CompTIA's three foundational certifications — A+, Network+, and Security+ — are often called the "CompTIA Trifecta." They appear on more entry-level IT job descriptions than any other vendor-neutral credentials. But they cost time and money, and most candidates can only commit to one at a time. So which one should you take first?
This guide compares all three on cost, difficulty, content, and job outcomes — and then gives a clear recommendation based on the role you want.
Quick Comparison
| Attribute | A+ (Core 1 + Core 2) | Network+ | Security+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current exam | 220-1201 & 220-1202 | N10-009 | SY0-701 |
| Number of exams | 2 (both required) | 1 | 1 |
| Voucher cost (USD) | ~$253 × 2 = $506 | ~$369 | ~$404 |
| Questions | 90 per exam | 90 | 90 |
| Duration | 90 min per exam | 90 min | 90 min |
| Passing score | 675 / 900 (Core 1), 700 / 900 (Core 2) | 720 / 900 | 750 / 900 |
| Recommended experience | 9–12 months IT support | 9–12 months networking | 2 years IT admin with security focus |
| DoD 8140/8570 baseline | Yes (IAT Level I & II) | Yes (IAT Level I) | Yes (IAT Level II, IAM Level I) |
| Validity | 3 years | 3 years | 3 years |
CompTIA A+: The Hardware & Helpdesk Cert
A+ is the only one of the three that requires two exams: Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202). You must pass both to earn the certification, and both vouchers cost roughly the same.
What's on the exam
- Core 1 (220-1201): Mobile devices, networking hardware, hardware troubleshooting, virtualization, and cloud computing basics.
- Core 2 (220-1202): Operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux), security, software troubleshooting, and operational procedures.
Who it's for
A+ is squarely aimed at helpdesk, desktop support, and field service technicians. If your first IT job involves swapping laptops, imaging machines, or troubleshooting printer drivers, A+ is the right starting point. It is the only cert of the three with significant content on physical hardware.
Career impact
According to CompTIA's 2024 job market data, the median US salary for an A+ certified helpdesk technician is around $50,000–$58,000. It is the most-requested cert in entry-level IT support job postings.
CompTIA Network+: The Networking Foundation
Network+ (N10-009, released June 2024) validates the vendor-neutral networking skills that every sysadmin, cloud engineer, and security analyst eventually needs.
What's on the exam
- Networking concepts and the OSI model
- IP addressing, subnetting, IPv6, and routing
- Wireless standards, VLANs, and switching
- Network services (DNS, DHCP, NTP)
- Modern topics: SDN, SD-WAN, cloud networking, zero-trust architecture, IPv6
- Troubleshooting methodologies and tools (Wireshark, tcpdump)
Who it's for
Anyone moving beyond helpdesk into a role that touches networks: NOC technician, sysadmin, junior network engineer, junior cloud engineer. It also serves as a strong prep for Cisco CCNA if you later go down the vendor-specific path.
Career impact
Median Network+ salary in the US sits around $72,000. It's a common requirement for roles at MSPs, telcos, and federal contractors.
CompTIA Security+: The Cybersecurity Gateway
Security+ (SY0-701) is the most career-defining of the three. It is a DoD 8570/8140 baseline for many US government and contractor positions, and it is the most commonly listed cert in entry-level cybersecurity job descriptions.
What's on the exam
- Threats, attacks, and vulnerabilities (including modern threats like supply chain attacks and AI-enabled phishing)
- Architecture and design (zero trust, cloud security, SASE)
- Implementation (cryptography, IAM, secure protocols)
- Operations and incident response
- Governance, risk, and compliance (GDPR, NIST, ISO 27001)
Who it's for
Aspiring security analysts, SOC tier-1 engineers, GRC analysts, and cloud security engineers. It's also a near-universal prerequisite for federal IT roles.
Career impact
Security+ holders earn a median US salary of about $84,000, with significantly higher ceilings in federal and defence contractor roles. It is the single best return-on-investment cert in the CompTIA stack.
Side-by-Side Difficulty Assessment
| Cert | Conceptual difficulty | Study time (no experience) | Pass rate (community-reported) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A+ (each exam) | Low–Medium | 4–8 weeks | ~70% |
| Network+ | Medium | 8–12 weeks | ~60% |
| Security+ | Medium–High | 10–14 weeks | ~55% |
Note: CompTIA does not publish official pass rates. The numbers above are aggregated from community surveys (Reddit r/CompTIA, Professor Messer poll data, exam compass studies).
Are CompTIA's Prerequisites Mandatory?
No. CompTIA recommends A+ before Network+ and Network+ before Security+, but none are enforced as hard prerequisites. You can sit Security+ as your first exam if you want to — and many career-changers do exactly that.
Recommended Order by Career Goal
If you want to work in helpdesk or desktop support
A+ first. The hands-on hardware and OS content directly matches the role. Network+ second if you plan to move beyond Tier 1.
If you want to be a sysadmin or network engineer
Network+ first, A+ optional. If you already have any IT experience or a CS degree, you can usually skip A+. Network+ is the cert that hiring managers care about for sysadmin tracks.
If you want to work in cybersecurity
Security+ first. This is the single highest-leverage cert in the CompTIA portfolio. If you have zero networking background, do Network+ first — but if you have any technical foundation, go straight to Security+.
If you want a US federal IT job
Security+ is essentially mandatory. DoD 8570 requires Security+ for IAT Level II positions, which covers the vast majority of federal IT contractor roles. Get this first.
If you're a career-changer with a non-IT background
A+ → Network+ → Security+ in that order. The full Trifecta gives you the strongest possible entry-level resume and takes about 9–14 months at part-time pace.
How They Renew
All three certifications are valid for 3 years and renew through CompTIA's Continuing Education (CE) program. Earning a higher-level CompTIA cert (e.g., CySA+ or CASP+/SecurityX) automatically renews your lower-level certs. Many candidates use this to keep the entire trifecta active by passing one new exam every couple of years.
Final Verdict
- Best ROI single cert: Security+
- Best starting cert with no IT background: A+
- Best for cloud or sysadmin pivot: Network+
- Best long-term combo: Network+ → Security+ (skip A+ if you have a degree or any tech experience)
If you can only afford one cert and you don't have a specific helpdesk job lined up, Security+ is almost always the right answer in 2026. The salary premium, job market depth, and federal compliance value outweigh the cost difference.