Is CompTIA A+ worth it for IT support?
20% of IT support job ads in the United States name the CompTIA A+ (551 of 2,745, Adzuna, October 2026)
For a beginner in US IT support, CompTIA A+ is worth it when the jobs you want name it. CompTIA charges $548 for both exams, with renewal every three years. A+ appears in 551 of the 2,745 US IT-support ads in October 2026 (Adzuna). Mentions are not necessarily requirements; elsewhere, check local ads first.
Show the numbers
| Item | Ads | Share of ads |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | 1,188 | 43% |
| Active Directory | 558 | 20% |
| CompTIA A+ | 551 | 20% |
| CompTIA | 546 | 20% |
| ITIL | 206 | 7.5% |
| CompTIA Network+ | 163 | 5.9% |
| CompTIA Security+ | 34 | 1.2% |
| Google IT Support | 3 | 3 of 2,745 |
Is CompTIA A+ worth it for you?
Instant answer from October 2026 job ads. No email needed.
Employers ask for it
20% of it support job ads in the United States name CompTIA A+ (551 of 2,745 ads).
- Most-named alternative
- CompTIA 20%
- Skill asked for most
- Windows 43%
- Official exam fee
- $274 source
Source: Adzuna job ads, October 2026.
On this page
- How useful is CompTIA A+ certification?
- Where do employers name CompTIA A+?
- How much do the two A+ exams cost?
- A+ or Google IT Support Professional Certificate for IT support?
- A+ then Network+ then Security+: is that order worth following?
- Can CompTIA A+ get you a job?
- How hard is CompTIA A+?
- What is the CompTIA A+ salary?
- Who should skip it?
- Sources
How useful is CompTIA A+ certification?
Read the ads for the jobs you want. If they name A+, buy the exams. If they do not, and you already have the 12 months of IT-support experience CompTIA recommends, A+ is optional. Our IT-support guide covers the broader credential choice.
CompTIA A+ is CompTIA's foundational IT-support certification, earned through Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202). CompTIA describes Core 1 as hardware and networking, and Core 2 as operating systems and security. One core is not enough. Plan the budget and preparation around both.
| Exam or renewal option | US price |
|---|---|
| Core 1 voucher | $274 |
| Core 2 voucher | $274 |
| Both exams | $548 |
| Renewal through continuing education (CE) | $75 plus 20 continuing education units (CEUs) every three years |
| Alternative voucher price | Per exam with Retake Assurance: $359; two exams: $718 ($359 each) |
Source: CompTIA's US store, checked October 3, 2026. You pay the Retake Assurance price instead of the plain voucher price, not on top of it.
Is CompTIA A+ worth it, according to Reddit?
A poster with an associate's degree in computer science asked whether A+ would help them find a help-desk job when they had no certifications or experience. One post cannot show how often A+ leads to a job.
Where do employers name CompTIA A+?
US employers named A+ in 551 of the 2,745 IT-support ads in October 2026 (Adzuna). The count includes mentions without distinguishing required credentials from preferred ones.
Each Adzuna count on this page covers one month, October 2026, and counts phrase matches for credential names in ad text. Adzuna is a job-ad search site whose ads we count using our methodology. An A+ mention in an ad can be required, preferred or one of several options; the Adzuna count does not distinguish them.
Our search phrases comptia a and comptia network approximate A+ and Network+ mentions; they can miss short names or match unrelated wording. For ITIL we search itil; for the Google certificate, the exact phrase google it support, which misses alternative certificate names. Our methodology explains these searches; their counts are not comparable across credentials. The US, UK and India samples use the title phrase it support, excluding jobs advertised solely under other support titles.
Show the numbers
| Country | CompTIA A+ | Ads | Share of ads |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 551 | 2,745 | 20% |
| India | 33 | 259 | 13% |
| United Kingdom | 84 | 1,286 | 6.5% |
| Brazil | 5 | 1,764 | 5 of 1,764 |
| Mexico | 1 | 355 | 1 of 355 |
| Spain | 0 | 208 | 0 of 208 |
Is CompTIA A+ worth it in the UK?
