Is CompTIA A+ Worth It in 2026? Cost, Exams, 10-Week Plan

Last updated September 2026

CompTIA A+ is two exams, not one, and you need both. Core 1 is hardware, mobile devices, networking and troubleshooting. Core 2 is operating systems, security, software troubleshooting and operational procedures. Pass both and you have the credential most people earn first when they want a job in IT.

The current 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. Both exams must come from the same version (CompTIA).

Is A+ worth it if you want cybersecurity?

Yes, as a way into the building. CompTIA says A+ appears in more tech support job listings than any other IT credential, and help desk is where a lot of security careers start. It’s also where many attacks show up first: a strange pop-up, a locked account, a user who clicked a link.

Be clear-eyed about the job market, though. BLS reports May 2025 median pay of $61,860 for computer user support specialists (help desk technicians) and $76,220 for computer network support specialists. It projects user support employment to decline 3% from 2025 to 2035 as chatbots and automation absorb simple tickets, but still expects about 48,700 openings a year for computer support specialists, mostly from people moving on or retiring (BLS).

So treat A+ as step one. Pay rises 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).

Who should start with A+ (and who can skip it)

• 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 on a first IT résumé
• People already doing informal IT support who want proof of what they know
• Future security people who want solid hardware, OS and troubleshooting basics first

CompTIA recommends about 12 months of hands-on IT support experience, but that’s a recommendation. Plenty of people pass with a home lab and good materials. If you already work in IT, you can usually skip A+ and start with Network+ or Security+. If you want security-analyst skills rather than support skills, compare the Google Cybersecurity Certificate.

Core 1 and Core 2 side by side

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.

Core 1 (220-1201): hardware, networking and troubleshooting

Core 2 (220-1202): operating systems and security

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.

Where A+ candidates lose points

• Performance-based questions. They reward people who have actually clicked through Windows settings and a command prompt. Reading about Control Panel isn’t the same.
• The troubleshooting method, in order. CompTIA expects its steps in sequence. Questions that ask what to do next are testing the order, not your instinct.
• Rushing Core 2 security. Malware removal steps, account controls and social engineering are exactly what a help desk sees. They’re also where Security+ picks up later.
• Mixing versions. A V15 Core 1 pass won’t pair with an older Core 2. Check the exam code on every book and practice test.

Ten weeks, two exam dates

This plan assumes eight to ten hours a week and no professional IT experience. Sit Core 1 around week 5 and Core 2 at the end, while the first exam is still fresh.

• 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.

Two vouchers and a renewal: the cost

• 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+ compared with Network+, Security+, Google 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.

Mapping the steps after A+? The certification roadmap lays out beginner paths by goal.

Want a ranked list instead of a path? See Best Cybersecurity Certifications in 2026.

The help desk sees attacks first. Know what’s going around. The CyberExperts Daily Brief covers what changed in security in about five minutes, each weekday morning. Get tomorrow’s brief.

A+ FAQ

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.