Industry-standard entry-level IT certification covering hardware, software, networking, and troubleshooting. Consists of two exams (Core 1 + Core 2). Required for many IT support roles and DoD 8570 compliant.
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May 9, 2026
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Worth Cost
Learning
Exam Difficulty
Standard helpdesk entry cert. Required by many MSPs and corporate IT departments for tier-1 roles. Two exams (Core 1 + Core 2) at ~$253 each = $506 total. Professor Messer free videos + Mike Meyers Total Seminars course are the standard combo.
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May 9, 2026
HR Value
Worth Cost
Learning
Exam Difficulty
High total cost ($500+) for a foundational cert is the most common complaint. Voucher discounts and bundles via CompTIA Marketplace can bring it down 20–30%. Career-switchers report it's genuinely useful for breaking in.
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May 9, 2026
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Exam Difficulty
Outside helpdesk roles (DevOps, SWE, security), A+ is generally seen as overkill or irrelevant. Many recommend skipping and going straight to Net+/Sec+ if you have a CS/IT degree.
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May 9, 2026
HR Value
Worth Cost
Learning
Exam Difficulty
Genuinely teaches breadth — hardware, networking, OS, troubleshooting. For hands-on people who like to know their stuff, the learning-value is real. Tougher than people expect — failure rate around 25–30% per attempt.
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May 9, 2026
HR Value
Worth Cost
Learning
Exam Difficulty
Latest version (220-1101/1102) added cloud and cybersecurity modules. Still heavy on legacy hardware (RAM types, port pinouts) that real techs rarely encounter. Useful as resume keyword for ATS filtering.
Free YouTube playlists for both Core 1 and Core 2.
Comprehensive paid course on Total Seminars. Often bundled with practice exams.
The standard A+ textbook. Latest edition covers 220-1101/1102.
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1h 30min
Pass Score
675/900
Remote Proctored
Yes — remote or test center
Exam Languages
Study Time
~60 hours