CompTIA A+

Each of the two A+ exams required for certification have a maximum of 90 questions and test-takers have 90 minutes to complete each exam. For A+ 220-1101, the passing score is 675/900 and for A+ 220-1102, the passing score is 700/900.

Both exams include two types of questions: performance-based questions, which involve performing a task or solving a problem, and traditional questions, which include multiple-choice, drag-and-drop and fill-in-the-blank.

For more information, read our articles on the:

• Core 1 exam
• Core 2 exam
• Most recent A+ exam changes

Like most certification exams, the degree of difficulty for A+ test-takers will vary from person to person. CompTIA recommends that test takers have 9 to 12 months of hands-on experience in the lab or field, but even with that experience, you will likely need to dedicate time and effort to study for the exam.

The passing scores are 675/900 for the first exam (220-1101) and 700/900 for the second exam (220-1102).

You can take the A+ exam at a Pearson VUE testing center or OnVUE, which is the online proctoring service for Pearson VUE.

To register for either an in-person or online exam, you’ll need to go to the CompTIA website, create an account and purchase an exam voucher. (To take both of the required exams, you’ll need to purchase two vouchers.) From there, you can schedule your exam and all exam details will be shared with you via that account. If you’re taking the in-person test, you will need to bring two forms of identification.

More information can be found on the Pearson VUE CompTIA page.

The CompTIA A+ certification costs vary based on location. Prices outlined below are for EACH of the 2 exams required for certification:

• USA: $239 USD
• Australia: $323 AUD
• Emerging Market: $134 USDe
• Euro: 344 EURO
• Great Britain: 142 GBP
• Japan: 27,257 JPY
• South Africa: 1,835 ZAR

The most up-to-date pricing for CompTIA exams can be found on the CompTIA website.

To pass the first (220-1101) of two CompTIA A+ exams, you must earn 675 points out of a total of 900 points. For the second exam (220-1102), you must earn 700 points out of a total of 900 points. Each exam has 90 questions.

Pass rates vary depending on an individual’s experience, study habits and test-taking strategies. For example, Infosec partners with CompTIA to offer an A+ Boot Camp that comes with an Exam Pass Guarantee. This means if you don’t pass the exam on your first attempt, you’ll get a second attempt at no cost to you.

Your A+ certification is valid for three years from the date of your exam. It needs to be renewed every three years to remain active. A number of activities and training programs that offer continuing education units are available to help you renew.

For more information, read about the CompTIA A+ renewal process.

To renew your A+ certification, you’ll have to earn continuing education units (CEUs). Over the course of three years, you’ll need to earn a total of 20 and then upload them to your certification account. There are two tracks for renewing your certification: complete a single activity or collect CEUs via multiple activities:

Renew A+ with a single activity:

• Complete the CompTIA CertMaster CE
• Earn a higher-level CompTIA certification
• Earn an approved non-CompTIA IT industry certification
• Re-take and pass the latest CompTIA A+ exam

Renew A+ with multiple activities, including:

• Attend webinars and conferences
• Complete courses
• Create instructional materials
• Publish blogs, whitepapers or books
• Teach, mentor or gain work experience

For the full list of ways to renew your certification, see CompTIA’s website.

You will also need to pay a continuing education renewal fee. The fee comes out to $25 a year or $75 for the three-year cycle.

The A+ certification demonstrates your skills in core network and endpoint technologies and prepares you for entry-level IT jobs. According to CompTIA, some of the more popular job titles A+ certified people hold include:

• Help desk technician
• Desktop support specialist
• Field service technician
• Associate network engineer
• Junior systems administrator
• System support technician

If you aspire to a more senior-level, specialized IT position, the A+ certification is an essential stepping stone in your pathway forward. It can be helpful to work backward from your goal and plot out your key certification milestones along the way.

Deciding whether or not the A+ certification is right for you is an individual decision and often, it depends upon your career goals. A+ is the preferred certification for technical support and IT operational roles, however, and it appears in more tech support job listings than any other IT credential.

For entry-level IT pros, the A+ serves as a differentiator from others who haven’t achieved certification. It’s an important indicator for hiring managers that you have a firm grasp of the technologies you will be supporting and it will set you on a path to more senior positions.

CompTIA A+ certification is designed for entry-level professionals. This is reflected in the national average salary data for popular A+ jobs, according to Glassdoor in April 2022:

• Help desk technician $42,169
• Desktop support specialist $52,793
• Field service technician $50,013
• Associate network engineer $67,162
• Junior systems administrator $52,624
• Systems support technician $49,337

Comparatively, Salary.com has a similar average salary for these positions: $55,998.

The Dice 2021 Tech Salary Report includes the CompTIA A+ certification among the 17 highest paid IT certifications in the U.S. With an A+, IT professionals can go on to earn an average of $78,629 by honing their skills over time and earning certifications.

Your A+ certification is but one factor of many to determine your salary. Also important to consider are your years of experience, other certifications you may hold, and your geographic location.

For more information, see our CompTIA A+ salary article.

The CompTIA A+ exams were updated in 2022 so at this early date, relatively few people have taken the new versions. However, the A+ certification designation was first rolled out in 1993. Today, nearly 1.2 million people hold the designation, according to CompTIA — and for good reason. A+ continues to appear in more tech support job listings than any other IT credential.