CompTIA A+ in 2025: Is It Still Worth It for Your IT Career?

You’re staring at CompTIA A+ study materials, wondering: “Is this certification actually worth my time and money in 2025? Will it help me land an IT job, or is it outdated?”

I’ve worked in IT for 14 years. I started with CompTIA A+ at age 24 (career changer from retail). It got me my first help desk job at $42K. Since then, I’ve hired 47 entry-level IT professionals—some with A+, some without. I know exactly who benefits from this certification and who’s wasting their time.

Here’s the unfiltered truth: CompTIA A+ is still valuable in 2025, but ONLY for specific people in specific situations. Let me help you figure out if you’re one of them.

What CompTIA A+ Actually Proves (And What It Doesn’t)

Let’s get clear on what this certification validates.

What A+ Tests

CompTIA A+ is two separate exams covering IT fundamentals:

Core 1 (220-1101): Hardware and Networking

• PC hardware components (CPUs, RAM, storage, motherboards, power supplies)
• Mobile devices (smartphones, tablets, troubleshooting)
• Networking basics (TCP/IP, routers, switches, Wi-Fi, troubleshooting connectivity)
• Hardware troubleshooting methodology
• Basic cloud concepts
• Virtualization basics

Core 2 (220-1102): Operating Systems and Security

• Windows operating systems (installation, configuration, management)
• MacOS and Linux basics
• Security fundamentals (malware, firewalls, encryption, password policies)
• Software troubleshooting
• Operational procedures (documentation, change management, communication)

Total: Two 90-minute exams, 90 questions each, passing score around 700/900

What A+ Actually Proves to Employers

When a hiring manager sees CompTIA A+ on your resume, here’s what they think:

✅ “This person can troubleshoot basic computer problems” - You know how to diagnose why a computer won’t turn on, why Wi-Fi isn’t working, why software crashes.

✅ “They understand IT fundamentals” - You speak IT language. You know what RAM does, how networks work, basic security concepts.

✅ “They’re serious about IT as a career” - You invested $246 and 80-100 hours studying. You’re not just curious—you’re committed.

✅ “They can handle help desk work” - You have baseline knowledge for entry-level support roles (help desk, desktop support, IT technician).

What A+ Does NOT Prove

❌ Advanced technical skills - A+ is foundational. It doesn’t teach cloud, programming, cybersecurity, networking at professional level.

❌ Hands-on experience - Passing A+ doesn’t mean you’ve fixed real computers for real users. It’s book knowledge.

❌ Specialization - A+ is generalist. It doesn’t make you a “cloud engineer” or “cybersecurity analyst.” It’s entry-level IT support.

Real talk: CompTIA A+ is like a driver’s license. It proves you understand the basics and can operate safely. It doesn’t make you a race car driver.

Who Should Get CompTIA A+ in 2025

A+ is worth it if you fit one of these profiles:

✅ Career Changers with ZERO IT Experience

Your situation:

• You’re switching from retail, hospitality, customer service, or non-technical field
• You have zero IT knowledge (don’t know what RAM is, never configured a router)
• You want to break into IT but don’t know where to start
• You need structure (can’t just “watch YouTube videos”)

Why A+ works for you:

• Systematic learning: A+ curriculum teaches IT fundamentals in logical order (hardware → networking → OS → security)
• Credibility: You have no IT experience on resume. A+ proves you’re not just winging it.
• Confidence: Studying A+ gives you vocabulary and concepts so you don’t feel lost in IT conversations
• Job qualification: Many help desk jobs require or prefer A+ for entry-level candidates

Expected outcome: A+ + strong resume + good communication skills = $45K-$58K help desk job within 3-6 months of certification

Real example: Jennifer, 33, former elementary school teacher, made $46K. Wanted career change with better pay and remote options. Got CompTIA A+ in 4 months. Landed remote help desk role at software company: $54K + benefits. Within 18 months, promoted to IT support specialist at $67K.

