CompTIA exam prep guide
The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is the world's most well-known provider of professional information technology (IT) and cloud-computing certifications. Learn which CompTIA certifications might benefit your career and how to prepare for the exam.
Should you prepare for a CompTIA exam?
CompTIA exam prep is critical to achieving a passing score and becoming certified. While each of the CompTIA exams requires a different percentage of correct answers for a passing score, your success rate is strongly linked with the time and effort you spend preparing for the test.
Employers commonly require CompTIA A+, Network+, or Security+ test scores for IT and computer science jobs.
Experience is still key when it comes to fields like infrastructure, cybersecurity, and big data. While CompTIA exam prep is especially important for entry- or mid-level IT jobs, senior-level professionals with established expertise in a test subject might not need as much prep.
How you prepare for a CompTIA exam also depends on the specific test and certification you choose.
CompTIA certifications
CompTIA offers a variety of certification exams, organized according to the most common career paths of CompTIA testers. Core certifications can be stacked or combined with certifications in a career specialization.
Certifications are listed in ascending order of expertise within each of the following categories:
- Core: Ideal for entry- and mid-level IT professionals in a variety of subfields
- ITF+
- A+
- Network+
- Security+
- Infrastructure: Ideal for managed service providers and cloud IT service providers
- Server+
- Linux+
- Cloud+
- Cybersecurity: Ideal for moderately experienced network or systems administrators
- PenTest+
- CySA+
- CASP+
- Data and analytics: Ideal for early-career data, marketing, or operations analysts
- Data+
- DataSys+
- DataX
- Professional: Ideal for project management or cloud computing IT executives
- Project+
- Cloud Essentials+
How do you prep for a CompTIA exam?
Organization and advanced planning are crucial for successful CompTIA prep. Though certain exams may require more prep than others, the following steps can help you make the most of your study time for any of CompTIA's industry certifications:
CompTIA's website
CompTIA's website offers a wealth of resources for professionals seeking career certifications. Here, you can check out details such as pricing, the skills covered on the exam, and the recommended experience for taking the test.
You can also explore whether to take the exam in person or online and find a variety of CompTIA-sanctioned test prep courses and training.
Self-study guides
CompTIA exam prep requires a commitment to understanding the material and dedication to time management. While only you know which method of studying works best for you, self-study options such as books, downloadable guides, and virtual and in-person study groups are common among CompTIA testers.
Practice exams
Practice exams are ideal for testing your skills and becoming familiar with the exam format. CompTIA's website is perhaps the best source of practice tests, since it features the latest practice questions for each of the exams; however, some OpenCourseWare platforms and bootcamp sites also offer free practice tests without requiring students to enroll in the full-length program.
Bootcamps
Bootcamps offer accelerated programs designed to prepare you for a specific CompTIA exam. While details and completion times may vary, most bootcamps require roughly five days of full-time study, culminating in a review and practice test.
Bootcamps typically emphasize hands-on learning while covering the key skills testers need for their CompTIA exam.
OpenCourseWare
You can access a variety of free courses and workshops through OpenCourseWare platforms. Other sources of CompTIA prep courses may include colleges and universities, IT corporations, and even state government and nonprofit organizations.
You may also explore executive education courses for CompTIA exam prep on OpenCourseWare sites.