CompTIA A+
A widely recognized entry level credential for IT support roles, covering hardware, operating systems, networking basics, security, and troubleshooting. Candidates must pass two exams, Core 1 and Core 2, to earn it.
Issued by CompTIA · Official page
Who can apply
- No formal prerequisites are required.
- CompTIA recommends 12 months of hands on experience in an IT support specialist role.
- Both exams (Core 1 and Core 2) must be passed from the same version.
Exam
- Exam
- CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202), V15
- Format
- Two exams. Each uses multiple choice (single and multiple response), drag and drop, and performance based questions
- Questions
- 90
- Time
- 90 minutes per exam
Up to 90 questions per exam. Passing scores are 675 for Core 1 and 700 for Core 2 on a scale of 100 to 900. V15 launched March 25, 2025, with retirement estimated in 2028. The prior V14 series was scheduled to retire September 25, 2025.
Official fees
| Fee | Amount | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exam voucher (per exam, two required) | Data unavailable | CompTIA's official certification and store pages did not display a USD price in a form that could be verified on 2026-10-18. | Official page |
| Continuing Education fee | $75 | Total CE fee for the three year renewal period; CompTIA states it does not need to be paid annually. | Official page |
Only fees published by the issuer or regulator are listed. Blank amounts mean no official figure was available to verify.
Renewal and continuing education
- Cycle
- 3 years
- Requirement
- Earn 20 continuing education units (CEUs) within the three year cycle and pay the CE fee, or renew through another approved CompTIA CE activity.
Related careers
| Occupation | National median wage |
|---|---|
| Computer user support specialists | $61,860 |
| Network and computer systems administrators | $99,130 |
Sources
- CompTIA A+ Core 1 and 2 V15, accessed October 18, 2026
- CompTIA A+ Certification, accessed October 18, 2026
- Understanding Exam Codes vs. Product Versions, accessed October 18, 2026
- Certification Renewal Policy, accessed October 18, 2026
- Continuing Education Renewal Fees, accessed October 18, 2026
- Earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs), accessed October 18, 2026
Verification notes
The per exam voucher price could not be verified because CompTIA's official pages load prices dynamically and no USD amount appeared. An older CompTIA blog cited $253 per exam as of February 1, 2024 for the previous 220-1101/1102 series, which is not current, so it was not used.
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