Check UK job ads before paying for A+. UK employers named A+ in 84 of the 1,286 IT-support ads in October 2026 (Adzuna). A mention need not be a requirement. Include service-desk ads in your own search, because their titles can fall outside this sample.
CompTIA's UK store displayed $274 (in US dollars) per A+ exam when we checked on October 3, 2026. CompTIA's EU store displayed €201 per A+ exam on October 3, 2026. Check the checkout currency and voucher eligibility before buying.
When should UK applicants consider ITIL?
Consider ITIL when an employer asks for it by name.
ITIL is named in 95 of the 1,286 UK IT-support ads in October 2026 (Adzuna). The ITIL count uses a phrase search of ad text; a mention is not a requirement. Our A+ and ITIL comparison covers that separate purchase; see the ITIL page for the exam itself.
What does the India sample tell a beginner?
The India sample shows A+ mentions in IT-support ads, but not which employers hire people with no experience. Indian employers named A+ in 33 of the 259 IT-support ads in October 2026 (Adzuna). These phrase matches do not distinguish required credentials from preferred ones. One month of one job title in one country cannot support an India-wide recommendation. Use Indian IT-support ads to build a shortlist, then read each employer's entry requirements.
For India, confirm CompTIA's checkout price and voucher eligibility directly; the US exam budget reflects CompTIA's US store.
How much do the two A+ exams cost?
CompTIA's US store charged $548 for both exams, or $274 each, when we checked on October 3, 2026. The total covers plain exam vouchers; training, tax and retakes are outside this total.
CompTIA sells a Retake Assurance voucher at $359 per exam; see CompTIA's page for what it includes. The Retake Assurance voucher costs $85 more per exam than the plain voucher ($359 minus $274). Match study materials to Core 1 220-1201 and Core 2 220-1202 before booking.
Show the numbers
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Fees to get certified: Exam | $274 |
| Fees to get certified: Renewal, every 3 years | $75 |
What does CompTIA A+ renewal cost?
When we checked on October 3, 2026, CompTIA required 20 CEUs within a three-year cycle and a $75 fee when renewing by uploading CEUs. Keep records of qualifying activities and their completion dates.
According to CompTIA, Network+ fully renews A+ when earned during the three-year cycle. Security+ is listed by CompTIA as fully renewing both Network+ and A+ within that cycle. CompTIA's CE policy waives the CE fee when a higher certification fully renews the lower one.
CompTIA's renewal policy requires passing the latest exam version to regain certification after expiration. Confirm the required A+ cores with CompTIA before booking to regain an expired credential. Set a renewal reminder when the credential is earned.
A+ certifications earned on or after January 1, 2011, are not good for life: CompTIA's policy puts them on a three-year cycle. Should you plan to take Network+ anyway, passing Network+ inside the three-year A+ cycle renews A+ without the $75 fee. Choose the next exam for the job you want.
A+ or Google IT Support Professional Certificate for IT support?
Choose the Google course if you need structured lessons first. Pay for A+ if the ads for the jobs you want name it. Otherwise, A+ is optional if you have the 12 months of IT-support experience CompTIA recommends.
Coursera lists a six-course, beginner-level series with no prior experience required. Coursera sets the subscription price at checkout. Budget separately for the A+ exams.
Google IT Support is named in 3 of the 2,745 US IT-support ads in October 2026 (Adzuna). The Google IT Support count does not measure teaching quality or graduates' employment outcomes.
US IT-support employers named A+ in 551 of the 2,745 ads in October 2026 (Adzuna). The two searches use different phrases, so do not compare the counts across credentials.
Coursera says the program aligns with the objectives of the CompTIA A+ certification. Completing the Google program and passing the A+ exams earns a dual credential, Coursera says. Compare the CompTIA objectives with the Google course syllabus before relying on the Google course as your only study material. Use the Google IT Support review and the A+ versus Google comparison to decide whether the lessons justify an additional subscription.
Coursera's pages state different discount percentages for A+ vouchers, so we give no discounted total. Budget the full A+ voucher price even after choosing Google and check the offer terms at checkout.
A+ then Network+ then Security+: is that order worth following?
