CompTIA · Core IT / Platform
Build core skills in hardware, operating systems, troubleshooting and customer support.
Work through hardware, Windows and software symptoms using a repeatable troubleshooting process.
Practise basic connectivity, user access and everyday security settings in a safe local environment.
Check the result with the user, record what changed and leave a clear support handover.
Work through hardware, Windows and software symptoms using a repeatable troubleshooting process.
Practise basic connectivity, user access and everyday security settings in a safe local environment.
Check the result with the user, record what changed and leave a clear support handover.
Certification essentials
Check the vendor record and ongoing commitment alongside the career guidance.
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.
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.
Role-fit guidance is TechWaymark editorial interpretation. It is separate from the recorded vendor facts and does not measure hiring outcomes.
Renew every 3 years with 20 continuing education units (CEUs) and the CE programme fee, or an eligible exam or CertMaster CE course.
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 ↗Connect it to the work
See what the job involves and why this credential may support it.
Your next decision
Consider the work, the alternatives and your starting point.
A+ won't get you hired on its own. Some helpdesk and desktop-support vacancies name A+; check the actual requirement. It can structure foundational study, but it does not guarantee passing a screening filter or getting an interview. Pair it with a cheap home lab and one real piece of evidence. A fixed family laptop, a Windows reinstall write-up, a small ticket log, and it does the job it's meant to do.
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.
No single right path. These adjacent options reach similar roles.
Study resources
Choose the right mix for your goals and experience. Links below go to official and third-party resources.
Optional home projects
Ideas to explore after choosing a certification, using your own tools and keeping evidence of your work.
| Symptom | Evidence to collect | Check after a change |
|---|---|---|
| Slow application launch | Elapsed time and resource use during the same action | Repeat the action under the original conditions |
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.
View project guideWhat 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.
