CompTIA A+ vs Network+ 2027: Which Certification Should You Start With?

The short answer: A+ is the broad starting point for entry-level IT support. It covers hardware, operating systems, security and troubleshooting across two exams. Network+ goes deeper on networking in one exam. CompTIA says Network+ has no prerequisites but recommends A+ or equivalent knowledge and experience first. So start with A+ if you are new to IT or want a help desk job. Start with Network+ if you already have IT support experience and your goal is networking.

CompTIA’s own comparison says it plainly: “Neither certification is better as they serve two very different purposes.” This guide helps you decide which purpose matches yours. Advice labeled “EvolveSkill guidance” is our own editorial view. Statements attributed to CompTIA come from CompTIA pages, listed at the end.

Which should you choose?

Chapter 1: What each certification covers

A+ is two exams. CompTIA says you must pass Core 1 (hardware and networking) and Core 2 (operating systems and security), and you can take them in any order. Both must come from the same series. Network+ is one exam, and it is about networking from start to finish.

The domain weights show where the content differs:

Networking appears in both. In A+, it is one of five Core 1 domains at 23%. In Network+, the whole exam is networking, split across five domains.

Chapter 2: What CompTIA says about order and experience

CompTIA recommends A+ or equivalent knowledge and experience before Network+, but it does not require either one. Here is what its pages say:

• CompTIA’s blog says: “CompTIA Network+ has no prerequisites.”
• The same post adds: “it is recommended for IT professionals to possess the CompTIA A+ certification or equivalent knowledge and experience before pursuing CompTIA Network+.”
• The Network+ exam page lists the recommended experience as A+ plus 9 to 12 months of hands-on work in a junior network administrator or network support technician role.
• The A+ exam pages recommend 12 months of hands-on experience in an IT support specialist job role.

These are recommendations, not requirements. We found no CompTIA statement that A+ is required for Network+, and none that requires work experience for A+. “Or equivalent knowledge and experience” is CompTIA’s own wording, so experience can stand in for the A+ certificate. EvolveSkill view: that only works if you really have both the knowledge and the experience.

CompTIA also says the two “can go hand-in-hand and are designed to build upon each other.” Read that as a pairing, not a race. You can earn both, and you can also stop at the one that fits your job.

Chapter 3: Choose by background and goal

You are new to IT

Start with A+. It is the broadest exam, it is aimed at entry-level support roles, and CompTIA recommends A+ or equivalent knowledge before Network+. If your long-term goal is networking, A+ still gives you the base, and Core 1 already includes a networking domain.

You want help desk or desktop support

A+ matches the job. CompTIA names Help Desk Support Specialist as the A+ role. Core 1 covers hardware, mobile devices and troubleshooting, and Core 2 covers operating systems, security and software problems. Those are the tasks a support desk handles daily.

You want to work in networking

The answer depends on your experience. With no IT background, EvolveSkill guidance is to do A+ first, because CompTIA recommends A+ or equivalent knowledge and experience for Network+. With about a year in IT support or a network role, Network+ is the more direct step. It spends its whole scope on the networking skills that job needs.

You already work in IT

Compare your daily work with the experience CompTIA recommends. If you support users and devices but rarely touch networks, A+ may still fill gaps. If you already configure or troubleshoot networks, go to Network+. If you are a system administrator, Network+ lists your role, so check whether your work includes networking before deciding.

After you choose

EvolveSkill guidance: once you have picked a starting point, keep the next steps small.

• Open CompTIA’s page for your exam and read its exam objectives. They list what is tested.
• Check the exam code and series on that page (see Chapter 5), so your study material matches the exam you will sit.
• If you chose A+, plan for both Core 1 and Core 2. You can take them in either order, but both must come from the same series.

Book only after you have prepared, and make sure the exam code you book matches the exam you plan to take.

Chapter 4: Can you start with Network+?

Yes. CompTIA says Network+ has no prerequisites. Whether you should is a separate question.

EvolveSkill guidance: you are likely ready to start with Network+ if most of these are true.

• You have worked in IT support or a network role for about a year, which is close to the 9 to 12 months CompTIA recommends.
• You troubleshoot connectivity problems as part of your job.
• You can explain, in your own words, how devices on a small network get addresses and reach other networks.
• Your target role is a network support or administrator role.

