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Is the CompTIA A+ worth it in 2026? An honest look

By SunTzu, founder of CertOwl • Published July 17, 2026 • Updated August 2, 2026 • 4 min read

Short answer: if you have zero IT experience and want your first tech job, yes. If you already work in IT, probably not, and there are better places to spend your money.

That's the whole article in two sentences. The longer answer is worth reading though, because the A+ is a bigger commitment than most people realize when they start googling it.

What the A+ is

The CompTIA A+ is an entry level certification that says you understand how computers, phones, networks and operating systems work, and that you can troubleshoot them when they break. It's vendor neutral, so it's not tied to Microsoft or Apple or Cisco. It's been around since the 90s and pretty much every IT recruiter knows what it is.

One thing that surprises almost everyone: the A+ is not one exam. It's two. Core 1 (exam code 220-1201) covers hardware, networking basics, mobile devices and cloud. Core 2 (220-1202) covers operating systems, security and troubleshooting procedures. You need to pass both to get certified, and each exam has its own voucher at around $274, up from $265 before CompTIA raised prices on June 1, 2026. So the real price of the A+ is about $548 before you buy a single study resource.

Who gets real value from it

The A+ works best for one specific person: someone with no IT background who needs to get past the resume filter for entry level roles. Help desk, desktop support, field technician, IT support specialist. For those jobs, the A+ does three things:

1. It proves you're serious. Anyone can say they're "good with computers." A cert shows you studied for months and passed two proctored exams.
2. It gets you through automated screening. A lot of companies filter applications by keywords, and "CompTIA A+" is one of them.
3. It gives you a vocabulary. Interviews go better when you can talk about DHCP or an SSD form factor without freezing.

Career changers coming from retail, hospitality, warehouses, the military. Students who want a job while finishing school. People whose resume has nothing tech on it yet. That's the A+ audience.

For pay expectations, look at support roles in your area rather than national averages. In the US, the Bureau of Labor Statistics puts median pay for computer support specialists at roughly $60,000 a year, but entry level help desk jobs usually start well below that. The A+ gets you in the door. It doesn't negotiate your salary.

Who should skip it

If you already have a year or two of hands-on IT work, the A+ mostly tells employers things your resume already proves. In that case skip ahead to the CompTIA Network+ or go straight for the CompTIA Security+, which carries more weight and is required for a lot of US government and defense jobs.

Also skip it if you're chasing a specialized path and already know it. Aspiring network engineers sometimes go straight to Cisco's CCNA. People heading into security with some background jump to Security+. Nothing bad happens if you skip the A+. There's no rule that says you have to take CompTIA certs in order, and we wrote a whole guide on picking your first one.

The honest downsides

The A+ is broad. Two exams' worth of material means you'll study things you may never touch again, like laser printer imaging steps. Some of it feels dated. You will memorize port numbers and connector types and wonder why.

It also expires. The certification is valid for three years, after which you renew it with continuing education or by passing a newer exam. Factor that in.

And it will not, on its own, get you a job. It gets you interviews. The people who struggle after passing are usually the ones who studied only to pass the test instead of understanding the material. When the interviewer asks how they'd troubleshoot a PC that won't boot, memorized answers fall apart fast.

So, worth it?

For a first IT job in 2026, the A+ is still the most recognized starting point there is. US labor statistics project around fifty thousand openings a year in support roles alone, most of them replacing people who move up or out, and entry level support is where most IT careers start.

Just go in with open eyes: two exams, about $548 in vouchers, three to six months of studying if you're starting from zero. If you're going to do it, do it properly and actually learn the material.

If you want the exam details before deciding, start with what's on the Core 1 exam and what the whole thing costs.

Frequently asked questions

Is the A+ enough to get a job?

It opens helpdesk and desktop support doors, especially combined with any customer facing experience. It proves baseline competence rather than guaranteeing a role, so pair it with applications from day one.

Does the A+ expire?

Yes, it is valid for three years. You renew it with continuing education activities or by passing a higher CompTIA exam, which most people in IT end up doing anyway.

Can I skip the A+ and start with the Network+?

Yes, there is no prerequisite. If you have built PCs or handled informal IT support, going straight to the Network+ is a legitimate path.