CompTIA · Professional Certification · Foundational
CompTIA A+
Crydd Score 80
Demand Stable
Career Value Strong
Recognition High
A+ at a glance
- Provider
- CompTIA
- Credential type
- Professional Certification
- Exam required
- Yes
- Category
- IT Support
- Level
- Foundational
- Cost
- $253 per exam (two exams required)
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Time to earn
- 2–3 months
- Validity
- 3 years (renewable via continuing education)
- Format
- Two exams (Core 1 and Core 2), up to 90 questions each
- Prerequisites
- None
What is A+?
The industry-standard starting point for IT careers, covering hardware, operating systems, software troubleshooting, and basic networking and security across two exams.
Skills it covers
- Hardware troubleshooting
- Operating systems
- Basic networking
- Customer support
Is A+ worth it? The Crydd Verdict
CS 80Choose it if
You want your first IT job and have no degree or experience to point to — A+ is the credential help-desk and support hiring managers know best.
Consider alternatives if
You're already comfortable troubleshooting systems professionally — skip ahead to Network+ or Security+, which map to better-paying next roles.
Why we say so
It reliably opens the IT support door, though its two-exam cost is worth weighing against how quickly you plan to move past entry level.
Market demand
Entry-level IT support hiring is steady rather than surging; A+ holds its place as the most recognized qualification for those roles.
Where A+ takes you
- IT Support Specialist
- Systems Administrator
Career roadmaps show where this certification fits in each path. See the roadmaps.
Related certifications
Curated connections from the catalog — each labelled with how it relates to A+, so you know why it’s here.
Careers A+ leads to
The professional paths this certification genuinely serves — browse every relevant credential for each.
A sensible order
Where A+ sits on the path — build up, then step on.
Recommended next after A+
A step up on a shared path
