The short answer
CompTIA A+ is aimed at first jobs in IT support. CompTIA names help desk support specialist as the A+ job role and says the two exams prepare you for roles like IT support specialist and help desk technician. The jobs it lines up with are help desk, desktop support and technical support roles, which the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) groups as computer user support specialists.
A+ won’t get you a job by itself, and some entry-level ads don’t require it. What it does is prove you know the material those jobs use. Whether an ad treats it as a must-have or a plus is something you can read in the ad, and each listing here shows it in the Entry Bar Check.
CompTIA A+ jobs at entry level
These are the roles A+ lines up with, using the names CompTIA, the BLS and O*NET use:
- Help desk technician or help desk support specialist. The role CompTIA names for A+. Tier 1 work: calls, chats and tickets, common fixes, escalation. See how to get a help desk job with no experience.
- IT support specialist. CompTIA names it alongside help desk technician.
- Desktop support technician. A title O*NET lists for computer user support specialists. The work leans on setting up and repairing equipment.
- Computer technician or computer support specialist. Also reported titles in O*NET’s profile of the occupation.
- Technical support specialist. CompTIA lists it among the DoD 8140 work roles A+ is approved for, together with system administrator and cyber defense infrastructure support specialist. That matters for Department of Defense and contractor jobs that cite the 8140 framework.
O*NET describes the occupation as providing technical assistance to computer users and answering questions or resolving computer problems “in person, via telephone, or electronically”. Its tasks include answering user questions about software and hardware, setting up equipment for employee use, and installing and repairing hardware, software and peripherals.
What comes after. The BLS says many computer support specialists advance to other IT positions, such as network and systems administrators or information security analysts. A+ is less specific to those roles. Help desk to sysadmin covers the certifications CompTIA lists for system administrator roles, Network+ and Security+, and vendor options such as CCNA.
What CompTIA A+ covers
A+ takes two exams. CompTIA’s current versions (V15) launched on March 25, 2025:
| Exam | Code | Domains and weight |
|---|---|---|
| Core 1 | 220-1201 | Mobile devices 13%, networking 23%, hardware 25%, virtualization and cloud computing 11%, hardware and network troubleshooting 28% |
| Core 2 | 220-1202 | Operating systems 28%, security 28%, software troubleshooting 23%, operational procedures 21% |
Each exam has a maximum of 90 questions, multiple-choice, drag-and-drop and performance-based, in 90 minutes. The passing score is 675 for Core 1 and 700 for Core 2, both on a scale of 900. CompTIA recommends 12 months of hands-on experience in an IT support specialist job role, and says you can take the two exams in either order.
Read the domain list as a job description. Troubleshooting is the largest part of Core 1 and security and operating systems lead Core 2, which matches the BLS description of the work: diagnosing users’ problems, guiding them through the fix, and setting up or repairing equipment.
CompTIA A+ jobs salary: what the BLS reports
The BLS does not report pay by certification, so there is no official “A+ salary”. The closest figures are for the occupations A+ is aimed at, from May 2025:
| Occupation (BLS name) | Median annual pay | Lowest 10% earned less than | Highest 10% earned more than |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer user support specialists | $61,860 | $40,980 | $100,540 |
| Computer network support specialists | $76,220 | $47,120 | $127,780 |
A median covers every experience level, so it is not a starting salary.
CompTIA A+ jobs remote
Some A+ roles can be remote, but not all. The BLS says some computer support specialists are able to telework, while others must be onsite or travel to clients’ locations. Support given by phone, chat and remote access tools can be done from home. Desktop support, which means hands on hardware, generally can’t.
Remote ads may limit the states or time zones they hire in, set evening or weekend shifts, or ask for a home setup such as a wired connection. The remote entry-level page lists remote ads whose must-haves don’t include a degree or a stated number of years of experience.
Must-have or nice-to-have: how ads list A+
Ads ask for A+ in three different ways, and they mean different things:
- “CompTIA A+ required” or listed under required qualifications. A must-have. You need it when you apply. The Entry Bar Check gives these ads level 2, “Cert required”, unless something harder (experience or a degree) is also a must-have.
- “A+ preferred”, “a plus” or under preferred qualifications. A nice-to-have. The ad is open to you without it, and the Entry Bar Check does not raise the level for it.
- “Must obtain A+ within 90 days of hire.” You can earn it after you start. The check doesn’t count it as “Cert required”, because you don’t need it when you apply. Read how the employer supports it, for example paid exam vouchers or study time.
The entry-level IT jobs page shows ads at level 1 (Low) and level 2 (Cert required) together, so you can see which ones ask for a certification up front.
When A+ helps, and when it may not
A+ is most useful when:
- The ads you want list it as a must-have, or say “within 90 days”, so you start ahead.
- You have no IT work history and need something on your resume that shows you know the basics.
- You are applying to roles that cite DoD 8140, where CompTIA lists A+ as approved for certain work roles.
It may not be the best next step when:
- The ads you want list it only as a plus, and you could spend the time building a home lab or a short portfolio of fixes you have written up.
- You already have support experience. Then the ads for the next role, such as junior sysadmin, are the better guide to which certification to take.
The Google IT Support Professional Certificate on Coursera is another starting point. Coursera says it requires no prior experience, takes about 3 months at 10 hours a week, and prepares you for the A+ exams, with a dual credential when you complete both.
Keeping A+ current
CompTIA certifications are valid for three years from the date you earn them. You renew A+ through CompTIA’s continuing education program, for example with CompTIA CertMaster CE, another qualifying certification or preapproved training, before the three years are up. CompTIA estimates that the current exams will retire in 2028, usually three years after launch, so check which version is current before you book.
Sources
- CompTIA: A+, A+ Core 1 (220-1201), A+ Core 2 (220-1202) and CE renewal cycle, checked November 2026.
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Computer Support Specialists and Network and Computer Systems Administrators (pay data May 2025).
- O*NET OnLine: Computer User Support Specialists, 15-1232.00, checked November 2026.
- Google IT Support Professional Certificate on Coursera, checked November 2026.
Frequently asked
Can you get a job with just a CompTIA A+?
It can be enough for some entry-level support roles, but no certification guarantees a job. Employers also look at hands-on skills, communication and availability. CompTIA recommends 12 months of hands-on experience in an IT support job role before the exams, but it is a recommendation, not a requirement to sit them.
How long is CompTIA A+ valid?
Three years from the date you earn it. CompTIA renews it through its continuing education program. The current exams, 220-1201 and 220-1202, launched on March 25, 2025, and CompTIA estimates they will retire in 2028.
Do I need both A+ exams?
Yes. A+ takes two exams, Core 1 (hardware and networking) and Core 2 (operating systems and security). CompTIA says you can take them in either order.
Is A+ enough for a sysadmin job?
A+ is aimed at support roles rather than sysadmin work. CompTIA does list system administrator among the DoD 8140 work roles A+ is approved for, but the BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for network and computer systems administrators, and CompTIA lists system administrator as a work role for Network+ and Security+. See the help desk to sysadmin guide.