CompTIA A+ Guide 2026: True $548 Cost, Study Time and Jobs
Ammar Tahir7 min read
Here's the honest answer up front: the CompTIA A+ costs $548 for both exams in 2026 — $274 per voucher after CompTIA's June price hike — and that's before a single practice test or retake. It's not cheap, and it's not glamorous.
But if you're trying to get your first IT job without a degree, it's still the credential that gets your resume past HR filters. This guide covers what it really costs, how long it really takes, and who should honestly skip it.
What the CompTIA A+ actually is
The A+ is the standard entry-level IT certification. It's vendor-neutral, which means it covers computers, mobile devices, networks, operating systems, security basics, and troubleshooting in general — not one company's products.
You need to pass two separate exams to get certified. The current versions are Core 1 (exam code 220-1201) and Core 2 (exam code 220-1202), which launched in March 2025 and replaced the older 220-1101 and 220-1102 series.
That exam code detail matters more than it sounds. If you buy a used book or an old video course for the 1101 series, you'll be studying retired material. Check the code before you spend anything.
▶ How to Pass Your 220-1201 and 220-1202 A+ Exams (YouTube)
What the A+ costs in 2026
CompTIA raised voucher prices in June 2026, so a lot of the numbers you'll find on older blog posts are wrong. Here's the current picture.
| Expense | Price |
|---|---|
| Core 1 (220-1201) voucher | $274 |
| Core 2 (220-1202) voucher | $274 |
| Both exams (minimum to get certified) | $548 |
| Voucher with retake assurance | $329 per exam |
| Professor Messer video courses | Free |
| Practice exams and books (optional) | About $50 to $100 |
A few things worth knowing before you buy. Each voucher covers exactly one exam — a Core 1 voucher won't work for Core 2. Vouchers are valid for 12 months from purchase, so don't buy both on day one if you're studying slowly.
There's no free retake with a standard voucher. Fail an exam and you're paying another $274, which is why the $329 retake-assurance option exists — it's a $55 insurance policy that's worth it if you're a nervous test-taker.
You can also pay less than retail. CompTIA's official store sets the list price, but authorized resellers routinely sell legitimate vouchers 10 to 15 percent cheaper. Just stick to authorized sellers — a dead voucher from a sketchy site saves you nothing.
The real total cost
Nobody passes the A+ with vouchers alone, so let's talk actual budget.
If you use free training and pass both exams first try, you're looking at about $600: $548 in vouchers plus around $50 for a set of practice exams. That's the realistic minimum, not the advertised one.
If you fail one exam once — which is common on Core 2, where most people underestimate the operating systems material — add $274. A sensible worst-case budget is about $850. Plan for that number and be pleasantly surprised, rather than the reverse.
How long to study for the A+
Plan on about 100 to 150 total hours across both exams. At a steady 10 hours a week, that's two to four months from zero to certified.
Your background moves that number a lot. If you've been building PCs or doing informal tech support for family since forever, four to eight weeks is realistic. If the inside of a computer is a mystery to you, take the full three to four months and don't rush Core 2.
My suggested split: study for and pass Core 1 first, then start Core 2. The exams overlap less than you'd expect — Core 1 is hardware and networking, Core 2 is operating systems, security, and procedures — and trying to hold both in your head at once is a common way to fail.
A simple week-by-week plan
Here's the schedule I'd give a friend starting from scratch. Weeks one through five: watch the full Core 1 video course, take notes by hand, and spend one session a week doing something physical — open a PC, swap a drive, crimp a cable if you can.
Weeks six and seven: hammer practice exams for Core 1, review every wrong answer, then sit the real thing. Weeks eight through fourteen: repeat the same cycle for Core 2, giving extra time to Windows administration and security settings, because that's where most people bleed points.
Book each exam date about two weeks out once your practice scores look solid. A real deadline on the calendar does more for your study habits than any app.
Is the A+ worth it in 2026? The honest take
For career changers with zero IT experience: yes. The A+ is still the single most-recognized entry-level IT credential, and plenty of helpdesk job postings list it by name. It's one of the better options among certifications that pay well without a degree, because it targets a job category that genuinely hires on certs plus attitude.
