A+ vs Network+ (2026): Differences & Which First

CompTIA A+ and CompTIA Network+ sit next to each other in almost every IT-certification roadmap, and candidates routinely ask which one to start with. They are not interchangeable: they certify different skills, follow different exam structures, and fit different points in a career. Here is how they actually compare, using only the published exam specifications.

What each certification is for

According to CompTIA, A+ is an entry-level IT certification and the industry standard for launching an IT support career. It is earned by passing two separate exams: Core 1 (220-1201), which focuses on hardware and networking, and Core 2 (220-1202), which focuses on operating systems and security. In other words, A+ is deliberately broad — it certifies that you can support the whole desktop environment, from physical components to the software running on them.

Network+ is CompTIA's dedicated networking certification. Where A+ treats networking as one slice of a generalist's job, Network+ makes the network itself the entire subject. The current exam carries the code N10-009. If your target role is network technician or network administrator rather than helpdesk or desktop support, Network+ is the credential that speaks directly to that job.

The structural difference: two exams vs. one

The single biggest practical difference is workload. A+ certification requires passing two separate exams — Core 1 and Core 2 — and CompTIA allows candidates to take them in any order. Network+ is a single exam. That means the A+ path involves two test sittings, two preparation cycles, and two passing scores to clear, while Network+ is one sitting.

The per-sitting format is nearly identical across all three tests. Each A+ exam contains a maximum of 90 questions with 90 minutes allowed per exam, and the Network+ exam likewise contains a maximum of 90 questions with 90 minutes to complete it. So the pacing challenge — roughly a question a minute before accounting for performance-based items — feels the same in the room. What differs is the passing bar and the scale it sits on:

• A+ Core 1 (220-1201): passing score of 675 on a scale of 900
• A+ Core 2 (220-1202): passing score of 700 on a scale of 900
• Network+ (N10-009): passing score of 720 on a scale of 100–900

These are scaled scores, not percentages of questions answered correctly, and the scales are defined per exam — so a 720 on Network+ is not directly comparable to a 700 on Core 2. Treat each number only as the bar for its own exam.

On fees, neither exam's pricing is covered here; check CompTIA's current published pricing for both before budgeting, and remember the A+ path means paying for two exam vouchers rather than one.

What the A+ blueprints reveal about overlap

The A+ domain weightings explain why A+ is so often taken before Network+. Core 1 is organized into 5 content domains: Hardware and network troubleshooting is the heaviest at 28%, followed by Hardware at 25%, Networking at 23%, Mobile devices at 13%, and Virtualization and cloud computing at 11%. Notice that networking-related material — the Networking domain plus network troubleshooting — is a substantial share of Core 1. Passing Core 1 already forces you to build the foundational networking vocabulary that Network+ then develops in depth.

Core 2 is organized into 4 content domains: Operating systems and Security are the two heavyweights at 28% each, with Software troubleshooting at 23% and Operational procedures at 21%. Almost none of this is networking-specific, which is why Core 2 feels like a different exam from Network+ entirely.

Prerequisites and sequencing

Neither certification is formally locked behind the other — you can register for Network+ without holding A+, and vice versa. The sequencing question is really about readiness, not eligibility.

• A+ first makes sense if you are entering IT with little hands-on background. It is positioned by CompTIA as the entry-level starting point, and its 23% Networking domain gives you a running start on Network+ material later.
• Network+ first (or only) makes sense if you already have hands-on support experience and your target role is specifically network-focused. Studying broad hardware, mobile-device, and operating-system content you already know delays you from the credential your job posting actually names.
• Both is a coherent path for candidates aiming at generalist-to-network career progression — but plan for three total exam sittings (two for A+, one for Network+), each capped at 90 questions in 90 minutes.

One maintenance note in A+'s favor for planners: CompTIA A+ is valid for three years from the certification date, and it may be renewed by earning Continuing Education Units (CEUs) without retaking the exam — so passing twice up front does not mean re-testing twice every cycle.

What's on the other side of either exam

Both certifications point at the IT support and infrastructure job market. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, computer user support specialists — the classic A+-aligned occupation — number 717,190 jobs nationally, with a median annual wage of $61,860 and a 90th-percentile wage of $100,540. The spread between the 10th percentile at $40,980 and that 90th-percentile figure is a reminder that certifications are an entry ticket; specialization and experience drive the upper end.

Verdict: match the exam to your situation

• Career changer with no IT experience: start with A+. It is the entry-level industry standard, and its two-exam structure lets you split the material into a hardware/networking half and an OS/security half.
• Helpdesk tech aiming at a network role: go to Network+. A single 90-question, 90-minute exam with a 720 passing bar gets you the credential that matches the job title.
• Student building a long-term stack: take Core 1 first (its networking content is your bridge), finish Core 2, then roll into Network+ while the networking material is fresh.
• Experienced admin who needs a résumé credential fast: Network+ alone is one sitting; A+ is two. Pick based on which job description you are answering, not on which exam is "better."

Whichever path you choose, calibrate before you book: take a free A+ practice exam to see how the 90-questions-in-90-minutes pacing actually feels.