CompTIA A+ Certification: 90-Day Study Plan to Pass 2026

CompTIA A+ is the world’s most recognized entry-level IT certification, requiring two exams — Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202) — that test hardware, networking, operating systems, security, and troubleshooting skills. This guide gives career changers and new technicians a concrete 90-day study plan, full domain breakdowns, and home lab setups to pass both exams on the first attempt in 2026.

What the CompTIA A+ Exams Cover

The A+ is unique among CompTIA credentials because it demands two separate exams. You can take them in any order, but both must come from the same version (V15) — mixing versions is not allowed. Each exam costs $246 USD, runs 90 minutes with a maximum of 90 questions, and includes performance-based questions (PBQs) at the start. The certification is valid for three years and renews through CompTIA’s Continuing Education (CE) program. According to CompTIA’s official A+ page, the credential maps directly to help desk, desktop support, and field service technician roles.

Why does A+ still matter in 2026? It is listed in the U.S. DoD 8140 directive for government IT support roles, and it remains the most commonly requested credential in entry-level IT job postings — well ahead of any single vendor-specific certification at that level. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 6% growth for computer support specialists from 2023 to 2033, faster than the average for all occupations, translating to roughly 62,700 average annual openings with median salaries of $60,340–$73,340 as of May 2024.

Core 1 Domain Breakdown and Weighting

Core 1 (220-1201) is the hardware and infrastructure half of the certification. It tests your ability to identify, install, configure, and troubleshoot physical and network components. The 2026 V15 refresh shifted emphasis toward modern endpoints, wireless performance, virtualization concepts, and realistic troubleshooting scenarios rather than rote memorization of legacy specifications. For a full breakdown of what changed in the V15 update, see our CompTIA A+ V15 exam guide.

Domain	Weighting	Key Topics
1. Mobile Devices	15%	Laptop components, tablets, smartphones, mobile OS, accessories
2. Networking	20%	TCP/IP, IPv4/IPv6, DHCP, DNS, ports, 802.11 standards, cable types
3. Hardware	25%	DDR4/DDR5 RAM, NVMe/M.2 storage, CPUs, motherboards, PCIe, printers
4. Virtualization and Cloud	11%	Hypervisors (Type 1 vs Type 2), VMs vs containers, IaaS/PaaS/SaaS
5. Hardware and Network Troubleshooting	29%	7-step methodology, diagnosing RAM/CPU/storage failures, wireless

The numbers tell you where to spend your time. Hardware and Network Troubleshooting at 29% is the single heaviest domain — candidates who memorize hardware specs but skip troubleshooting scenarios consistently fail. Combine Networking (20%) and Hardware (25%) with that troubleshooting domain, and those three areas account for 74% of the exam. The passing score is 675 out of 900, according to CertLand’s Core 1 study guide, which cites official CompTIA objectives.

A practical approach: learn the CompTIA 7-step troubleshooting methodology cold. The steps are: identify the problem, establish a theory of probable cause, test the theory, establish a plan of action, implement the solution, verify full system functionality, and document findings. Almost every PBQ in Core 1 rewards structured thinking over guesswork.

Core 2 Domain Breakdown and Weighting

Core 2 (220-1202) is the software, security, and operations half. It tests operating system installation and management, security fundamentals, software troubleshooting, and the operational procedures that govern a professional IT environment. The 2026 update added more weight to Windows 11 features, endpoint security, Linux/macOS support, and basic AI literacy concepts.

Domain	Weighting	Key Topics
1. Operating Systems	31%	Windows 11, macOS, Linux, file systems, command-line tools, mobile OS
2. Security	25%	Malware types, authentication, MFA, encryption, SOHO security
3. Software Troubleshooting	22%	OS issues, application failures, malware removal, mobile problems
4. Operational Procedures	22%	Documentation, change management, safety, professionalism, scripting

Operating Systems at 31% dominates Core 2. Expect questions on Windows command-line utilities (ping, ipconfig, netstat, tracert, nslookup), file systems (NTFS vs FAT32 vs ext4), and the difference between features like Windows Hello, BitLocker, and TPM. The passing score here is 700 out of 900 — slightly higher than Core 1. The three highest-ROI study topics across both exams, according to IT Study Hub’s 9-week plan, are ports and protocols, the CompTIA troubleshooting methodology, and malware types plus the standard removal process.

