Is the CompTIA A+ Certification Worth It?

The CompTIA A+ certification has been the gold standard for newcomers to IT for over three decades. A lot has changed over the years, and you may wonder if this foundational certification is still valuable in today’s job market.

The short answer is yes, the A+ is still one of the most valuable certifications for people getting started in entry-level IT roles. It teaches you the fundamentals every aspiring IT professional needs to know, and then certifies your knowledge in a formal credential that shows employers you know your stuff.

The A+ isn’t a memory test, although there are a lot of details to remember. It builds practical troubleshooting skills that you will use almost every day in IT. One day you could be repairing a laptop, and the next you could be managing servers in a data center. The A+ prepares you fundamentally to get into the job market as an IT professional.

What is the A+ Cert?

The CompTIA A+ is an IT certification that proves you understand the basics of computer hardware, operating systems, networking, and security. It is vendor-neutral, meaning it doesn’t point out specific brands or companies. This neutrality is what makes the cert so valuable for beginners—you can start working at any company regardless of the tech stack they use because the principles you learn in the A+ are transferable across vendors.

The certification consists of 2 exams: Core 1 and Core 2, and you must pass both to earn your certification. The cert is valid for three years, after which you’ll need to renew it through continuing education or retesting. 

The new version of the A+ launched in March 2025, and it is currently on V15 (exams 220-1201 and 220-1202) and it replaces the older V14 (220-1101 and 220-1102) which retired in September 2025. The latest version of the exam now covers current technologies like cloud computing and hybrid work technologies.

The A+ cert is recognized by most employers as proof that you have the foundational technical skills for entry-level IT roles. The A+ is often listed as a prerequisite certification for job postings like help desk technicians, field service techs, and junior system admins.

What Does the A+ Test?

The A+ exams cover a lot of ground. The content of the exams has changed a lot over the years, with current IT environments being the main focus. Here are the current A+ exam objectives:

Core 1

Core 1 test focuses on: 

• Hardware (25%) 

• Hardware and Network Troubleshooting (28%) 

• Networking (23%) 

• Mobile Devices (13%) 

• Virtualization and Cloud Computing (11%)

The main focus is on understanding computer components, mobile devices, networking concepts, and basic troubleshooting techniques.

Core 2

Core 2 looks at: 

• Operating Systems (28%) 

• Security (28%) 

• Software Troubleshooting (23%) 

• Operational Procedures (21%) 

This exam digs into Windows 11, macOS, Linux, and mobile operating systems. You'll also learn about security best practices, malware removal, and how to deal with basic software issues.

Both exams have performance-based questions where you simulate tasks you'll perform in the real world. You’ll be tested on configuring settings, troubleshooting problems, and performing everyday tasks like you would on the job. This means you can’t just memorize facts to pass these sections. 

V15 of the exams covers Windows 11, updated mobile OS versions, improved cloud computing integration, and remote support. The security content has been brought up to speed and covers some of the current threats and mitigations required in real-world scenarios. 

How Much Does the A+ Exam Cost 

Each A+ exam costs $249, totaling $498 for both to earn the full certification. The good news is you don’t have to take both exams at once, which will allow you to spread the costs over a few months and have time to prepare for the second exam.

If you don’t pass the exam on the first attempt, then you will have to pay the full exam fee again on your next try. You need to be fully prepared before you sit down to take the exam, otherwise, the retries will get quite expensive.

Additional costs are study guides, practice exams, video courses, and virtual labs. The cost of additional learning resources will be cheaper than failing any of the exams several times, so there are real benefits to proper training before you attempt the exams.

What Experience Do You Need for the A+?

CompTIA recommends having 12 months of hands-on IT experience before taking the A+ exams; however, this is a recommendation rather than a requirement. You can take the exams without any IT experience at all, if you are willing to study harder.

Many successful A+ candidates actually come from non-IT backgrounds, which is why the A+ is often viewed as a gateway certification into the industry. The main consideration is you'll need some hands-on practice, so you will need to factor this in if you don’t know much about computers to begin with. Having some workplace experience with basic IT tasks will help a lot, but it is not a deal breaker if you don’t have any.

You must have some basic computer literacy and be comfortable with using Windows, understanding how file systems work, and know how to use basic software applications. A home lab setup is crucial if you lack workplace experience, as it allows you to practice essential computer skills, including hardware installation, operating system configuration, and basic troubleshooting steps.