Follow that order only when each exam fits the job you want and your current skills. Consider A+ first for a US support job when the ads name it. CompTIA's recommended experience does not make the sequence mandatory.
| Certificate | Exam code | US fee per exam | CompTIA's recommended experience |
|---|---|---|---|
| CompTIA A+ | 220-1201 and 220-1202 | $274; both exams needed | 12 months of hands-on IT-support experience |
| CompTIA Network+ | N10-009 | $399 | A+ plus nine to 12 months in a junior network-administrator or network-support role |
| CompTIA Security+ | SY0-701 | $439 | Network+ and two years in a security or systems-administrator role |
Source: CompTIA US exam-voucher fees and recommended experience, checked October 3, 2026.
At CompTIA's US prices checked October 3, 2026, the two A+ exams ($548), Network+ N10-009 ($399) and Security+ SY0-701 ($439) come to $1,386. The $1,386 covers four exam vouchers, with Security+ SY0-701, and excludes training, tax and retakes. According to CompTIA, SY0-801 is due November 17, 2026; see CompTIA's page for its price, which is outside this total.
Network+ is named in 163 of the 2,745 US IT-support ads in October 2026 (Adzuna). This phrase search counts mentions, not requirements; see our methodology.
Our Security+ count covers cybersecurity-analyst ads and is described on the Security+ page.
Read the Network+ page and our A+ versus Network+ comparison when networking is the skill you lack. For a choice between networking exams, use CCNA versus Network+.
Show the numbers
| Country | CompTIA A+ | ITIL |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 20% | 7.5% |
| India | 13% | 12% |
| United Kingdom | 6.5% | 7.4% |
| Brazil | 5 of 1,764 | 4.0% |
| Mexico | 1 of 355 | 3 of 355 |
| Spain | 0 of 208 | 1 of 208 |
Is CompTIA A+ worth it for cybersecurity?
A+ can be worth the cost for a support job before cybersecurity work if that support job names it. For cybersecurity work, see the Security+ page. The support-ad sample does not measure cybersecurity hiring. For Security+ SY0-701, CompTIA recommends Network+ and two years in a security or systems-administrator role. CompTIA's SY0-801 page recommends two years as a security administrator and lists November 17, 2026, as the launch date.
A career changer on Reddit asked which exam to take while aiming at a help-desk job first. Choose for that immediate role, then read the A+ versus Security+ comparison when applying for security work. One poster asked about A+ as a route into cybersecurity.
Can CompTIA A+ get you a job?
A+ mentions point to jobs worth a closer look. Employers named A+ in 551 of the 2,745 US IT-support ads in October 2026 (Adzuna). The phrase count does not show an ad's experience requirements; read the ad before applying.
Show the numbers
| Item | |
|---|---|
| 1. Exam | 90 questions, 90 minutes |
| 2. Certified | valid for 3 years |
| 3. Renewal | 20 CEUs every 3 years |
Can you get a job with just CompTIA A+?
A+ alone is not evidence that an applicant meets a particular job's requirements. CompTIA's 12 months is a recommendation, not an exam prerequisite; you can book without it. Check each ad's requirements before you apply.
One Reddit post asks about getting hired without prior IT experience. Another asks about interviews and offers after A+. These posts describe applicants' questions rather than employers' decisions.
Before booking, draft the resume that would accompany the certification. Describe a troubleshooting task, the checks performed and the result, using genuine work or practice labeled as such. A career changer can include customer-facing experience where it relates to the advertised duties, without presenting it as previous IT employment.
Does CompTIA A+ get you a job?
After passing, apply to suitable jobs and note where each application stops.
With no interviews coming in, check that the jobs you apply for fit your resume and that it shows real troubleshooting. If you get interviews but struggle to explain your work, practice explaining each step aloud. Do not buy another exam until you know whether to work on matching your resume to jobs or explaining your troubleshooting in interviews.
How hard is CompTIA A+?
A+ tests practical tasks as well as recall through multiple-choice, drag-and-drop and performance-based questions, according to CompTIA. Each core has a maximum of 90 questions and a 90-minute limit. CompTIA recommends 12 months of hands-on support experience but sets no prerequisite.