Build a Practical Home Lab

Reading study guides alone will not get you through the performance-based questions. You need hands-on time with real hardware, operating systems, and network configurations. The good news: a capable A+ lab costs under $200 if you already own a mid-range PC. The bad news: most candidates skip this step and pay for it on exam day.

Minimum lab setup:

A desktop or laptop with 16 GB RAM, a 512 GB SSD, and virtualization enabled in BIOS (Intel VT-x or AMD-V).
VMware Workstation Player (free) or Oracle VirtualBox (free) to run multiple VMs simultaneously.
A Windows 11 ISO (free from Microsoft) and an Ubuntu Desktop ISO (free) to practice dual-OS troubleshooting.
An old router and switch from eBay ($20–$40) for SOHO network configuration practice.
A SATA hard drive you can intentionally corrupt, format, and recover to practice storage troubleshooting.

With this setup, you can simulate the exact scenarios the exam tests: configure static and dynamic IP addresses, set up a guest Wi-Fi network with WPA3, run malware removal in a sandboxed VM, practice disk partitioning, and walk through the 7-step troubleshooting methodology on a real failure. If you cannot source physical gear, GNS3 and Packet Tracer (free from Cisco Networking Academy) cover the networking side, and any cloud provider’s free tier lets you spin up Linux instances for command-line practice.

Your 90-Day Study Plan

This plan assumes 1.5–2 hours of focused study per day, six days a week. It front-loads Core 1 because the troubleshooting methodology learned there carries directly into Core 2. Adjust pacing to your background — career changers from non-technical fields should add two weeks for fundamentals.

Weeks 1–2: Core 1 foundations. Watch Professor Messer’s free Core 1 video course (professormesser.com) at 1.25x speed while taking handwritten notes. Focus on Domain 3 (Hardware) and Domain 2 (Networking). Build flashcards for port numbers (HTTP 80, HTTPS 443, DNS 53, DHCP 67/68, RDP 3389, SMTP 25, FTP 20/21, SSH 22, SNMP 161, SMB 445) and 802.11 wireless standards.

Weeks 3–4: Core 1 deep dive. Tackle Domain 5 (Hardware and Network Troubleshooting, 29%) — this is where most points live. Practice the 7-step methodology on your lab hardware. Set up your VMs and run through common failure scenarios: bad RAM (memtest86), failing storage (chkdsk, SMART tools), network drops (ipconfig /release and /renew), and display issues.

Week 5: Core 1 practice exams. Switch entirely to practice tests. Use Jason Dion’s practice exams on Udemy and the official CompTIA CertMaster practice. Target 85%+ on three consecutive full-length tests before scheduling Core 1. Review every missed question and trace it back to the objective it tests.

Week 6: Take Core 1. Schedule through Pearson VUE, either at a testing center or online with OnVUE proctoring. Arrive early, tackle PBQs first but do not get stuck — flag and move on.

Weeks 7–9: Core 2 operating systems and security. Focus on Domain 1 (Operating Systems, 31%) and Domain 2 (Security, 25%). Spend serious lab time in Windows 11: practice using Event Viewer, Task Manager, MSConfig, Registry Editor, and the command line. Learn the standard malware removal sequence: identify, quarantine, disable system restore, remediate, schedule scans, enable protections, educate the user.

Week 10: Core 2 practice exams. Same approach — Dion and CertMaster practice tests to 85%+ consistency. Pay special attention to operational procedures, which trip up technical candidates who underestimate documentation and professionalism questions.

Weeks 11–12: Take Core 2 and finalize. Schedule and pass Core 2. You now hold the full CompTIA A+ certification.

Performance-Based Questions: How to Win

Performance-based questions (PBQs) are interactive simulations that appear at the start of each exam. Instead of choosing from four options, you might drag network devices into the correct positions in a diagram, configure IP settings in a simulated Windows interface, match cable types to use cases, or order the steps of the troubleshooting methodology. PBQs take longer than multiple-choice questions and carry significant weight.

The most important PBQ strategy: flag and move on. PBQs appear first, and getting stuck on a single simulation while the clock burns is one of the most common ways candidates run out of time on straightforward multiple-choice questions later. Read the PBQ, attempt it quickly, then flag it and proceed to the multiple-choice section. You can return to flagged PBQs at the end with whatever time remains.