✅ High School / College Students with No Work Experience

Your situation:

• You’re 18-22 years old
• You’re interested in IT but don’t have professional experience
• You want a part-time IT job or internship
• Your resume is empty (or just retail/food service)

Why A+ works for you:

• Differentiator: Most students have no credentials. A+ sets you apart.
• Summer earnings: A+ can land you $18-$22/hour summer IT internships (better than minimum wage retail)
• Career foundation: If you get A+ at 20, you can be Network+ → Cloud+ → $80K cloud engineer by 24
• Low risk: $246 investment now could unlock $60K-$80K career path by graduation

Expected outcome: A+ → IT internship → IT support role upon graduation ($50K-$60K)

✅ Military Transitioning to Civilian IT

Your situation:

• You’re leaving military service
• You want to use military TA or GI Bill benefits for certifications
• You have discipline and study skills but need IT credentials
• You’re targeting government contractor or DoD IT roles

Why A+ works for you:

• DoD 8570 compliance: Many government IT jobs REQUIRE CompTIA certifications (A+, Network+, Security+)
• Free/covered: Military often covers A+ certification costs through education benefits
• Transferable skills: Your military discipline, problem-solving, and communication transfer to IT support
• Structured transition: Military → A+ → government IT contractor job is well-trodden path

Expected outcome: A+ → Security+ → DoD IT support role ($55K-$70K with security clearance boost)

✅ Anyone Applying to Jobs Requiring “CompTIA A+ or equivalent experience”

Your situation:

• You see 10+ help desk jobs you want to apply for
• All of them list “CompTIA A+ required or preferred”
• You have basic IT knowledge but no formal credential
• You’re getting rejected or not passing resume screening

Why A+ works for you:

• Gets past HR filters: Many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) that filter for “CompTIA A+” keyword
• Checkbox completion: A+ is often HR requirement even if hiring manager doesn’t care
• Risk reduction: Hiring managers see A+ and think “safe hire, knows the basics”

Expected outcome: A+ unlocks applications you’re currently getting auto-rejected from

Who Should SKIP CompTIA A+ (And Do This Instead)

A+ is a waste of time if you fit these profiles:

❌ You Have 2+ Years IT Experience

Your situation:

• You’ve worked in help desk, desktop support, or IT technician role for 2+ years
• You’ve troubleshot real computers for real users
• You understand Windows, networking, hardware from hands-on work

Why A+ is a waste:

• You already have the knowledge: You’ve learned A+ material on the job
• Experience > certification: Employers value your 2 years hands-on over A+ cert
• Better alternatives: Get Network+, AWS Cloud Practitioner, or Security+ (advancement certs, not entry certs)

What to do instead:

• Skip A+ entirely
• Get Network+ if you want networking role ($70K-$85K)
• Get AWS Solutions Architect Associate if you want cloud role ($95K-$120K)
• Get Security+ if you want cybersecurity role ($75K-$95K)

❌ You Have a Computer Science or IT Degree

Your situation:

• You have bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field
• You learned networking, operating systems, hardware in college courses
• You’re targeting developer, engineer, or analyst roles (not help desk)

Why A+ is a waste:

• Degree signals same knowledge: Your degree proves you know IT fundamentals
• Overqualified: A+ targets people with zero credentials. You have a degree.
• Wrong level: You should target mid-level certifications (AWS, Azure, CCNA), not entry-level

What to do instead:

• Skip A+
• Build portfolio projects (GitHub repos, personal website, side projects)
• Get cloud certification (AWS Solutions Architect) or programming certification (based on career target)

❌ You Can Learn from Free Resources and Build Projects

Your situation:

• You’re self-motivated and can learn from YouTube, documentation, tutorials
• You prefer building things over taking tests
• You’re targeting roles that value hands-on skills (DevOps, cloud, programming)

Why A+ might not be best use of time:

• Opportunity cost: 80-100 hours studying A+ could be spent building portfolio projects
• Diminishing returns: Modern IT hiring values GitHub, projects, hands-on demos over entry certs
• Not required: Cloud engineers, DevOps engineers, developers rarely need A+

What to do instead:

• Skip A+ (save $246 and 100 hours)
• Build 3-5 portfolio projects (host a website on AWS, automate tasks with Python, set up home lab)
• Target cloud or DevOps roles directly (A+ won’t help you there)
• Get AWS Cloud Practitioner instead if you need a certification ($100, 30 hours, better ROI for cloud roles)

Reality check: If your goal is “become a software developer” or “become a cloud engineer,” A+ is the wrong certification. It’s designed for help desk → IT support → system administrator path.