For anyone with a year or more of real IT experience: no. The A+ proves baseline competence, and your work history already does that. Spend the $548 on Network+, Security+, or a cloud cert that moves you up instead of sideways.
Now the uncomfortable part nobody selling courses mentions. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of computer support specialists will decline about 3 percent from 2024 to 2034, partly because AI tools are absorbing the easy tickets.
Before that scares you off, read the second half of the stat: BLS still projects about 50,500 openings per year in the field, mostly from people moving up or out. Helpdesk has always been a revolving door, and that churn is exactly what makes it an accessible entry point. The smart play is treating the A+ as a two-year stepping stone, not a destination.
And if your endgame is security? The A+ is optional. It builds a real foundation, but no SOC hiring manager requires it — our cybersecurity certification roadmap shows where it fits and when to skip straight to Security+.
Jobs and salaries the A+ leads to
The A+ targets a specific job cluster: helpdesk technician, desktop support, field service technician, and IT support specialist. Here's what those roles actually pay, per BLS data from May 2024.
| Role | Median annual pay (BLS, May 2024) |
|---|---|
| Computer user support specialist | $60,340 |
| Computer network support specialist | $73,340 |
Be realistic about the word "median" — half of the people in that first row earn less. Your first helpdesk job will likely start around $40,000 to $45,000, and closer to $38,000 in low cost-of-living areas.
That sounds modest because it is. The value isn't the first salary; it's the trajectory. Helpdesk to sysadmin or security analyst in three to five years is a well-worn path, and those roles pay $75,000 and up. The A+ buys you the entry ticket, and what you learn on the job buys the rest.
Free and cheap study resources
Do not pay $2,000 for an A+ bootcamp. This exam has the best free study ecosystem in all of IT certification.
Start with Professor Messer's free A+ training. His complete Core 1 course — 63 videos, about 10 hours — is free on YouTube, along with a matching Core 2 course and free monthly study group livestreams. He sells course notes and practice exams as paid extras, and those are the only Messer products worth paying for.
Add one paid set of practice exams from a reputable source; they typically run $15 to $50 and are the single best predictor of whether you're ready. Take them under timed conditions, and don't book the real exam until you're consistently scoring above 85 percent.
Round it out with the free stuff that fills gaps: the r/CompTIA community for recent exam experiences, and any old desktop you can pull apart. Physically reseating RAM once teaches you more than reading about it five times.
One more money-saver: if you're unemployed or low-income, ask your local workforce development office whether they'll fund the vouchers. Many US programs cover CompTIA exams, and community college students can often buy discounted academic vouchers.
Bottom line
If you have no IT experience and want in, get the A+. Budget about $600, use Professor Messer's free courses, give it two to four months at 10 hours a week, and start applying for helpdesk roles before you even sit Core 2 — listing "A+ in progress" is normal and it works.
If you already work in IT, skip it and put the $548 toward the next cert up your path. The A+ opens the first door, and you're already through it.
Frequently asked questions
Is CompTIA A+ worth it in 2026?
Yes, if you have no IT experience and want a helpdesk or desktop support job — it's still the credential HR filters look for at the entry level. It's not worth it if you already have a year or more of hands-on IT work; put that money toward Network+ or Security+ instead.
How much does the CompTIA A+ exam cost?
Each exam voucher costs $274 after CompTIA's June 2026 price increase, so both exams together run $548. A voucher bundled with one free retake costs $329 per exam. Authorized resellers often sell vouchers about 10 to 15 percent below retail.
How long does it take to study for the CompTIA A+?
Plan on about 100 to 150 total hours for both exams. At 10 hours a week, that's roughly two to four months. If you already work with computers regularly, you can compress it to four to eight weeks.
Can I get the CompTIA A+ certification for free?
The exams themselves are never free, but the training can be. Professor Messer's complete video courses for both exams are free on YouTube. Some workforce development programs, community colleges, and employer tuition benefits will cover the voucher cost if you qualify.
Is CompTIA A+ worth it for cyber security?
It's a useful foundation but not a cybersecurity cert. Most cyber roles care about Security+ and hands-on skills, so if security is your goal, treat A+ as an optional first step you can skip if you already understand hardware, operating systems, and networking basics.