Second strategy: read the prompt twice before touching anything. PBQs often include constraints hidden in the instructions — “use the lowest-cost solution” or “minimize downtime” — that change the correct answer. Candidates who jump straight to clicking through the simulation frequently miss these requirements. Finally, practice with PBQ-style content. The official CompTIA CertMaster Labs and ExamCompass free PBQ drills both simulate the format closely enough to build muscle memory.

Best Study Resources That Actually Work

Not all study materials are worth your money. After surveying what consistently produces first-attempt passes, a clear hierarchy emerges. Mix one primary video source, one text guide, and one practice-exam bank — spreading yourself across a dozen resources dilutes focus.

Professor Messer video courses (Free): The gold standard for A+. Concise, exam-aligned, and updated for V15. Stream free at professorsormesser.com or on YouTube. Start here.
Jason Dion practice exams (Udemy, ~$15): The closest simulation of real exam difficulty. Explanations on every answer teach you the reasoning, not just the fact.
CompTIA CertMaster Learn + Labs (Paid): Official content from CompTIA. Expensive (~$400+), but the PBQ-style labs mirror the exam format precisely.
All-in-One CompTIA A+ Certification Exam Guide (McGraw-Hill): The exam reference book by against the official objectives. Dense but comprehensive — use as a reference, not a cover-to-cover read.
Crucial Exams and ExamCompass (Free): Free practice question banks for drilling specific domains. Good for quick daily review, weaker for full-exam simulation.

A note on brain dumps and exam dumps: avoid them entirely. They violate CompTIA’s exam policy, can get your certification revoked, and frequently contain wrong answers that hurt more than they help. The official CompTIA resources and reputable third-party providers listed above are all you need.

Exam Day Strategy and Common Pitfalls

The two hours you spend taking each exam matter as much as the weeks of study. Several recurring mistakes cost candidates their first attempt — most are avoidable with preparation.

Pitfall 1: Burning time on PBQs. As covered above, flag and move on. The multiple-choice section is where the majority of points live, and you need every minute for it.

Pitfall 2: Overthinking “best answer” questions. CompTIA exams often ask for the “best” or “next” step, not just any correct step. If two answers seem right, pick the one that matches the CompTIA methodology — not necessarily what a veteran technician would do in the field. The exam rewards textbook process over real-world shortcuts.

Pitfall 3: Neglecting operational procedures. Technical candidates routinely ace the hardware and OS sections but lose points on documentation, change management, and professionalism questions in Core 2. These seem like soft topics, but they carry 22% of Core 2 and are easy points if you study them.

Pitfall 4: Using outdated materials. The 220-1201/1202 exams replaced 220-1101/1102 in early 2025 with new emphasis on cloud, Windows 11, and security. If your study guide still references Windows 10 as current or omits Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and WPA3, you are studying for the wrong exam. ITU Online’s breakdown of the 2026 updates is a good cross-check against your materials.

On exam day, if testing online with OnVUE, prepare your workspace beforehand: clear the room, have only one monitor active, close all background applications, and have your ID ready. Technical issues with proctoring software are the leading cause of rescheduled online exams.

After A+: What Certification Comes Next

Earning A+ is the starting line, not the finish. Once certified, the natural progression depends on your career direction. For networking roles, CompTIA Network+ (N10-009) is the logical next step and overlaps heavily with Core 1’s networking domain — making it the lowest-friction second certification. For security-track careers, CompTIA Security+ (SY0-801) is the standard follow-up and satisfies DoD 8570 requirements for government and defense contracting roles.

For cloud-focused paths, the AWS Cloud Practitioner or Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) credential pairs well with A+ for hybrid support roles. For those targeting systems administration, the Linux Foundation Certified IT Associate (LFCA) or Microsoft’s AZ-104 build directly on A+ operating system skills. For a deeper look at the ROI question, see our analysis of whether CompTIA Security+ is worth it in 2026. The key decision: do not collect certifications aimlessly. Pick the track that matches the job postings you see in your target market, verify it with the CompTIA certification roadmap, and commit to a single next exam rather than juggling multiple.

With a $492 total investment and 90 days of focused study, CompTIA A+ remains the highest-leverage entry point into an IT career in 2026. The skills it validates — structured troubleshooting, multi-OS fluency, and security awareness — are the same skills employers screen for in every entry-level posting. Follow the plan, build the lab, and you will walk out of both exams certified.