CompTIA A+ vs Network+ vs Security+: Coverage, Difficulty, and the Right Order

CompTIA A+ vs Network+ vs Security+: Which Should You Take First?

Take them in this order: A+, then Network+, then Security+. A+ covers foundational IT support - hardware, operating systems, and troubleshooting - across two exams. Network+ adds networking concepts and implementation. Security+ layers on cybersecurity. Difficulty rises at each step, so the sequence builds the knowledge each later exam assumes.

That order is CompTIA's own core progression, not just a study preference. None of the three carry a hard prerequisite, so an experienced professional can start higher up, but each exam is written assuming you already hold what the one below it teaches. The sections below break down coverage, difficulty, cost, and salary for each certification.

• •A+ (220-1201 and 220-1202): broad IT fundamentals, two required exams, the widest but shallowest.
• •Network+ (N10-009): a single exam on networking concepts, implementation, operations, and troubleshooting.
• •Security+ (SY0-701): a single exam on cybersecurity, the most conceptually demanding and highest-paying of the three.

What Does Each CompTIA Certification Cover?

The three certifications stack from broad fundamentals to specialized security. CompTIA A+ is the entry point and the only one that requires two exams. Core 1 (220-1201) covers hardware, mobile devices, networking basics, virtualization and cloud, and hardware and network troubleshooting. Core 2 (220-1202) covers operating systems, security, software troubleshooting, and operational procedures. You must pass both to earn the A+, which is why it is the widest certification of the three even though each individual topic stays at an introductory depth.

CompTIA Network+ (N10-009) is a single exam focused entirely on networking. Its domains are Networking Concepts (23 percent), Network Implementation (20 percent), Network Operations (19 percent), Network Security (14 percent), and Network Troubleshooting (24 percent). It assumes you already understand the hardware and OS basics that A+ teaches, then goes deeper on how networks are designed, run, and repaired.

CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) is also a single exam and pivots fully to cybersecurity. It covers general security concepts, threats, vulnerabilities and mitigations, security architecture, security operations, and security program management and oversight. Security+ is approved under the US Department of Defense 8140 and 8570 directives at IAT Level II, which makes it a frequent hiring requirement for government and contractor roles. The table below lines up exam codes, format, and passing scores side by side.

What do CompTIA’s official exam specs say in 2026?

CompTIA’s own certification pages give the exam-day specs that comparison charts tend to round off. A+ is on version V15: the Core 1 exam series code is 220-1201, launched March 25, 2025, with a maximum of 90 questions per exam — multiple-choice (single and multiple response), drag-and-drop, and performance-based — in 90 minutes, and a Core 1 passing score of 675 on the 900 scale. CompTIA also states that Core 1 and Core 2 must be taken from the same V15 version; mixing versions is not allowed.

Network+ is on version V9, series code N10-009, launched June 20, 2024: a maximum of 90 questions mixing multiple-choice and performance-based items, 90 minutes, and a passing score of 720 on the 100-900 scale, offered in English, German, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish.

Security+ is on version V7, series code SY0-701, launched November 7, 2023: a maximum of 90 questions, 90 minutes, and a passing score of 750 on the 100-900 scale, offered in English, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, and Thai. CompTIA notes exams usually retire about three years after launch — estimated 2026 for SY0-701 and 2027 for N10-009 — so check the series code on your voucher before you book.

How Do the Three Exams Compare on Difficulty?

Difficulty rises steadily across the three. A+ is the broadest but shallowest - you cover a lot of ground, from power supplies to printer settings, but rarely in great depth. The challenge is volume and the fact that you sit two separate exams, each up to 90 questions in 90 minutes. Many candidates find the sheer breadth, rather than any single hard concept, is what trips them up.

Network+ raises the bar by demanding that you reason about how networks behave - subnetting, routing, protocols, and troubleshooting methodology - rather than just recall facts. Security+ is the most conceptually demanding of the three. It asks you to think like a defender, weigh risk, and apply security principles to unfamiliar scenarios, which is harder to cram than a list of ports and protocols.

One thing that surprises first-timers: CompTIA reports exam results on a scaled score from 100 to 900, not a raw percentage. A+ Core 1 needs 675, Core 2 needs 700, Network+ needs 720, and Security+ needs 750. Those scaled scores do not map cleanly to a fixed percent-correct, so aiming for a comfortable margin on practice tests matters more than chasing an exact number. The Security+ study guide goes deeper on what the SY0-701 objectives actually test.

