The fastest IT certification roadmap for a new technician runs from CompTIA A+ through Network+ to Security+, and each step has a specific, verified exam you can plan around. CompTIA A+ certification is the industry standard to start your IT career, and earning it requires passing two exams: Core 1, covering hardware and networking, and Core 2, covering operating systems and security, which can be taken in any order. From there, Network+ adds enterprise networking skills and Security+ opens the door to cybersecurity roles, with each credential carrying its own exam code, question count, and passing score that you should confirm before booking. This roadmap walks through that sequence with the current exam facts, a comparison table, and a preparation checklist so you can move from first exam to security career without wasted steps.
Why A+ comes first
The A+ certification exists to validate the baseline skills of a help desk or technical support role: hardware installation, troubleshooting, networking fundamentals, operating systems, security basics, and operational procedures. Because it is the entry credential that appears in more tech support job listings than any other IT qualification, it anchors the start of nearly every sensible IT certification roadmap. Employers posting support roles routinely list it as a filter requirement, so candidates without it struggle to reach interviews even when they have hands-on experience from personal projects or home labs.
Structurally, A+ is the only widely used entry credential that splits into two separate exams covering different domains, which affects both your study plan and your exam budget. You must pass both Core 1 and Core 2 to become certified, but the order is your choice, and many candidates with help desk experience take Core 2 first because its operating system and security content maps closely to daily support work. When preparing for Core 2 specifically, working through realistic practice material such as the CompTIA A+ Core 2 practice exam part 15 and the earlier Core 2 practice exam part 14 helps surface weak spots in operating system troubleshooting and security scenarios before exam day.
What Network+ covers
Network+ is the second step because security work, server administration, and cloud operations all assume fluency with IP addressing, routing, switching, wireless deployment, network documentation, and troubleshooting. The current Network+ exam is version V9, series code N10-009, launched on June 20, 2024, with a maximum of 90 questions, a 90-minute duration, and a passing score of 720 on a scale of 100 to 900. CompTIA recommends holding the A+ certification plus nine to twelve months of hands-on networking experience in a junior administrator or network support role before attempting it, which is a realistic gauge rather than a hard prerequisite.
The V9 objectives emphasize modern infrastructure: cloud service models, virtual networking, data center concepts, monitoring for high availability, and security hardening of network devices. Candidates coming straight from A+ often underestimate the depth of subnetting, routing protocol behavior, and configuration management questions, so budget extra lab time for those domains. Passing Network+ qualifies you for roles such as technical support specialist, network operations specialist, and system administrator under the NICE and DoD 8140 frameworks, which matters if you are targeting government or defense-adjacent employers.
Security+ and beyond
Security+ converts a generalist foundation into a cybersecurity credential, and it is the most widely requested security certification for entry-level analyst jobs. The Security+ exam is version V7, series code SY0-701, launched on November 7, 2023, with a maximum of 90 questions, a 90-minute duration, a passing score of 750 on a scale of 100 to 900, and an estimated retirement in 2026. That retirement estimate deserves attention on any roadmap: CompTIA typically retires exam versions about three years after launch, so candidates starting preparation late in a version’s life cycle should confirm the current exam series on CompTIA’s official page before purchasing training materials keyed to a specific code.
The V7 objectives weigh security operations most heavily at 28 percent, followed by threats, vulnerabilities, and mitigations at 22 percent, security program management at 20 percent, security architecture at 18 percent, and general security concepts at 12 percent. CompTIA recommends Network+ plus two years of experience in a security or systems administrator role, though many candidates pass with A+, Network+, and focused study. After Security+, the path forks by interest: CySA+ or the Xpert-level SecurityX for security careers, Cloud+ or CloudNetX for infrastructure, and Linux+ or Server+ for systems administration.
Exam facts compared
| Certification | Exam series | Version | Questions | Duration | Passing score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | Two exams (Core 1 and Core 2) | Current Core Series | Varies by exam | 90 minutes | Set per exam |
| Network+ | N10-009 | V9 | Maximum of 90 | 90 minutes | 720 of 100-900 |
| Security+ | SY0-701 | V7 | Maximum of 90 | 90 minutes | 750 of 100-900 |
CompTIA certification exams are administered through the testing provider Pearson VUE, which publishes current information about exam retirements and new launches so candidates can plan around version changes. All three credentials in this roadmap use a mix of multiple-choice and performance-based questions, which means you should practice in simulated environments rather than relying purely on memorization, because performance-based items require you to configure or troubleshoot within the exam interface itself.
A twelve-month roadmap plan
- Months 1-3: A+ Core 1. Study hardware, networking, mobile devices, and virtualization, using practice exams to confirm readiness before booking the real test.
- Months 4-6: A+ Core 2. Cover operating systems, security, and operational procedures, and apply for help desk or support roles as soon as you pass.
- Months 7-9: Network+ N10-009. Build a home lab or use simulated labs for subnetting, routing, and configuration management, aiming for the 720 passing score on practice runs.
- Months 10-12: Security+ SY0-701. Prioritize the security operations domain, confirm the exam version is still current, and target the 750 threshold with timed practice exams.
Before each booking, run through this checklist: verify the exam series code on CompTIA’s official certification page, confirm the retirement date has not moved closer, schedule the exam at a Pearson VUE center or via online proctoring, and review the objective domains weighted most heavily so your final study hours go where the points are. Following this sequence keeps each certification building on the last, produces a coherent resume narrative for employers, and positions you for a specialist track once Security+ is behind you.