Who Should Take the A+

The A+ makes sense for anyone getting started in a career in IT, or for anyone who currently works in IT and wants to validate these foundational skills with a globally recognized certification.

A+ for Help Desk Technicians

Working in a help desk is where a large chunk of IT professionals get started. The A+ teaches the fundamentals of end-user support, so it’s the perfect way to level up your skills when you are first entering the IT job market. 

You will learn how to troubleshoot issues and solve problems in a systematic way instead of just guessing what the problem could be. The A+ covers some of the most common hardware failures, software issues, and network problems. These are the most common types of issues you will come across as a help desk support agent and will make up the bulk of your daily work.

Most help desk positions list the A+ as either a requirement or strongly preferred. Your resume is far less likely to be auto-rejected and added to the ‘no’ pile for entry-level IT work if you have your A+ certification.

A+ for Field Service Technicians 

Field service techs need to have hands-on hardware skills when working on remote sites with customer equipment, and the A+ still puts a lot of emphasis on IT hardware. When you are an on-site tech, you will work with computers and their components, printers, mobile devices, and networking equipment on a day-to-day basis.

The hardware troubleshooting skills taught by the A+ certification are the foundation of your field service work, as they cover the absolute fundamentals. You will learn how to diagnose motherboard failures, replace RAM modules, install storage drives, and configure network settings.

A significant aspect of working in the field as an on-site technician is customer communication and face-to-face interactions. The A+ covers how to conduct yourself professionally when on-site at a customer’s premises, and how to represent your company and build customer confidence in your abilities. 

A+ for Junior System Administrators

Junior sysadmin roles often use the A+ as a prerequisite check to make sure candidates have basic IT experience and knowledge. You will need more skills to land the role as a systems administrator, but the A+ shows employers you have the basics under your belt. 

The A+ covers a lot of operating system ground, which also goes into server management territory. The networking fundamentals are also important for sysadmins because many troubleshooting issues revolve around network connectivity and access problems. Security is another area where the A+ is useful for this role. It covers access controls, user account management, and monitoring for basic threats.

Is the A+ Worth It? 

The primary A+ value is for anyone just getting started in IT, or people already in the industry who are looking to validate their skills. Others find that the A+’s wide coverage of IT topics makes it an ideal cert to get if they want to upskill their own technical proficiency with basic technical skills.  

Using A+ to Learn Skills

If you are a newcomer to IT then the A+ certification process will teach you the skills you need to apply directly to entry-level IT roles. We’ve already looked at how it benefits help desk, field service techs, and junior admins to get their foot in the door and get started in a career in IT. 

The hands-on labs and practice exercises are designed to help you build up muscle memory for the most common tasks that you will perform on a daily basis. By practicing the basics often, you will get some much-needed experience for both the exams and real on-the-job requirements. 

Vendor neutrality means you won’t be overly developed towards a specific tech stack, which gives you flexibility to learn new technologies from different companies with your fundamental skills. The idea is that you can apply a broad skillset to a wide range of different environments, making you more versatile.

Using A+ to Validate Skills

If you already have IT skills, but don’t have any formal credentials, then the A+ is just the ticket you need to show employers that you have the knowledge to work with their infrastructure and devices. Many companies require certifications to be hired initially or promoted after being on the job, even if you have practical experience. 

Getting your A+ also helps you to fill in any gaps in your IT knowledge, even if you weren’t aware of them. Even experienced technicians find that there are sections covered in the A+ that they didn’t know about, and where they could gain a better understanding of concepts they thought they knew well. 

HR departments often use certifications in their initial screening of job applicants, so if you are on the job market and you are looking to get an entry-level role, then not having the A+ on your resume might be excluding you before a hiring manager even sees your application. This is really frustrating, and getting your A+ cert can help you make it over those initial automated filters.

Conclusion

The CompTIA A+ certification remains a solid investment for anyone entering the IT field. It’s also really valuable for people with experience but no formal certification who are finding it hard to land their dream job in IT. 

The initial investment might seem steep at first, but when you compare it to the increased chance of getting into IT or growing your career, it is a solid investment. The A+ is the foundation of your IT career, and you will use the skills you learn for years to come. 

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