The N10-009 exam has 90 questions and a 90-minute clock. That breaks down to roughly one question per minute — except performance-based simulations front-load the exam and can eat 10–15 minutes each if you're unprepared. Most people who fail the Network+ cert don't fail because they didn't study; they fail because they studied the wrong way.
This guide covers what the Network+ cert actually tests, who should get it (and who should skip it), realistic salary outcomes, and the prep resources that work.
What the Network+ Cert Covers
CompTIA released the N10-009 version in April 2024, replacing N10-008. The exam has five domains:
- Networking Concepts (23%) — OSI model, network topologies, ports and protocols, cloud networking basics, virtualization concepts
- Network Implementation (20%) — routing and switching, wireless standards (802.11 variants), cable types and connectors, VLANs, IP addressing schemes
- Network Operations (19%) — monitoring tools, documentation, change management, disaster recovery concepts
- Network Security (20%) — attack types, defense techniques, firewalls, VPNs, AAA frameworks, zero-trust principles
- Network Troubleshooting (18%) — systematic methodology, command-line tools (ping, traceroute, nslookup, netstat), hardware troubleshooting
The security and troubleshooting domains are where most test-takers underestimate the depth required. N10-009 added more cloud and zero-trust content compared to its predecessor — reflect that in your study time allocation.
Exam logistics
- Exam code: N10-009
- Questions: Up to 90 (multiple choice + performance-based)
- Time: 90 minutes
- Passing score: 720 out of 900
- Cost: ~$358 USD (CompTIA exam voucher)
- Validity: 3 years, renewable via CEUs or retaking
Performance-based questions (PBQs) simulate real tasks — configuring a firewall rule, identifying a misconfigured IP scheme, reading a network diagram. They're weighted heavily. Flag them and move on if you're stuck; come back after clearing the multiple-choice questions.
Who Should Get the Network+ Cert — and Who Shouldn't
The Network+ cert is vendor-neutral, which is both its strength and its limitation. It won't make you a Cisco engineer or an AWS network specialist. What it will do is prove you understand networking fundamentals at a level that entry-level and mid-level employers care about.
Good candidates
- Help desk technicians moving into network support or sysadmin roles
- Military or government IT contractors needing DoD 8570/8140 compliance (Network+ satisfies IAT Level II)
- Career changers who have completed CompTIA A+ and want a logical next step
- IT students who want an employer-recognized credential before their first job
Poor candidates
- Experienced network engineers (3+ years hands-on) — the cert won't move the needle on your salary or resume
- People targeting cloud-only roles — AWS, Azure, and GCP each have their own networking certs that employers prefer
- Cisco-track aspirants — go straight to CCNA, which covers more depth and is more recognized in enterprise networking
If you're debating between Network+ and CCNA, it largely comes down to your target employer. Government, MSPs, and generalist IT shops: Network+. Enterprises with Cisco infrastructure or networking-focused roles: CCNA.
How Hard Is the Network+ Cert?
CompTIA positions Network+ as an intermediate certification. In practice, difficulty varies dramatically based on background:
- With A+ and 6+ months of hands-on IT experience: 2–4 weeks of focused prep is realistic for most people
- Coming from a non-IT background: Plan for 2–4 months. The subnetting and OSI model concepts need time to internalize, not just memorize
- Pure self-study with no lab time: Pass rate drops noticeably. You need to configure things, not just read about them
Subnetting is the make-or-break topic for most candidates. You need to calculate subnet masks, valid host ranges, and broadcast addresses quickly and accurately — under exam pressure. There's no shortcut other than repetitive practice until it's automatic.
CompTIA doesn't publish official pass rates, but third-party estimates suggest a first-attempt pass rate in the 70–75% range for candidates who completed formal prep. For self-studiers who underestimated the material, it's lower.
Network+ Cert Salary and Career Outcomes
The Network+ cert doesn't directly command a salary premium the way a specialized cert like CISSP or CCIE does. Its value is as a qualifier — it gets your resume through filters and signals baseline competence to hiring managers.
According to CompTIA's own salary data and aggregated job postings, common roles and their median ranges for candidates with Network+:
- Network Administrator: $60,000–$80,000 (entry to mid-level)
- Systems Administrator: $65,000–$85,000
- IT Support Specialist / Help Desk Tier 2: $45,000–$65,000
- Junior Network Engineer: $55,000–$75,000
- Information Security Analyst (entry): $70,000–$90,000
The higher end of those ranges typically requires stacking Network+ with additional experience or certs — Security+, CCNA, or cloud certs. Network+ alone is a floor, not a ceiling.