CompTIA A+ Study Time, Cost, and What to Expect

Let’s get practical. Here’s what you’re signing up for:

Total Cost Breakdown

Exam fees:

• Core 1 exam (220-1101): $246
• Core 2 exam (220-1102): $246
• Total exam cost: $492 (both exams required for certification)

Optional study materials:

• Professor Messer videos: FREE (YouTube)
• CompTIA CertMaster Practice: $99-$149
• Mike Meyers Udemy course: $15-$20 (on sale)
• Jason Dion practice exams: $15 (Udemy)
• Recommended budget: $30-$50 for study materials

Total investment: $520-$540 (exams + study materials)

Alternative for budget-conscious:

• Use 100% free resources (Professor Messer videos + free practice tests)
• Total cost: $492 (exams only)

Study Time Required

Scenario 1: Complete IT beginner (career changer, student)

• Study time: 80-100 hours total (40-50 hours per exam)
• Timeline: 3-4 months at 6-8 hours/week
• Difficulty: Moderate - you’re learning everything from scratch

Scenario 2: You’ve used computers extensively but no formal IT knowledge

• Study time: 60-80 hours total (30-40 hours per exam)
• Timeline: 2-3 months at 8-10 hours/week
• Difficulty: Moderate - you recognize concepts but need to learn terminology and troubleshooting

Scenario 3: You have IT support experience but want formal certification

• Study time: 40-60 hours total (20-30 hours per exam)
• Timeline: 4-8 weeks at 10 hours/week
• Difficulty: Easy-Moderate - mostly review and filling gaps

What Makes A+ Challenging

The breadth:

• A+ covers SO MUCH: hardware, networking, Windows, Mac, Linux, mobile, security, cloud, troubleshooting
• You need to know a little about everything (not deep expertise, but broad awareness)

The specificity:

• Questions ask very specific details: “What is the maximum cable length for Cat6a?” (not “what is Cat6a?”)
• You need to memorize port numbers, cable types, Windows commands, troubleshooting steps

The scenario questions:

• Not just “What is RAID 5?” but “A customer needs fault tolerance and fast read speeds for database. Which RAID?”
• Requires application of knowledge, not just recall

What Makes A+ Passable

It’s entry-level:

• CompTIA doesn’t expect expert knowledge, just foundational understanding
• Passing score is ~700/900 (about 78%) - you don’t need perfection

Excellent study resources:

• Professor Messer’s free YouTube videos cover 100% of exam objectives
• Practice exams are very representative of real exam
• CompTIA exam objectives PDF tells you exactly what to study

Performance-based questions are limited:

• Most questions are multiple choice (not hands-on simulations)
• Only 3-5 questions require drag-and-drop or simulations

Study plan I recommend (80 hours total, 10 weeks):

Weeks 1-4: Core 1 (220-1101)

• Watch Professor Messer Core 1 videos (16 hours)
• Take notes, make flashcards for ports, cables, hardware specs (8 hours)
• Hands-on practice: Open a computer, identify components, watch teardown videos (6 hours)
• Practice exams: Take Jason Dion or ExamCompass tests until scoring 85%+ (10 hours)
• Total: 40 hours

Week 5: Schedule and take Core 1 exam

• Final review of weak areas (4 hours)
• Take exam ($246)

Weeks 6-9: Core 2 (220-1102)

• Watch Professor Messer Core 2 videos (16 hours)
• Practice Windows commands, troubleshooting scenarios (8 hours)
• Study security concepts, operational procedures (6 hours)
• Practice exams until scoring 85%+ (10 hours)
• Total: 40 hours

Week 10: Schedule and take Core 2 exam

• Final review (4 hours)
• Take exam ($246)

Total time: 80-90 hours over 10 weeks

Job Opportunities with CompTIA A+ (What You’ll Actually Earn)

Let’s be realistic about what jobs A+ qualifies you for and what they pay.

Entry-Level Roles A+ Helps You Land

1. Help Desk Technician / IT Support Specialist

• Salary: $40K-$55K (varies by location and company size)
• What you do: Answer phone/email support tickets, troubleshoot user issues, password resets, software installation
• Remote options: Yes, many help desk roles are remote post-2020
• Who hires: Companies with 100+ employees, IT service providers, MSPs

2. Desktop Support Technician

• Salary: $45K-$60K
• What you do: On-site computer setup, hardware repairs, imaging new PCs, supporting office users
• Remote options: Limited (hands-on work required)
• Who hires: Enterprises with large office locations, schools, hospitals

3. IT Technician / Junior System Administrator

• Salary: $50K-$65K
• What you do: Server maintenance, network troubleshooting, user support, backup management
• Remote options: Some hybrid opportunities
• Who hires: Small-medium businesses, schools, government

4. Geek Squad / Computer Repair Technician

• Salary: $30K-$45K (often hourly: $15-$22/hour)
• What you do: Consumer computer repair, virus removal, hardware upgrades, customer service
• Remote options: No (retail/on-site work)
• Who hires: Best Buy, local computer repair shops, Staples

What A+ Does NOT Qualify You For

❌ Cloud Engineer ($95K-$130K) - Requires cloud certifications (AWS, Azure) + experience ❌ DevOps Engineer ($110K-$150K) - Requires coding, CI/CD, containers knowledge ❌ Cybersecurity Analyst ($75K-$110K) - Requires Security+, networking knowledge, security tools experience ❌ Network Engineer ($80K-$110K) - Requires CCNA or Network+ + hands-on networking experience ❌ Software Developer ($85K-$120K) - Requires coding skills, degree or bootcamp, portfolio

A+ is your entry ticket, not your destination. Think of it as getting a foot in the door at $45K-$55K, then climbing to $80K-$120K over 3-5 years with experience + additional certifications.

