CompTIA A+ in 2026: Core 1 and Core 2 Exam Guide and Cost

Updated September 2026: The current CompTIA A+ series is V15: Core 1 is exam 220-1201 and Core 2 is exam 220-1202, both launched March 25, 2025. CompTIA estimates the series will retire in 2028. You must pass both exams from the same version (CompTIA).

CompTIA A+ is the certification most people earn first when they want a job in IT. It proves you can set up and fix computers, phones, printers and small networks, support Windows, macOS and Linux users, and handle the basic security problems a help desk sees every day. CompTIA says A+ appears in more tech support job listings than any other IT credential, and it is the usual starting point for anyone who later wants to move into networking or cybersecurity.

This guide covers who A+ is for, the exam facts for Core 1 and Core 2, what each exam covers, what it costs, a study plan, the jobs it leads to, and how A+ fits with Network+, Security+, the Google Cybersecurity Certificate and ISC2 CC. For the wider picture, see Best Cybersecurity Certifications in 2026.

Who CompTIA A+ is for

• Career changers with no IT experience who want an entry-level help desk or desktop support job
• Students and recent graduates who need a recognized credential to put on a first IT resume
• People already doing informal IT support who want proof of what they know
• Anyone planning a path into cybersecurity who wants solid hardware, operating system and troubleshooting basics first

CompTIA recommends about 12 months of hands-on experience in an IT support role, but that is a recommendation, not a requirement. Plenty of people pass A+ with home-lab practice and good study materials.

CompTIA A+ exam facts (V15)

You can take Core 1 and Core 2 in either order, but both must come from the same version, so you can’t mix a V15 exam with an older one. A+ is valid for three years; you renew with 20 continuing education units (CEUs) and a $75 CE fee, or by earning a higher CompTIA certification. Sources: CompTIA’s A+ page, Core 1 page, Core 2 page, the CompTIA store (September 2026), and CompTIA’s continuing education pages on CEUs and fees.

What Core 1 (220-1201) covers

What Core 2 (220-1202) covers

Weights and topics come from CompTIA’s exam objective summaries for Core 1 and Core 2. Download the full objectives from CompTIA before you study; every question maps to one of them.

What CompTIA A+ costs in 2026

• Exams: $274 per exam on the CompTIA US store in September 2026, so $548 for both. Prices vary by country, and bundles with retakes or training cost more.
• Training: CompTIA sells CertMaster Learn, Practice and Labs. Many candidates use cheaper video courses, books and practice tests instead.
• Renewal: $75 in CE fees every three years if you renew with 20 CEUs. Earning a higher-level CompTIA certification, such as Network+ or Security+, also renews A+.
• Discounts: Students, employers and some workforce programs can get reduced-price vouchers. Buy vouchers only from CompTIA or an authorized partner.

A self-study candidate who passes both exams on the first try pays $548 plus study materials. Budget for a retake if you’re nervous; failing one exam means buying that voucher again.

A 10-week CompTIA A+ study plan

This assumes about eight to ten hours a week and no professional IT experience. Plan to take Core 1 around week 5 and Core 2 at the end.

• Weeks 1 to 2: hardware. Components, connectors, RAM and storage types, power and cooling, and printers. Open up an old PC if you can; handling parts makes this stick.
• Week 3: networking. Ports and protocols, Wi-Fi standards, IP addressing and SOHO router setup. Configure your own home router settings and write down what each one does.
• Week 4: mobile, virtualization and cloud. Install a hypervisor such as VirtualBox and build a Windows and a Linux VM. You will use them for the rest of the plan.
• Week 5: troubleshooting and the Core 1 exam. Learn CompTIA’s troubleshooting method until you can recite it, do timed practice tests, then book Core 1.
• Weeks 6 to 7: operating systems. Windows settings and tools, the command line, file systems, and basic macOS and Linux commands. Practice every tool in your VMs.
• Week 8: security. Malware types and removal, account and access controls, encryption, wireless security and social engineering. This is also the first taste of what Security+ goes deeper on.
• Week 9: software troubleshooting and operational procedures. Common OS and app problems, documentation, change management, safety, and backups.
• Week 10: practice and the Core 2 exam. Timed practice tests with performance-based questions. Book Core 2 when you pass practice sets consistently.

Is CompTIA A+ worth it? Jobs and salary

A+ is built for help desk, desktop support and field technician roles. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports a median pay of $61,860 in May 2025 for computer user support specialists (help desk technicians) and $76,220 for computer network support specialists. BLS projects user support employment to decline 3% from 2025 to 2035 as chatbots and automation handle simple tickets, but still expects about 48,700 openings a year for computer support specialists, mostly from people moving on or retiring (BLS).

That trend matters. A+ gets you in the door, and your pay grows when you move up. BLS lists network and computer systems administrators at a median of $99,130 and information security analysts at $129,180 in May 2025 (BLS). Treat A+ as the first step, not the finish line.

A+ vs Network+, Security+, the Google certificate and ISC2 CC

• A+ vs Network+: Network+ goes much deeper on networking. Most people take A+ first, then Network+. If you already work with networks, you can start with Network+.
• A+ vs Security+: Security+ is the standard entry-level security certification. A+ is not required, but its security and OS topics make Security+ much easier.
• A+ vs the Google Cybersecurity Certificate: The Google certificate is a self-paced course on Coursera focused on security analyst skills such as Linux, SQL, Python and SIEM tools. It is a training program, not a proctored exam. A+ covers hardware and support work that the Google certificate doesn’t.
• A+ vs ISC2 CC: ISC2 CC is a short, security-only entry exam. A+ is broader and more practical for a first help desk job.
• After A+: A common path is A+, then Network+, then Security+. People aiming at networking often go from A+ to the CCNA.

Planning your next certification? See the full certification roadmap for the order to take them by career goal.

What I would tell a friend starting A+

Don’t just memorize ports and connector names. Build a couple of virtual machines, break things on purpose and fix them. The performance-based questions reward people who have actually clicked through Windows settings and a command prompt. And pay attention to the security topics: the help desk is often the first place an attack shows up, as a strange pop-up, a locked account or a user who clicked a link.

The help desk sees attacks first. Know what’s going around. The CyberExperts Daily Brief covers what changed in security and why it matters, in five minutes, weekday mornings. Get tomorrow’s brief.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• CompTIA, A+ certification: comptia.org
• CompTIA, A+ Core 1 (V15) exam details and objectives: comptia.org
• CompTIA, A+ Core 2 (V15) exam details and objectives: comptia.org
• CompTIA store, A+ voucher price (September 2026): shop.comptia.org
• CompTIA, Earn continuing education units: comptia.org
• CompTIA, Continuing education renewal fees: comptia.org
• BLS, Computer support specialists: bls.gov

Donald Korinchak, MBA, PMP, CISSP, SecurityX, ITILv3

Donald Korinchak is a Cybersecurity Professional in the Washington DC area. Donald holds an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh Katz School of Business. Donald is considered a thought leader in business, leadership, and cybersecurity issues.