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CompTIA · Core IT / Platform

CompTIA A+

Build core skills in hardware, operating systems, troubleshooting and customer support.

View certification details
Diagnose devices and operating systems

Work through hardware, Windows and software symptoms using a repeatable troubleshooting process.

Connect and protect a workstation

Practise basic connectivity, user access and everyday security settings in a safe local environment.

Resolve the issue and explain the fix

Check the result with the user, record what changed and leave a clear support handover.

Level
Beginner

What you will learn to do

Diagnose devices and operating systems

Work through hardware, Windows and software symptoms using a repeatable troubleshooting process.

Connect and protect a workstation

Practise basic connectivity, user access and everyday security settings in a safe local environment.

Resolve the issue and explain the fix

Check the result with the user, record what changed and leave a clear support handover.

Certification essentials

Requirements, costs and keeping it current.

Check the vendor record and ongoing commitment alongside the career guidance.

Pricing view
Market

Vendor record

Live

V15 launched 25 March 2025. Core 1 and Core 2 must be taken from the same version. CompTIA states retirement is usually three years after launch, 2028 estimated, with no confirmed date.

Current name
CompTIA A+ V15
Previously
CompTIA A+ (220-1101 and 220-1102)
Exam code
220-1201 (Core 1) and 220-1202 (Core 2)
Vendor-stated experience
CompTIA recommends 12 months of hands-on experience in an IT support specialist role.

Source: CompTIA · Read 17 September 2026

Sourced fields only; this does not mean every exam detail has been verified. Pricing and renewal policies have their own sources and check dates. Confirm the currency, tax and final booking total with the vendor.

CompTIA A+ Core 1 and 2 Certification V15 CompTIA UK store

Role-fit guidance is TechWaymark editorial interpretation. It is separate from the recorded vendor facts and does not measure hiring outcomes.

Costs and renewal

Exam cost
£342 total (£171 per exam)
Exam format
Exam format not yet verified — check the vendor's exam page
Keeping it current

Renew every 3 years with 20 continuing education units (CEUs) and the CE programme fee, or an eligible exam or CertMaster CE course.

Renewal sources & exceptions

The CEU route costs US$75 in CE fees per 3-year cycle, not an annual fee. Passing the latest exam or an eligible higher CompTIA certification can renew without a separate CE fee; exam or course costs still apply. Check which lower certifications are covered.

Renewal policy checked 2026-09-28. Check the linked provider policy for current fees and eligibility.

Two exams required: £171 per voucher, £342 for Core 1 and Core 2 at one attempt each. UK storefront exam voucher only, quoted in GBP. Confirm VAT and the final booking total; training, retake assurance and renewal fees are separate. Vendor price checked 2026-09-24. Check the vendor record before booking.

Current vendor pricing source ↗
Preparation and practical skills
Practitioner take

A+ can structure foundational support study when hardware, operating systems and troubleshooting are new to you. Compare the complete two-exam cost with your learning gaps and the requirements of nearby support vacancies. Watch for: expecting a foundation credential to guarantee a first paid support role.

Editorial opinion about role fit. It is not a measured estimate of hiring success; vendor facts and prices are sourced separately.

Recommended prior knowledge

  • Basic comfort with a Windows PC
  • Willingness to take things apart
  • No prior IT experience required

Common misconceptions

  • CompTIA A+ may meet a named requirement; it does not guarantee shortlisting or replace documented work.

What this cert does NOT guarantee

  • Guaranteed interviews, a salary increase or proof of production experience.

Practical skills that matter

  • Hardware troubleshooting
  • Windows install & recovery
  • Basic networking
  • Mobile device support
  • Ticket handling vocabulary
Alternatives and related certifications

Where this fits

Prerequisites
  • None required
This cert
CompTIA A+
Stronger / next
  • Top of this lane

Alternative routes

No single right path. These adjacent options reach similar roles.

  • Skip straight to Network+
    If you already know Windows and have touched hardware, Network+ carries more operational weight.
  • Helpdesk first, cert later
    Many people land Tier-1 roles with no cert and pick A+ up while employed.
  • Microsoft MD-102
    More relevant if you're targeting a Microsoft-heavy desktop estate.

