Exam Details
Exam Code220-1101 & 220-1102
Exam Cost$358 USD
Duration90 minutes per exam
Questions90
Passing Score675/900 (Core 1), 700/900 (Core 2)
ProviderCompTIA
Difficulty4/10
Salary Data
Professionals holding the CompTIA A+ certification earn between $50,000 and $95,000 annually, with an average of $75,000.
Job market demand trend: Stable (+5% YoY)
Prerequisites
- No formal prerequisites required
- 9-12 months of hands-on IT experience recommended
Skills Covered
Hardware TroubleshootingOperating SystemsNetworking FundamentalsMobile DevicesVirtualization & Cloud ComputingSecurity FundamentalsSoftware TroubleshootingOperational Procedures
Best Study Resources
Official
CompTIA CertMaster Learn for A+
Free CourseProfessor Messer — Free A+ Video Course
CourseMike Meyers — Total Seminars Udemy Course
Comparisons Featuring CompTIA A+
Career Paths With CompTIA A+
Linux Systems Administrator
Linux Systems Administrators manage and maintain the Linux-based infrastructure that runs the majori...
$65K - $135K
+18%
IT Project Manager
IT Project Managers plan, execute, and close technology projects on time and within budget. They bri...
$70K - $145K
+15%
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CompTIA A+ worth it in 2025?
Yes. CompTIA A+ remains the most recognized entry-level IT certification. It is frequently required or preferred for help desk, desktop support, and field technician roles. It also satisfies DoD 8570 requirements for IAT Level I positions.
How hard is the CompTIA A+ exam?
Most candidates rate it a 4/10 in difficulty. With about 120 hours of study covering both Core 1 and Core 2, pass rates are around 80%. The exam includes both multiple-choice and performance-based questions.
CompTIA A+ vs Network+ — which should I take first?
A+ should come first. It covers broader foundational IT knowledge including hardware, software, and basic networking. Network+ builds on A+ with deeper networking concepts. The recommended CompTIA pathway is A+ → Network+ → Security+.
Data Sources
- Salary data — Aggregated from job postings and salary surveys (US median)
- Job listings — Active postings across major job boards
- Pass rates — Community-reported estimates (not official vendor data)
- Exam details — CompTIA official documentation