What Is the Right Order to Take A+, Network+, and Security+?

The recommended order is A+, then Network+, then Security+. This is CompTIA's own core progression: foundational, then intermediate networking, then security. Each exam is built on the assumption that you already hold the knowledge from the one before it. CompTIA's Security+ materials explicitly recommend earning Network+ first, and Network+ in turn recommends A+ plus hands-on experience.

None of these are hard prerequisites - there is no rule stopping you from sitting Security+ with no prior CompTIA certification, and experienced professionals sometimes skip A+ entirely. But the ordering exists for a reason. Security+ assumes you already understand how networks and operating systems work; if you do not, you will spend exam prep relearning fundamentals instead of focusing on security concepts.

For most people starting an IT career from scratch, the full sequence is the safest path: A+ to prove you can support end users and hardware, Network+ to show you understand infrastructure, and Security+ to open cybersecurity and DoD-aligned roles. If you already work in IT, you might start at Network+ or jump straight to Security+. Our guide on which CompTIA certification to take first walks through how to decide, and if networking is your focus, the CCNA vs CCNP comparison covers the Cisco alternative.

How Much Do the CompTIA Exams Cost?

Exam pricing is where you need to be careful. CompTIA's official certification-detail pages do not publish voucher prices, so every figure below comes from resellers, prep providers, or the CompTIA Store rather than a locked-in official rate on the cert page. As of 2026, secondary sources commonly cite about 253 US dollars per A+ exam - roughly 506 for both Core 1 and Core 2 - about 369 for Network+, and about 404 for Security+.

Treat those as approximate. CompTIA raises prices periodically, regional pricing differs, and bundles with practice tests or retake vouchers change the total. A+ is the most expensive certification to earn in raw voucher terms because it requires two exams, even though each individual voucher costs less than Network+ or Security+. Always confirm the current price at comptia.org/store before you register.

If you are budgeting a full A+ to Network+ to Security+ path, the three certifications together run well over a thousand US dollars in exam fees alone, before study materials. The CompTIA certification exam help hub covers what support is available if cost or a tight deadline is a concern.

What Salaries Do A+, Network+, and Security+ Lead To?

Salary figures for these certifications vary widely by source, method, and date, so treat every number as a range, not a promise. For CompTIA A+, the Infosec Institute A+ salary guide (2026) reports a median around 63,900 to 64,889 US dollars per year, with a range roughly from 40,000 to 90,000 depending on role and location. A+ tends to map to help desk and IT support roles.

CompTIA Network+ sits higher. ZipRecruiter (July 2026) reports an average around 73,938 dollars, while PayScale (2026) puts the median near 79,000 with a range from about 49,000 to 131,000. Security+ generally commands the most: PayScale (2026) reports an average base near 90,000 dollars, and StationX (2026) cites a 75,000 to 85,000 median. One ZipRecruiter Security+ figure of 58,519 (March 2026) is a low outlier that conflicts with the other sources.

The Security+ premium is driven partly by its DoD 8140 and 8570 approval at IAT Level II, which makes it a hard requirement for many government and defense-contractor jobs and therefore a strong salary lever. For a wider view of what pays best, see our roundup of the highest-paying IT certifications and the top IT certifications guide - and remember that experience, location, and specialization move these numbers far more than the certification alone.

How Should You Prepare for and Pass Each CompTIA Exam?

Preparation scales with the exam. For A+, the winning move is breadth - drill across both Core 1 and Core 2 objectives and get hands-on with real hardware and operating systems, because the exam rewards practical familiarity over memorization. For Network+, practice subnetting and work through troubleshooting scenarios until the methodology is automatic. For Security+, focus on understanding why a control exists, not just what it is called, because the questions are scenario-driven.

Use performance-based questions in your practice, since all three exams include them and they typically carry more weight than a single multiple-choice item. Sit full timed mocks under real conditions, and only book the exam once your practice scores clear the passing threshold with room to spare - CompTIA's scaled scoring means a thin margin on practice tests is risky.

If a certification deadline is real and the gap is genuine, Exam Assist supports CompTIA candidates on pay-after-pass terms - you pay only after you reach your target result. Message us with which certification you are sitting - A+, Network+, or Security+ - your registered date, and where you are weakest, and we will lay out your options confidentially. Exam Assist is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to CompTIA.