How to Get Into IT: CompTIA A+ vs. CompTIA IT Fundamentals (2024)

IT is a great field to get into, and it’s relatively easy to get started compared to many other careers. You don’t need a math or science background – or even a college degree – to start your career in information technology. With curiosity, determination, some hands-on practice and the right IT certification,you can start on your path to a successful, fulfilling IT career.

Which IT Certification is Right for Me?

IT certifications prove to employers that you have the skills they’re looking for. To earn a certification, you’ll need to pass an exam, which may consist of different types of questions or hands-on skills assessments, known as performance-based questions. Performance-based questions require you to perform tasks related to the job role covered by the IT certification.

Most CompTIA certifications are based in job roles, which means they test you on the skills needed for certain IT jobs – therefore proving to employers that you are a qualified candidate. Two great IT certifications for people who want to get into IT are CompTIA IT Fundamentals (ITF+)and CompTIA A+.

But how do you choose – CompTIA A+ vs. CompTIA IT Fundamentals? We’re here to help you compare these two IT certifications so you can choose the one that will best help you take the next step to getting into IT.

CompTIA A+ vs. CompTIA IT Fundamentals: How to Choose

How Much IT Knowledge Should I Have?

CompTIA IT Fundamentals gives you a foundation in IT that will help you decide if an IT career might be right for you. If you don’t have any IT experience and aren’t sure where to start, this is the certification for you. It will help you understand the elements and functions of IT and will give you the baseline knowledge needed to start learning job-related skills.

CompTIA A+ is the starting point for a career in IT and focuses on job roles like help desk technician and technical support specialist. If you already have a basic understanding of IT and have been tinkering on your own, you may be ready for CompTIA A+. It’s the industry standard for establishing a career and proves you can think on your feet to perform critical IT support tasks in the moment.

Invest in yourself without breaking the bank. CompTIA Tech Career Academy offers flexible, affordable and fast training for careers in tech.
Learn more.

What IT Skills Are Covered?

CompTIA IT Fundamentals covers the foundations of IT concepts and terminology, infrastructure, cybersecurity, database fundamentals and software development.

What’s on the Exam?

CompTIA IT Fundamentals brings career changers up to speed on the technology that they can master by earning CompTIA A+. The exam includes 75 questions on things like how to use the features and functions of operating systems, how to establish network connectivity, identifying applications and their purpose, and end-user security and web browsing best practices.

CompTIA A+ is trusted by employers around the world to hire and promote IT support staff. To earn CompTIA A+, you need to pass two exams that have a maximum of 90 questions each. CompTIA A+ 220-1001 covers mobile devices, networking technology, hardware, virtualization and cloud computing and network troubleshooting. CompTIA A+ 220-1002 covers installing and configuring operating systems, cybersecurity, software troubleshooting and operational procedures.

You can download the exam objectives for free to guide your studies and dive into the topics covered.

What Types of Questions Will I Have to Answer?

CompTIA IT Fundamentals makes it easy for you by using multiple-choice questions to assess your current skills and help you figure out if IT is right for you.

CompTIA A+ takes things a step further with performance-based questions, which test your hands-on skills to prove to employers that you have the skills needed for tech support jobs. Learn more about IT careers with our newly revised career roadmap.

CompTIA A+ vs. CompTIA IT Fundamentals: How to Get Started

The bottom line is that CompTIA IT Fundamentalshelps you decide if a career in tech might be right for you. If you decide it is, then CompTIA A+ will show employers you have the skills they need and help you land your first IT job.

CompTIA A+ is the entry-level IT certification employers know and trust. They list it in job applications and look for it on resumes to identify candidates who have the tech support skills their organization needs. CompTIA IT Fundamentals covers a broader range of topics to give you an overview of IT, whereas CompTIA A+ dives deeper into technical support skills.

Once you’ve decided which certification is right for you, here are some tips on how to prepare for and earn your IT certification:

8 Steps to Getting Certified
Online IT Training: What Are Your Options?
How to Save Money on Your Exam Voucher
6 Ways to Prep for a CompTIA Exam
What Is Online Testing?

Ready to get started? Download the exam objectivesfor your certification and then learn how to save moneyon your next CompTIA purchase!

How to Get Into IT: CompTIA A+ vs. CompTIA IT Fundamentals (2024)

FAQs

Should I start with IT fundamentals or a+? ›

The CompTIA A+ certification has long been hailed as the perfect starting point for anyone that has decided to begin a new career in the IT industry. Students who complete their A+ training will have built up the skills and knowledge that will allow them to build a career in virtually any sector within the IT field.

Discover More ›

Is CompTIA ITF+ harder than A+? ›

CompTIA A+ requires a deeper level of technical knowledge and experience than ITF+ and is designed for those with some practical experience in the field or more advanced knowledge of computers and networks.

Learn More Now ›

Do I need itf+ to get a+? ›

IS ITF+ CERTIFICATION REQUIRED FOR A+ CERTIFICATION? Although the ITF+ certification is not listed as a formal prerequisite for the A+ exam, CompTIA highly recommends ITF+ for those embarking on their first formal training for a career in IT.