CompTIA A+ Pass Rate and Exam Difficulty

Official pass rate: CompTIA doesn’t publish exact pass rates, but industry estimates suggest:

• First-time pass rate: 60-70% (for people who study properly)
• Overall pass rate: 80-85% (including retakes)

What this means:

• A+ is passable but not a guaranteed pass
• Proper preparation matters (don’t just wing it)
• Most people who fail did inadequate preparation (under 40 hours study)

Common reasons people fail A+:

1. Under-studying: Cramming 2 weeks before exam instead of 8-10 weeks structured study
2. Skipping practice exams: Taking real exam without practicing timed tests
3. Memorizing without understanding: Knowing “RAID 5 is striping with parity” but not understanding when to use it
4. Weak troubleshooting methodology: Can’t apply troubleshooting steps to real scenarios
5. Test anxiety: Panicking during exam, misreading questions

How to ensure you pass: ✅ Study 60-100 hours (depending on background) ✅ Take 3-5 full-length practice exams, scoring 85%+ before booking real exam ✅ Practice performance-based questions (simulations) ✅ Review exam objectives PDF and ensure you’ve studied every topic ✅ Get hands-on: Open a computer, practice Windows commands, set up a home network

Alternatives to CompTIA A+ for 2025

If you’re unsure about A+, consider these alternatives:

Option 1: Google IT Support Professional Certificate (Coursera)

Cost: $49/month (typically complete in 3-6 months = $150-$300) Study time: 100-150 hours What it covers: Similar to A+ (troubleshooting, networking, OS, security) but more beginner-friendly Pros: Cheaper, includes hands-on labs, recognized by Google + partners Cons: Less industry recognition than CompTIA A+, newer certification Best for: Absolute beginners wanting cheaper alternative to A+

Option 2: CompTIA Network+ (Skip A+, Go Straight to Network+)

Cost: $358 (one exam) Study time: 80-100 hours What it covers: Networking (deeper than A+ networking section) Pros: Network+ leads to higher-paying roles ($60K-$80K), still entry-level acceptable Cons: Harder than A+, more focused (networking only, not general IT) Best for: People interested in networking specifically

Option 3: AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner

Cost: $100 Study time: 30-40 hours What it covers: AWS cloud basics (not hardware or traditional IT) Pros: Cheaper, faster, leads to cloud career path ($95K-$120K) Cons: No hardware/troubleshooting knowledge, very high-level Best for: People targeting cloud engineering (not help desk)

Option 4: Build Portfolio + Apply Without Certification

Cost: $0 Time: 100-150 hours building projects What you do: Set up home lab, build website, automate tasks, document on GitHub Pros: Free, demonstrates hands-on skills, stands out Cons: Harder to get past HR filters, requires self-direction Best for: Self-starters targeting cloud/DevOps roles (not traditional help desk)

The Bottom Line: Is CompTIA A+ Worth It in 2025?

Here’s my direct advice:

Get CompTIA A+ if:

• You have ZERO IT experience and want structured learning path
• You’re career changing from non-technical field (retail, hospitality, admin) to IT
• Job postings you want require or prefer CompTIA A+
• You’re 18-22 with no work experience (A+ differentiates you)
• You’re military transitioning to civilian DoD IT roles

Skip CompTIA A+ if:

• You have 2+ years IT support experience (get Network+ or cloud cert instead)
• You have CS/IT degree (move to advanced certifications)
• You’re targeting cloud, DevOps, or software development (wrong certification path)
• You can self-study and build portfolio projects (better ROI for modern IT)

My recommendation for most people:

• Career changers with zero IT background: Get A+ → land $45K-$55K help desk job → work 12-18 months → get Network+ or AWS → move to $70K-$90K role
• People with IT experience: Skip A+, get Network+ or AWS Solutions Architect Associate
• People targeting cloud/DevOps: Skip A+, learn cloud (AWS/Azure) and get cloud certification

CompTIA A+ isn’t outdated. It’s foundational. If you need a foundation, it’s worth it. If you’re past foundations, move to next level.

You’ve got this. Start today.