Posted on 04/01/2020 by Niko Venev
When employees wonder, “How long does it take to get an A+ certification?” they’re usually using shorthand to refer to CompTIA’s A+ certification. This entry-level certification has launched thousands of careers and is one of the important building blocks of a lucrative profession in information technology (IT). To understand how much time it will take for you to earn an A+ certification, you’ll have to consider the components of the exam, your personal knowledge of and experience with the concepts being tested, and your study habits.
Live CompTIA A+ Instructor-led Courses |
||
Course Title | Length | Price (USD) |
CompTIA A+ Prep | 5 days | $2,240 |
Self-Paced CompTIA A+ eLearning |
||
Course Title | Length | Price (USD) |
CompTIA A+ eLearning Bundle | 6 courses | $700 |
Currently, there are two components of the CompTIA A+ exam: the CompTIA A+ 220-1001 (Core 1) and 220-1002 (Core 2). In order to earn your certification, you’ll need to achieve a passing score on both exam components.
CompTIA A+ 220-1001 (Core 1) will test your understanding of:
The CompTIA A+ 220-1002 (Core 2) exam will test your knowledge of:
When assessing how long it will take you to earn an A+ certification, you’ll need to determine how much you really understand these concepts and estimate how much time it will take to learn any unfamiliar ones.
Some people take days to study for and pass the exams for A+ certification, but others require months to complete the same tasks. While the actual exams will only take about an hour and a half to complete, the preparation for these tests can last for months, depending on your knowledge of the concepts being tested and your work experience. For example, people who have nine months to a year of work experience in a relevant professional position may find that their preparation time will be shorter than a novice’s.
Regardless of where you are in your career, it’s important to devote enough time to understand all of the basic fundamentals and advanced concepts that you will be tested on. Honestly assess your knowledge retention throughout your study and preparation efforts. Then, sign up for one of our hands-on, instructor-led training courses to significantly reduce the amount of time that you need to prepare for these exams.
It’s worth noting that your education won’t end after you earn your CompTIA A+ certification. A CompTIA A+ certification will remain valid for three years after you earn it, but then, you’ll need to renew it to keep it active. If you opt not to renew, you may have to start the certification process from square one to earn this credential again.