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CompTIA · Networking

Network+

How networks connect: addressing, protocols, network devices, operations, security and troubleshooting.

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Understand the subject

How networks connect: addressing, protocols, network devices, operations, security and troubleshooting.

Apply it to the work

Useful in support or junior infrastructure work when you need to narrow down a connectivity problem before blaming the application.

Build practical evidence

Practise following traffic from a device to a service. Learn what DNS, DHCP and a default gateway each do by breaking and restoring them in a lab.

What you will learn to do

Understand the subject

How networks connect: addressing, protocols, network devices, operations, security and troubleshooting.

Apply it to the work

Useful in support or junior infrastructure work when you need to narrow down a connectivity problem before blaming the application.

Build practical evidence

Practise following traffic from a device to a service. Learn what DNS, DHCP and a default gateway each do by breaking and restoring them in a lab.

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

V9 (N10-009) launched on 20 June 2024. CompTIA states retirement as usually three years after launch and gives 2027 as an estimate rather than a published date, so treat the end of the window as unconfirmed.

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.

Costs and renewal

Exam cost
£249
Exam format
Exam format not yet verified — check the vendor's exam page
Keeping it current

Renew every 3 years with 30 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$150 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.

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

Recommended prior knowledge

  • None

Common misconceptions

  • Network+ 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.
Alternatives and related certifications

Where this fits

  • None required
This cert
Network+
  • Top of this lane

Alternative routes

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

  • CCNA
    Common follow-on or adjacent credential, see the graph for full lineage.
  • Security+
    Common follow-on or adjacent credential, see the graph for full lineage.

Adjacent & overlapping

  • CCNA
  • Security+
Career outcomes and limitations

Realistic first roles

Networking foundations across platforms

How people actually get here

    Real-world career variations

    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 Network+
    Learning pathProvider source

    CompTIA Network+ Official Study Resources

    Reading

    Check the resource provider for current local pricing
    View resource
    CourseProvider source

    CompTIA CertMaster Learn for Network+

    Interactive

    Check the resource provider for current local pricing
    View resource
    PracticeProvider source

    CompTIA CertMaster Practice for Network+

    Quiz

    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.

    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)
    Two worked troubleshooting recordsScope and inputs
    Layered diagnostic decision treeDecisions and reasoning
    Evidence record (example)
    EvidenceWhat to capture
    Two worked troubleshooting recordsShow the inputs, scope and decisions behind this record. Tests separate name resolution from packet delivery.
    Layered diagnostic decision treeInclude the evidence supporting your conclusion. The final validation includes both address-based and name-based access.

    Separate a DNS failure from a connectivity failure

    A user can reach a test service by address but not by name. Another machine cannot reach it either way. Both tickets say “the network is down”.

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

    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.