If few of these apply, start with A+ or build equivalent hands-on experience first. Starting Network+ without that base can mean learning the basics and networking at the same time.

Chapter 5: Exam versions and timing for 2027

Check the exam code before you study or book.

• A+: the current series is V15, with Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202), both launched March 25, 2025. CompTIA’s pages say retirement is “usually three years after launch (estimated 2028).” You must pass both exams from the same series.
• Network+: the current exam is N10-009 (V9), launched June 20, 2024. CompTIA’s page gives the same phrase, “usually three years after launch,” with an estimate of 2027.

As of October 8, 2026, we found no CompTIA announcement of a Network+ replacement exam or a fixed retirement date for N10-009. An estimate is not a date. If you plan to sit Network+ in 2027, check CompTIA’s Network+ page for a retirement or launch notice before you buy study material or book. If you plan to start with A+, the estimate gives you more time, but you still need to finish both exams within one series.

Chapter 6: Common mistakes when choosing

• Treating A+ as one exam. It is two, and both must come from the same series.
• Choosing by prestige. CompTIA says neither is better. Choose by the job you want.
• Skipping A+ without the experience to replace it. CompTIA’s wording is “equivalent knowledge and experience.” Skipping works only if you have both.
• Ignoring the version. A study guide for a retired exam can send you after content that is no longer tested.
• Starting Network+ only for the networking label. If your target role is desktop support, A+ is the closer match.
• Planning every certification up front. Pick the first one by your current background. Choose the next after you have worked with the first.

Chapter 7: After your first certification

CompTIA’s A+ Core 1 page says the certification prepares you to pursue advanced certifications such as Network+ and Security+. EvolveSkill guidance: choose between them by the job you want next. Network+ points toward network and infrastructure roles. Security+ points toward security roles.

If you are heading toward Security+, note that CompTIA says its newest version, Security+ V8, is expected to launch on or around November 17, 2026. Our guide to how to pass Security+ on your first attempt (opens in a new tab) covers that exam.

CompTIA certifications expire three years from the certification date, and A+ and Network+ both require continuing education to renew.

FAQ

Is A+ required before Network+?

No. CompTIA says Network+ has no prerequisites. It recommends A+ or equivalent knowledge and experience first, plus 9 to 12 months of hands-on experience in a network support role. So you can skip the A+ certificate if you already have that equivalent knowledge and experience.

Should I get both A+ and Network+?

You do not have to. CompTIA says the two “can go hand-in-hand and are designed to build upon each other.” EvolveSkill guidance: earn both if your target role mixes support and networking, such as a network support technician role. If your goal is clearly on one side, start with the certification that matches it and add the other when the job calls for it. If you plan to earn both and you are new to IT, take A+ first, then Network+.

Can I take A+ Core 1 and Core 2 in either order?

Yes. CompTIA says you can take them in any order. Both exams must come from the same series to earn the certification.

How many exams does A+ have?

Two: Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202). Network+ has one exam, N10-009.

How long are the A+ and Network+ exams?

Each A+ exam and the Network+ exam allow up to 90 questions and 90 minutes. The questions include multiple-choice and performance-based items.

Which should I take first if I want a networking career?

If you are new to IT, A+ first is our guidance, because CompTIA recommends A+ or equivalent knowledge and experience before Network+. If you already have IT support experience, you can start with Network+.

Are the A+ and Network+ exams changing soon?

CompTIA lists an estimated retirement of 2027 for Network+ N10-009 and 2028 for A+ 220-1201 and 220-1202. These are estimates, and we found no announced replacement for either as of October 8, 2026. Check CompTIA before you book.

Do A+ and Network+ expire?

Yes. CompTIA certifications expire three years from the certification date, and A+ and Network+ require continuing education to renew.

Sources

CompTIA pages and posts used for facts in this guide, all accessed October 8, 2026.

• CompTIA A+ certification, A+ Core 1 (V15) and A+ Core 2 (V15)
• CompTIA Network+ certification
• Is CompTIA Network+ worth it? Benefits, cost, comparison and CompTIA A+ has two exams: what you need to know (CompTIA blog)
• CompTIA Security+ certification
• CompTIA certification renewal policy

EvolveSkill is an independent educational resource; certification names and program details belong to CompTIA.