Adjacent & overlapping

Adjacent
  • net-plus
  • itil-4
  • md-102
Career outcomes and limitations

Realistic first roles

Helpdesk Analyst
Desktop Support Technician
IT Support Technician
Field Service Engineer

How people actually get here

  • Career changers
  • Retail / hospitality moving into IT
  • Recent school leavers
  • Self-taught tinkerers

Real-world career variations

Helpdesk
Desktop support
Field engineering
MSP first-line

Timeline expectations

  1. Months 0–2Foundation reading, concepts, vocabulary.
  2. Months 2–4Hands-on labs, documented home projects.
  3. Months 4–6Practice exams, weak-area drills, exam.
  4. Post-examUse target vacancies to guide applications and projects. There is no guaranteed time to a first role.

Study resources

Study options

Choose the right mix for your goals and experience. Links below go to official and third-party resources.

Guided study

Structured resources from established providers can help build knowledge and skills.

Compare study options →

Third-party providers. Commercial terms, pricing and availability apply.

Practice environments

Explore suitable environments for practical work. Check the tools, features and access you need.

Compare practice resources →

External resources. Check current costs and access requirements.

Resources are selected for relevance. Compare access, syllabus coverage and total cost; a listing does not imply a commercial partnership.

Compare the resources for CompTIA A+
Start with the foundations01

Professor Messer's A+ video courses

Free video courses for the 220-1201 and 220-1202 objectives. Work through both Core 1 and Core 2 and check gaps against the current syllabus.

Free resource; confirm current access termsStudy at your own pace; allow time for practice

Take notes, pause to try relevant tasks and use the current V15 course indexes. Video access checked 15 October 2026.

Find the Core 1 and Core 2 videos
Reinforce your understanding02

A spare laptop or disposable virtual machine

Practise user accounts, operating-system settings and troubleshooting in an environment you can safely reset. Use suitable physical hardware for hardware tasks.

Check the resource provider for current local pricingA weekend of tinkering, then ongoing

Use a spare device or VM, keep a recovery option and back up anything important. Do not practise destructive changes on someone's everyday computer.

Check your exam readiness03

A practice-question set for the current exam version

Use questions with explanations to identify gaps and practise applying the concepts. Check that the set covers the exam version you plan to take.

Check the resource provider for current local pricing

Review why an answer is right or wrong. A practice-test percentage is not a guarantee of passing the real exam.

Optional structured support04

An instructor-led course

Worth considering only if you've stalled and need accountability, or if your employer is paying.

Check the resource provider for current local pricing

Check the teaching format, instructor support and cancellation terms. Use a sample lesson to decide whether the structure helps you.

Explore the available learning resources

Provider source · Learning path

CompTIA A+ Official Study Resources

Check the resource provider for current local pricing

View resource
Provider source · Course

CompTIA CertMaster Learn for A+

Check the resource provider for current local pricing

View resource
Provider source · Practice

CompTIA CertMaster Practice for A+

Check the resource provider for current local pricing

View resource

Check the current syllabus, access terms and total cost before choosing. Resource inclusion does not guarantee exam success.

Before buying more study materials
  • Multi-thousand-pound IT bootcamps that bundle A+

    Compare the full cost, support, practical work and contract terms with a smaller study plan before committing.

  • All-in-one annual learning subscriptions

    Useful long-term, but overkill for a single beginner exam. Buy the one thing you need.

  • Older A+ books written for previous exam versions

    Objectives shift between versions. Out-of-date material teaches you things that won't be tested and may be wrong.

  • Paid 'exam dumps'

    Against CompTIA's terms, risks an exam ban, and doesn't actually teach you the job.

Optional home projects

Build something you can explain.

Ideas to explore after choosing a certification, using your own tools and keeping evidence of your work.

Example project evidence
Project evidence map (example)
Workstation baselineScope and inputs
Diagnostic screenshotsDecisions and reasoning
Change and verification recordChecks and limitations
Evidence record (example)
SymptomEvidence to collectCheck after a change
Slow application launchElapsed time and resource use during the same actionRepeat the action under the original conditions

Resolve a slow workstation

A fictional user reports that their computer has become slow. The support technician needs to isolate the cause and explain the resolution without making unnecessary changes.

Local lab Your own tools Evidence guidance
View project guide
Track this certification

What this is based on

Editorial route and career guidance. No separate external evidence review is recorded for this assessment.

Editorial evidence review: pending · UK market. Vendor facts and prices elsewhere on this page have their own sources and check dates.