CompTIA's US A+ page lists English as the only exam language. CompTIA lists March 25, 2025, as the launch date of the current version and expects to retire it in 2028; that year is an estimate, not a fixed deadline.
CompTIA's passing scores are 675 for Core 1 and 700 for Core 2 on a scale of 900. Take a practice test to identify topics to study, then practice the relevant tasks. Aim to finish a full, timed practice test you have not seen before in 90 minutes, at or above the passing score. Use the 675 and 700 passing scores only with practice tests scored on CompTIA's scale; a raw percentage is not equivalent to CompTIA's scaled score. Treat a practice result as a study check rather than a prediction of the exam result. Before booking A+, check that you can perform the objectives' tasks without prompts.
Show the numbers
| Item | CompTIA A+ |
|---|---|
| Questions | 90 questions |
| Exam time | 90 minutes (1 h 30 min) |
| Passing score | Core 1: 675; Core 2: 700 (scale of 100-900) |
| Format | Multiple choice, drag-and-drop, performance-based tasks |
| Languages | English |
What do Reddit posts say about exam readiness?
A Core 1 candidate on Reddit asked whether repeated practice-exam results meant it was time to book. Practice unfamiliar troubleshooting tasks alongside test questions.
Turn the official objectives into a checklist of topics to explain, demonstrate or study further. One Reddit commenter describes feeling almost ready when sample questions start to feel too easy. That is one person's rule of thumb, not a measured threshold. For practice, change the scenario in a question and explain why a wrong answer would fail.
Before paying for a retake, review the areas that caused difficulty and practice the relevant tasks. Do not use a Reddit post as a pass-rate estimate or a deadline.
What is the CompTIA A+ salary?
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports a $61,860 median annual wage for US computer user support specialists in May 2025, covering workers at all experience levels, not only A+ holders. It does not measure starting pay or an A+ salary premium.
We have no salary figure for A+ holders in the UK, India or South Africa; BLS covers the US only. Nor do we have one for New York City (NYC): the BLS figure does not split pay by certification. A Reddit salary post is one person's account, not a measured CompTIA A+ salary range.
BLS projects a 3% decline in US employment of computer user support specialists from 2025 to 2035. The BLS occupational projection measures net employment change, not job openings or which certifications employers want. Check current job ads before using the projection to decide whether to pay for A+.
For a personal budget, compare advertised pay in jobs that fit the place and experience level you are aiming for. Treat the cost of A+ as an expense to justify before an offer, without assuming a particular raise. The hub for IT support and networking helps separate the job choices behind those pay questions.
Who should skip it?
Spending on A+ is optional if you already have CompTIA's recommended 12 months in an IT-support role and the ads for jobs you want do not name A+. If you already hold Network+ and meet those conditions, study any missing support topics without buying A+.
A Security+ holder asked whether to go back for A+ and Network+.
Brazilian employers named A+ in 5 of the 1,764 IT-support ads in October 2026 (Adzuna, title: suporte técnico). The search records mentions without separating required and preferred credentials. Check Brazilian job requirements before applying the US purchase advice.
Mexican employers named A+ in one of the 355 IT-support ads in October 2026 (Adzuna, title: soporte técnico). A phrase match does not establish that an employer requires A+. This sample does not support a Mexico-wide recommendation. Base a purchase on employers' requirements.
For work focused on networks, look at the CCNA and the CCNA versus A+ choice before buying a support exam. For automation study, review Google IT Automation with Python separately. For security-role requirements, see the Security+ page.
Show the numbers
| Level | Certification | Experience | Named first |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | CCNP | no work experience required | – |
| Entry | CCNA | no work experience required | – |
| Entry | Google IT Support | no work experience required | – |
| Associate | CompTIA Network+ | recommended: 9 months of work experience | – |
| Associate | CompTIA A+ | recommended: 1 year of work experience | – |
| Associate | CompTIA Linux+ | recommended: 1 year of work experience | CompTIA A+ |
| Associate | Google IT Automation with Python | named after Google IT Support by the vendor | Google IT Support |
Do you need ITF+, Tech+ or ISC2 CC before A+?
