CompTIABeginnerCross-vendor
CompTIA A+ Core 1
Exam: 220-1201
First of two A+ exams. Covers mobile devices, networking hardware, virtualization, and hardware troubleshooting.
~2 mo prepPractice questions
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CompTIA IT Career Certification Roadmap
CompTIA certifications are the most recognised vendor-neutral IT credentials worldwide and the standard baseline for government and enterprise IT roles. This roadmap builds the traditional CompTIA stack — hardware and OS fundamentals, networking, security, and Linux — then shows you how to pivot into cloud or security specialisations using your CompTIA foundation.
5 phases · 10 certifications6–18 months
IT Support TechnicianHelpdesk AnalystNetwork TechnicianSystems AdministratorSecurity Analyst
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1
Phase 1 — IT Fundamentals: Hardware & OS
The CompTIA A+ is the industry standard entry-level IT credential. It is split across two exams — Core 1 (hardware) and Core 2 (OS and troubleshooting). You must pass both to earn the cert.
After this phase: You can install, configure, troubleshoot, and support hardware, operating systems, and end-user devices.
CompTIABeginnerCross-vendor
CompTIA A+ Core 2
Exam: 220-1202
Second of two A+ exams. Covers Windows, macOS, Linux, security, and operational procedures.
~2 mo prepPractice questions
2
Phase 2 — Networking
Networking knowledge is foundational for every IT role above helpdesk. CompTIA Network+ is the vendor-neutral standard.
After this phase: You can explain TCP/IP, subnetting, DNS, DHCP, VLANs, wireless, and common network troubleshooting methodologies.
CompTIAIntermediateCross-vendor
CompTIA Network+
Exam: N10-009
The vendor-neutral networking cert. Required or strongly recommended for most sysadmin and cloud networking roles.
~3 mo prepPractice questions
3
Phase 3 — Security
Security+ is the single most important CompTIA cert for career progression. It is a DoD 8570 baseline and required for many government and enterprise roles.
After this phase: You understand cryptography, identity and access management, network security, threat detection, and security operations.
CompTIABeginnerCross-vendor
CompTIA Security+
Exam: SY0-701
The most widely required vendor-neutral security cert. Opens doors to cloud security, SOC, and GRC roles.
~3 mo prepPractice questions
4
Phase 4 — Specialise: Linux, Cloud, or AI
Once you have A+, Network+, and Security+, pick the specialisation that matches your career direction.
After this phase: You have a specialisation — Linux administration, cloud operations, or AI security — on top of your core CompTIA stack.
CompTIAIntermediateCross-vendor
CompTIA Linux+
Exam: XK0-006
Vendor-neutral Linux administration cert. Covers scripting, containers, and system management.
~3 mo prepPractice questions
CompTIAIntermediateCross-vendor
CompTIA Cloud+
Exam: CV0-004
Vendor-neutral cloud operations cert. Useful before or alongside a cloud associate cert (AWS/Azure/GCP).
~3 mo prepPractice questions
CompTIAIntermediateCross-vendor
CompTIA SecAI+
Exam: CY0-001
Brand-new cert focused on AI-augmented security operations. Relevant for SOC analysts entering AI-driven environments.
~2 mo prepPractice questions
5
Phase 5 — Advanced Security
For security professionals moving into senior analyst, threat hunter, or penetration tester roles.
After this phase: You can perform threat detection, security analytics, vulnerability assessment, or penetration testing at a practitioner level.
CompTIAIntermediateCross-vendor
CompTIA CySA+
Exam: CS0-003
Blue-team analyst cert. Threat detection, SIEM, and vulnerability management. A step above Security+.
~3 mo prepPractice questions
CompTIAIntermediateCross-vendor
CompTIA PenTest+
Exam: PT0-003
Offensive security cert for penetration testing. Covers methodology, tools, and reporting.
~3 mo prepPractice questions
CompTIASpecialtyCross-vendor
CompTIA SecurityX
Exam: CAS-005
CompTIA's advanced practitioner cert — formerly CASP+. The senior CompTIA security credential.
~4 mo prepPractice questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need A+ before Network+ and Security+?
CompTIA recommends A+ first but does not enforce it as a hard prerequisite. If you already have IT experience, you can go straight to Network+ or Security+.
Is CompTIA Security+ enough to get a cybersecurity job?
It is often the minimum required cert for entry-level security roles and US government positions (DoD 8570). Most employers also want hands-on experience or a home lab. Pair it with a cloud security cert for better outcomes.
CompTIA Cloud+ or a cloud vendor cert (AWS/Azure)?
For a government or vendor-neutral IT role, Cloud+ is the better fit. For a job at a tech company running on a specific cloud, the vendor cert (AWS/Azure/GCP associate) is more valued. Many people do Cloud+ first, then a vendor cert.
Related Roadmaps
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Cloud Fundamentals Certification Roadmap
New to cloud? Start here. The fastest path to your first cloud certification on AWS, Azure, or GCP.
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Cloud Security Engineer Certification Roadmap
Move from general IT security into senior cloud security on AWS, Azure, or GCP — backed by vendor-neutral foundations.
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Cloud Native & Kubernetes Specialist Roadmap
Master the CNCF ecosystem — Kubernetes, service mesh, GitOps, observability, and platform engineering — from associate to specialist.