Discover More Details ›

Which CompTIA certification should I get first? ›

If you're confident that an IT career is right for you, but you have no work experience, then the A+ CompTIA certification is a great option. The A+ is an entry-level certification that over 2 million IT professionals hold.

See Details ›

Is CompTIA A+ hard for beginners? ›

CompTIA A+ is a beginner certification that anyone can pass after studying the material covered on the exam. If you have a basic understanding of IT and leverage the right resources, you can reasonably expect to be prepared to take A+ within a couple of months of studying.

Can a beginner take CompTIA A+? ›

They can be an efficient way to acquire credentials that will help you gain credibility as someone new to the field. With so many different IT certifications out there, however, it is natural to ask, “Which IT certifications should I get first?” For most people, the CompTIA A+ is a great place to start.

Discover More ›

What is the fail rate for CompTIA? ›

CompTIA doesn't publish pass rates, but others have reported them around 70% to 80%. Candidates who complete the proper preparation and study will be well-positioned to pass the CompTIA A+ exams.

Why is CompTIA A+ so hard? ›

Large Amount of Information to Cover. The A+ exam covers a broad range of topics, from networking and hardware to security and operating systems, making it challenging to thoroughly study and prepare for the test. As a result, you'll need to familiarize yourself with a vast amount of subject matter.

Get More Info Here ›

What CompTIA certification is most valuable? ›

Importance of the Exam

The CompTIA A+ certification is highly regarded by employers in the IT industry and is often a prerequisite for entry-level IT roles such as help desk technician, technical support specialist, and desktop support technician.

Read On ›

Will CompTIA A+ get you a job? ›

CompTIA A+ is the industry standard for establishing a career in IT and is the preferred qualifying credential for technical support and IT operational roles.

Keep Reading ›

How long does IT take to study for the CompTIA A+? ›

Studying for ten to fifteen hours each week should prepare you for the examinations in three to five months. However, if you are new to the field and need more experience, it may take you longer. If you work or attend school full-time, you should spend at least one year working toward CompTIA's A+ certification.

Keep Reading ›

How much does the A+ exam cost? ›

Each of the two A+ exams costs $246 USD. CompTIA doesn't offer discounts on retakes, nor is it lenient on dishonesty. The total cost of earning the CompTIA A+ certification is $492 USD for first-time test takers.

Discover More ›

What is the hardest CompTIA exam? ›

The CompTIA Security+ exam is often considered one of the more difficult CompTIA exams. It focuses on cybersecurity and requires a solid understanding of both networking and security protocols. This certification is highly valued in the industry, especially for roles in cybersecurity and information security.

View Details ›

Is the CCNA or CompTIA better? ›

In essence, if you're new to IT or want a broad introduction, go for CompTIA. If you're looking to specialize in networking and have some experience, then CCNA would be the better choice. Conversely, newcomers to networking or those desiring a broad IT foundational understanding might lean towards CompTIA.

See Details ›

What is the easiest IT certification to obtain? ›

Sometimes referred to as the “entry-level rite of passage for IT technicians,” the CompTIA A+ certificate is a great starting point for anyone looking to enter the IT field. The A+ certification covers a broad range of topics, including hardware, networking, and troubleshooting.

How hard is the ITF+ exam? ›

The CompTIA ITF+ exam is a robust and rigorous certification exam for students who are new to IT. This means that preparing students to take and pas the exam requires several months of extensive study and review. Practicing ITF+ exams should be the focus of preparation for 4 to 8 weeks.

Discover More ›

Is CompTIA A+ worth IT for computer science? ›

Enhanced Employability: Holding a CompTIA A+ certification can improve your job prospects, especially for entry-level IT positions. Employers often recognize and value the certification when hiring. Career Advancement: CompTIA A+ can serve as a stepping stone for higher-level IT roles and specializations.

View Details ›

What jobs can you get with ITF+? ›

Typically, IT professionals that earn the ITF+ certification go on to work in any of the following roles:

Service and user help desk support.
Technical support specialist.
Associate network engineer.
Data support technician.
Desktop support administrator.
Help desk technician.
System support specialist.

Know More ›

	CompTIA IT Fundamentals	CompTIA A+
Operating Systems	Knowledge of popular operating systems and the ability to explain their functions, including disk management, process management, authentication and access control.	Ability to troubleshoot operating systems, such as resolving performance issues, determining why applications won’t launch and resolving boot-time problems.
Cybersecurity	Knowledge of behaviors that foster personal security and typical security issues involving confidentiality, integrity and availability.	Ability to identify security issues as they happen and manage access control and multifactor authentication systems.
Virtualization and Cloud Computing	Knowledge of advantages and disadvantages of cloud storage.	Understanding of how virtualization works and the ability to support cloud-based applications, storage and services.
Computer Hardware	Knowledge of the typical elements used in a PC, server, mobile phone or IoT device.	Ability to modify computers and differentiate between hardware and software issues while troubleshooting.