No. CompTIA sets no prerequisite for A+, so you can book it without ITF+, Tech+ or ISC2 CC. Read the CompTIA overview for its other credentials and the ISC2 CC page for that alternative. If you want to work in networking, use the CCNA versus A+ comparison before paying.
Sources
- CompTIA, A+ overview and Core 1 and Core 2: exam content, format, experience and US voucher price, checked October 3, 2026.
- CompTIA, UK A+ store and EU A+ store: $274 (in US dollars) and €201 per exam respectively, checked October 3, 2026.
- CompTIA, CEU requirements and CE renewal fees, checked October 3, 2026.
- Renewal: CompTIA's higher-certification renewal and renewing multiple certifications, checked October 3, 2026.
- Validity: CompTIA's A+ validity and expiration, certification renewal policy and CE policy cutoff, checked October 3, 2026.
- CompTIA, Network+, Security+ V7 and Security+ V8: US exam fees, recommended experience and launch dates, checked October 3, 2026.
- Google, IT Support Certificate, and Coursera, Google IT Support Professional Certificate, checked October 5, 2026.
- Coursera, IT certification value and A+ certification overview: conflicting A+ voucher discount percentages, checked October 5, 2026.
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Computer Support Specialists: May 2025 pay and 2025 to 2035 projection, checked October 5, 2026.
- Adzuna, US IT-support search, with country-specific counts for October 2026. CertWorthIt analysis and counting method; local data checked October 5, 2026.
- Reddit posts on r/CompTIA, r/SecurityCareerAdvice and r/ITCareerQuestions, linked in the text; they show what readers ask, not hiring outcomes.
Questions people ask
Is CompTIA A+ enough to get a job?
A+ on its own does not show an employer you are ready for a specific job. Employers named A+ in 551 of the 2,745 US IT-support ads in October 2026 (Adzuna). Mentions in this phrase search are not necessarily requirements. Match the employer's experience requirements and prepare troubleshooting examples alongside the certification.
What are the highest paying IT certifications?
Our A+ data counts how often employers name it, not what holders earn, so it cannot rank certifications by pay. Compare advertised salaries for the job, place and experience level you are aiming for before treating an exam as a route to higher pay.
Is CompTIA A+ worth the money?
Yes, for US IT-support beginners whose chosen jobs name A+; elsewhere, check local ads before buying CompTIA A+. CompTIA's US store charged $274 per exam, or $548 for both. Training, tax and retakes are excluded.
Is CompTIA A+ worth it in Australia?
Check Australian IT-support ads before buying CompTIA A+; the US job-ad sample describes US employers. Use CompTIA's checkout for local pricing and voucher eligibility.
How hard is CompTIA A+?
CompTIA A+ includes practical questions as well as recall, with up to 90 questions in 90 minutes per exam. CompTIA recommends 12 months of support experience but sets no prerequisite, according to its US A+ page. Practice unfamiliar questions and troubleshooting tasks before booking.
What is the CompTIA A+ salary?
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports a $61,860 median annual wage for US computer user support specialists in May 2025, covering workers at all experience levels, not only A+ holders. For a local budget, use advertised pay for jobs matching the place and experience level you are aiming for. Median pay for a whole occupation and single Reddit salary posts cannot show how much extra a certificate adds.
Should you take Google IT Support before CompTIA A+?
Choose the Google IT Support course if you need structured lessons first. Buy the A+ exams if the job ads you are considering name the certification. If they do not, you can treat A+ as optional once you have CompTIA's recommended 12 months in IT support. Google IT Support is named in 3 of the 2,745 US IT-support ads in October 2026 (Adzuna). A+ appears in 551 of the 2,745 US IT-support ads in October 2026 (Adzuna). The searches are not designed for comparisons across credentials. Coursera sets subscription pricing at checkout; earning CompTIA A+ still requires separate exams.
How long is CompTIA A+ valid?
CompTIA A+ has a three-year renewal cycle, according to CompTIA's validity page. CompTIA's continuing education (CE) pages require 20 CEUs and a $75 fee when renewing by uploading CEUs. CompTIA lists Network+ or Security+ earned within the cycle as fully renewing A+.