CompTIA A+ Certification Guide 2026: Exams, Training, Skills & Career Path

CompTIA A+ Certification is an entry-level, vendor-neutral IT credential designed for people building careers in technical support, help desk, desktop support, and endpoint troubleshooting. To earn it, candidates must pass two exams: Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202). The current exams cover hardware, networking, mobile devices, cloud and virtualization, operating systems, cybersecurity, software troubleshooting, and operational procedures. It is best suited to beginners, career changers, and support professionals who want a structured, recognized way to validate practical IT skills.

What Is CompTIA A+ Certification?

CompTIA A+ focuses on the technical abilities required to support modern users, devices, operating systems, networks, and business IT environments.

Rather than concentrating on one vendor or product, the certification develops a broad troubleshooting foundation. Candidates learn not only what hardware, operating systems, and network technologies do, but also how to diagnose problems when those technologies fail.

That distinction matters. An entry-level technician may be asked to solve problems such as:

• A laptop connects to Wi-Fi but cannot reach the internet.
  
  

• A Windows workstation repeatedly fails during startup.
  
  

• A user reports suspicious browser behavior after installing software.
  
  

• A printer works locally but cannot be reached across the network.
  
  

• A mobile device is unable to synchronize corporate resources.
  
  

• A newly installed SSD is not detected.
  
  

• A remote employee cannot access required applications.
  
  

The certification is therefore particularly relevant for help desk, technical support, desktop support, field service, and junior IT operations roles.

Current CompTIA A+ Exam Structure

Candidates pursuing the certification in 2026 should prepare for the 220-1201 and 220-1202 exam series, rather than retired 220-1101/220-1102 materials. Current exam-preparation sources identify March 2025 as the launch of the 1200-series exams.

You must pass both Core 1 and Core 2 to earn the certification.

Exam Detail

Core 1

Core 2

Exam Code

220-1201

220-1202

Maximum Questions

90

90

Time Limit

90 minutes

90 minutes

Passing Score

675 / 900

700 / 900

Primary Focus

Hardware, networking, devices, cloud

OS, security, software, operations

Question Style

Multiple-choice and performance-based

Multiple-choice and performance-based

Current exam specifications list a maximum of 90 questions per exam and a 90-minute testing period, with different passing scores for the two cores.

CompTIA certification examinations can be scheduled through Pearson VUE's CompTIA testing platform, subject to available testing options and regional policies.

What Does the CompTIA A+ Exam Cover?

Core 1: 220-1201

Core 1 concentrates heavily on the physical and connectivity side of IT support.

The major domains are:

• Mobile Devices – 13%
  
  

• Networking – 23%
  
  

• Hardware – 25%
  
  

• Virtualization and Cloud Computing – 11%
  
  

• Hardware and Network Troubleshooting – 28%
  
  

Candidates should understand components such as CPUs, RAM, storage, motherboards, peripherals, printers, mobile hardware, Wi-Fi, TCP/IP networking, virtualization, cloud concepts, and common connectivity failures.

Notice that troubleshooting carries significant weight. Memorizing component definitions alone is not enough. You need to interpret symptoms and determine the most appropriate technical action.

Core 2: 220-1202

Core 2 moves toward software administration, security, and support operations.

Its domains are:

• Operating Systems – 28%
  
  

• Security – 28%
  
  

• Software Troubleshooting – 23%
  
  

• Operational Procedures – 21%
  
  

Expect to work with Windows administration, command-line utilities, operating-system installation, malware remediation, security controls, software problems, backup concepts, professional communication, documentation, and support procedures.

What Skills Does a CompTIA A+ Cert Actually Validate?

Good CompTIA A+ certification training should develop more than test-taking ability.

By the time you are exam-ready, you should be able to:

1. Identify hardware correctly. Understand processors, memory, storage, motherboards, cables, interfaces, displays, printers, and peripherals.
   
   

2. Configure basic networks. Recognize common protocols, IP settings, wireless technologies, routers, and connectivity requirements.
   
   

3. Support operating systems. Install, configure, maintain, and troubleshoot common desktop operating environments.
   
   

4. Apply endpoint security. Recognize malware, permissions problems, unsafe configurations, authentication issues, and common security threats.
   
   

5. Troubleshoot methodically. Move from identifying symptoms to testing probable causes and verifying the solution.
   
   

6. Communicate professionally. Technical knowledge loses value if a technician cannot document an issue or explain a solution clearly.
   
   

This practical combination is one reason CompTIA A+ courses should include labs rather than relying entirely on lectures.

How to Prepare for the CompTIA A+ Certification

The most efficient preparation method is objective-based study combined with hands-on troubleshooting.

Step 1: Study the Current Exam Version

Confirm that your books, videos, labs, mock exams, and course materials explicitly reference:

220-1201 + 220-1202

Older material can leave gaps because certification objectives evolve.

Step 2: Build a Small Practice Environment

You do not need an enterprise data center. A laptop or desktop plus virtualization software can provide valuable practice.

