CompTIA A+ Certification Review (2026)
Honest, in-depth review of the CompTIA A+ (Core 1 + Core 2) — what it actually covers, who it's for, and whether it's worth your time and money in 2026.
Yes — The CompTIA A+ (Core 1 + Core 2) Is Worth It
If you're displaced from any non-tech role and want guaranteed employment quickly, A+ is one of the safest bets. IT support hiring is consistent even in downturns.
The Bottom Line
A+ is the most reliable entry point into IT for career changers with no tech background. It's not glamorous, but IT support roles are plentiful and serve as launchpads to networking, security, and cloud roles.
Pros & Cons
- ✓DoD 8570 approved — can work in government IT
- ✓Required or preferred by Dell, HP, Intel, and most MSPs
- ✓Vendor-neutral — teaches foundational IT across all platforms
- ✓IT Help Desk jobs are everywhere — high employment rate
- ✓Entry point to entire CompTIA certification pathway
- ✓Professor Messer and Darril Gibson free study guides
- ✗Exam cost is $492 total — not cheap
- ✗Memorization-heavy — requires dedicated study
- ✗Entry-level salary starts low (~$40–50K)
- ✗No coding skills — different path than software development
Cost Breakdown
Who This Cert Is For
Career changers from customer service, logistics, admin, or any non-tech background looking for stable IT employment
Ready to get certified?
CompTIA A+ (Core 1 + Core 2) · CompTIA · $246 per exam × 2 = $492 total
Start CompTIA A+ (Core 1 + Core 2) →Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Alternatives to Consider
Get the full career pivot plan — free
Our Career Pivot Roadmap maps your background to the fastest path to re-employment — including which certs to stack and in what order.