Government and defense positions
One underappreciated use case: DoD contractors and federal IT positions. Network+ satisfies the DoD 8570.01-M IAT Level II requirement, which is a hard compliance gate for many defense sector IT roles. These positions often pay 15–25% above comparable private-sector jobs because of the clearance and compliance overhead. If you're targeting that sector, Network+ pays faster dividends than almost anywhere else.
Cert stacking path
Network+ is commonly used as a bridge cert:
- CompTIA A+ (optional, but useful baseline)
- CompTIA Network+ ← you are here
- CompTIA Security+ (most common next step, especially for security-track candidates)
- CCNA / AWS / Azure certs (specialization phase)
Top Courses to Prepare for the Network+ Cert
The courses below won't all say "Network+ prep" in the title, but they cover the underlying networking knowledge the exam tests. Conceptual depth beats flashcard memorization for the performance-based questions.
The Bits and Bytes of Computer Networking
Google's networking fundamentals course on Coursera. Covers TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, routing, and network troubleshooting at exactly the depth the Network+ cert tests — without the vendor lock-in of Cisco-specific material. Strong for candidates who need to build foundational understanding before drilling practice exams.
Networking in Google Cloud: Fundamentals
Cloud networking concepts have grown from 5% to a notable portion of N10-009 exam content. This course covers VPC design, load balancing, DNS, and hybrid connectivity — the cloud-layer topics that trip up candidates who prepped exclusively from older N10-008 materials.
Networking in Google Cloud: Routing and Addressing
Subnetting, IP addressing schemes, and routing protocols are core Network+ cert exam topics. This course goes deeper on routing logic and address planning than most general prep resources, useful for the hands-on simulation questions that tend to separate passing from failing scores.
FAQ
Is the Network+ cert worth it in 2025?
For entry-level IT professionals targeting network admin, sysadmin, or government IT roles — yes. For experienced engineers or people targeting a specific vendor platform, your time is better spent on a specialist cert. The ROI is highest in the $45K–$75K salary band where it functions as a qualification gate rather than a differentiator.
Do I need to pass CompTIA A+ before Network+?
No. CompTIA recommends A+ and 9–12 months of networking experience, but there are no mandatory prerequisites. Practically speaking, if you've never worked in IT, A+ first makes Network+ significantly easier. If you have networking exposure from school or a related job, you can go directly to Network+.
How long does it take to study for the Network+ cert?
With IT background: 4–8 weeks at 1–2 hours per day. Without IT background: 2–4 months. The most common mistake is underestimating subnetting and then rushing it at the end. It needs weeks of practice, not days.
What's the difference between Network+ and CCNA?
Network+ is vendor-neutral and broader; CCNA is Cisco-specific and deeper on routing/switching. CCNA typically commands a higher salary premium in enterprise networking roles. Network+ is more useful for MSPs, generalist IT positions, and government compliance requirements. If you're going into enterprise networking, CCNA is worth the additional study time.
How many times can you take the Network+ exam?
CompTIA allows retakes, but requires a 14-day waiting period after a failed attempt. After three failures, a 14-day wait is required before each subsequent attempt. There's no published cap on total attempts, but each attempt costs ~$358, so practice exams before the real thing are worth the investment.
Does the Network+ cert expire?
Yes — 3 years from the date you pass. You can renew through CompTIA's Continuing Education (CE) program by earning 30 CEUs via qualifying activities (courses, events, higher certs), or by retaking the current exam version. Security+ renewal also renews Network+ if both are within their validity windows simultaneously.
Bottom Line
The Network+ cert does one thing well: it establishes a credible baseline of networking knowledge that employers trust. It's not going to land you a senior engineer role on its own, and it's not the right choice if you already have hands-on networking experience. But for someone transitioning into IT, moving from help desk to network support, or satisfying a DoD compliance requirement, it's a well-scoped, achievable credential with a clear ROI.
Approach the exam practically. Don't just watch videos — lab everything you can, work subnetting problems until the math is automatic, and take at least two full-length practice exams under timed conditions before booking. The N10-009 performance-based questions reward people who've actually configured things, not people who've read about configuring things.
If you're ready to start, The Bits and Bytes of Computer Networking is the most direct path to the conceptual foundation the exam requires.