Work on tasks such as:

• Creating local users
  
  

• Managing permissions
  
  

• Configuring IP settings
  
  

• Using command-line tools
  
  

• Installing operating systems
  
  

• Creating virtual machines
  
  

• Troubleshooting startup problems
  
  

• Reviewing Windows administrative utilities
  
  

• Testing backup and recovery procedures
  
  

Step 3: Learn Why an Answer Is Correct

A weak candidate memorizes:

“Answer B.”

A strong candidate understands:

“B is correct because symptoms X and Y eliminate A, C, and D.”

That reasoning becomes especially important on scenario-based and performance-oriented questions.

Step 4: Track Performance by Domain

Do not rely only on your overall mock-test percentage.

If you score 85% overall but repeatedly miss networking questions, networking remains a risk. Track your accuracy separately across hardware, networking, security, operating systems, and troubleshooting.

Step 5: Practice Under Time Pressure

Complete full practice sessions without searching for answers. Your final preparation should measure accuracy, speed, and decision-making, not recognition.

CompTIA A+ Training Near Me vs. Online Training

Candidates searching for CompTIA A+ training near me often assume classroom training is automatically better. The delivery format matters less than the quality of instruction and practical exercises.

Training Option

Best For

Main Consideration

Instructor-led classroom

Learners wanting face-to-face support

Fixed location and schedule

Live online training

Learners wanting instructor interaction remotely

Requires scheduled attendance

Self-paced online course

Independent learners

Requires discipline

Bootcamp

Candidates with existing IT knowledge

Faster pace

Hybrid training

Learners wanting flexibility plus instructor support

Quality varies by provider

When searching CompTIA A+ certification near me, distinguish between a training provider and an authorized examination location. The organization teaching your course does not automatically need to be the place where you sit the official exam.

Evaluate training based on instructor expertise, current 220-1201/1202 alignment, hands-on labs, practice questions, progress assessments, and student support.

Google IT Support Certificate vs CompTIA A+

The query Google IT Support Certificate vs CompTIA A+ is common because both target people beginning IT support careers, but they are not identical credentials.

Factor

Google IT Support Certificate

CompTIA A+

Type

Online professional certificate program

Certification earned through exams

Learning Model

Course-based

Exam-objective based

Prior Experience

Not required

No mandatory experience

Assessment

Course activities and assessments

Two certification exams

Primary Goal

Build entry-level IT support skills

Validate broad IT support knowledge

Best Approach

Structured beginner learning

Skills validation and certification

Google states that its Career Certificates are completely online, self-paced, and available to people without prior experience. Its IT Support track is specifically positioned around troubleshooting computers and networks.

The two paths can therefore complement one another. A complete beginner may use structured training to build knowledge and later use the CompTIA A+ exam to validate broader certification objectives.

Who Should Take CompTIA A+?

The certification is particularly suitable for:

• Complete IT beginners who want a structured technical foundation
  
  

• Career changers entering technology from non-IT roles
  
  

• Help desk professionals wanting formal validation of existing knowledge
  
  

• Desktop support technicians seeking broader troubleshooting skills
  
  

• Students preparing for their first IT role
  
  

• Junior technicians planning to progress toward networking, cloud, systems, or cybersecurity
  
  

Experienced engineers may not need A+ if their current role and credentials already demonstrate substantially more advanced knowledge.

Is the A+ Cert Exam Difficult?

The A+ cert exam is broad rather than deeply specialized. Its difficulty comes from the number of technologies candidates must understand and their ability to apply that knowledge to troubleshooting scenarios.

The best preparation combines:

Concept → Configuration → Troubleshooting → Practice Question → Review

For example, do not merely memorize what DNS does. Understand what symptoms appear when DNS fails, which commands help diagnose the problem, and how DNS failure differs from a complete loss of network connectivity.

That approach prepares you for the CompTIA A+ examination, not just flashcard recall.

Are “A+ Certificate Exam” and “Comp A+ Test” Different Exams?

No. Search phrases such as cert A+, A+ certificate exam, A+ certificate test, CompTIA A+ test exam, Comp A+ test, and A+ cert exam are commonly used informally by learners looking for information about the official certification process.

The formal credential is CompTIA A+, and current candidates must complete the applicable Core 1 and Core 2 examinations to earn it.

Make Your A+ Preparation Job-Relevant

Do not measure readiness only by how many videos you have watched.

Measure whether you can diagnose a problem without being told which chapter it belongs to.

If a computer cannot access a network share, can you determine whether the problem involves connectivity, DNS, permissions, authentication, firewall configuration, or the remote host? That is the type of thinking that turns certification knowledge into employable support skills.

Choose CompTIA A+ Certification training that covers the current 220-1201 and 220-1202 objectives, includes genuine hands-on practice, develops troubleshooting judgment, and uses realistic mock examinations. The goal is not simply to pass a CompTIA A+ test exam—it is to leave the certification process capable of solving the IT problems employers actually expect an entry-level technician to handle.