routing — areas the N10-009 expanded versus N10-008. Pairs well with any Net+ study guide as a way to see routing concepts working in a real environment rather than just diagrams and flashcards.
Google Cloud IAM and Networking for AWS Professionals
If you're planning cloud certifications after Net+ — a common and logical next step — this course covers IAM-network integration across cloud providers, bridging the gap between the Net+ security domain and how cloud-native security models actually work in production environments.
Career Paths and Salary After the Net+ Certification
Entry-level roles that commonly require Net+
- Network Technician: $45,000–$65,000. Installs and maintains LAN/WAN infrastructure, often in field service or MSP roles. Net+ is frequently listed as required, not preferred.
- Junior Network Administrator: $55,000–$75,000. Manages switches, routers, and VLANs in enterprise environments. Net+ satisfies the baseline credential requirement in most job postings for this title.
- IT Support Specialist (Tier 2): $50,000–$70,000. Handles network troubleshooting escalations — VLAN issues, DNS problems, routing errors — beyond basic helpdesk scope.
- Systems Administrator: $60,000–$85,000. In smaller organizations where the sysadmin handles network tasks alongside server management, Net+ is a common minimum requirement.
Certifications to stack after Net+
- CompTIA Security+ — cybersecurity analyst, SOC roles. The most common next cert; satisfies DoD 8570 IAT Level II and is recognized across the federal and defense contractor space.
- Cisco CCNA — network engineer, network administrator in Cisco-heavy environments. Deeper technical depth than Net+ but vendor-specific.
- CompTIA CySA+ — threat detection and security operations. Mid-level security path for analysts who want to stay on the blue team side.
- AWS or Google Cloud Associate certifications — cloud infrastructure roles. Many Net+ holders pivot toward cloud networking as on-premises infrastructure consolidates.
Frequently Asked Questions About Net+ Certification
Is the net plus certification worth it in 2024?
For entry-level candidates with less than two years of experience, yes — it's a widely recognized hiring filter that costs under $400 and moves your resume past the initial screen on thousands of job postings. For experienced engineers, the ROI drops substantially. The cert's value is specifically in bridging the "no credential" gap early in a career, not in proving expertise to someone who's already seen your work.
How long does it take to prepare for the Net+ exam?
Most candidates with some IT background spend 60–120 hours over 4–8 weeks. Candidates coming in with no networking exposure should budget 150+ hours. Professor Messer's free N10-009 video course and the Dion Training practice exams are the most consistently recommended free and paid resources respectively. Don't skip the practice exams — PBQ familiarity matters significantly for the actual test experience.
What's the difference between CompTIA A+ and Net+?
A+ covers hardware, operating systems, and basic troubleshooting — it's breadth-first and generalist. Net+ focuses specifically on networking: IP addressing, routing, switching, wireless standards, and network security. They're complementary, not overlapping. Most CompTIA learning paths recommend A+ first, but neither is a hard prerequisite for the other.
How does Net+ compare to Cisco CCNA?
CCNA is harder, more vendor-specific, and more valued in enterprise network engineer roles. Net+ is vendor-neutral, accessible earlier in a career, and more useful for IT support and junior admin roles. If your goal is eventually a network engineer title, CCNA is the stronger long-term credential. Net+ is the better short-term move if you need to prove foundational networking knowledge now and can't yet commit to CCNA's deeper study requirements.
Can I pass Net+ without hands-on lab experience?
The multiple-choice questions are passable with study alone. The performance-based questions (simulations and exhibits) are where candidates without hands-on experience tend to lose points. Setting up Cisco Packet Tracer — which is free — and working through subnetting, VLAN configuration, and basic routing scenarios significantly improves PBQ performance. It's not strictly required, but skipping labs meaningfully raises your failure risk.
Does the net plus certification expire?
Yes — valid for three years from the date you pass. Renewal requires 30 CEUs and a $50 renewal fee, or passing a qualifying higher-level exam. In practice, most practitioners renew through Security+ or CCNA rather than tracking CEUs, since the cert progressions are useful independent of renewal mechanics.
Bottom Line
The net plus certification is a specific tool for a specific problem: proving baseline networking competency to employers who won't take your word for it. At $369 per attempt, 60–120 hours of study, and a three-year validity window, it's a reasonable investment if you're in the first two years of an IT career and need a credential that clears the hiring filter on network-adjacent roles.
It's not a career guarantee, and it won't compensate for zero hands-on experience in a technical interview. Pair it with Packet Tracer labs, supplement with cloud networking courses to understand where networking is actually heading, and treat it as the foundation it's designed to be — not the destination.
If you're past the entry-level stage and already have hands-on network experience, skip Net+ and pursue CCNA or Security+ directly. The market values demonstrated competency over baseline certifications once you have the track record to show for it.