How Much Does CompTIA A Plus Certification Cost in 2026?

The comptia a+ certification cost moves with two things: how many exams you sit and how much practice you buy. Vouchers for both exams land in the mid 500s. Most candidates finish between $700 and $1,200 once books, practice tests and a possible retake are counted. CompTIA sets the price and raised it once in 2026.

This guide splits the A+ bill into parts. You will see the voucher price after the June 2026 increase and the hands-on lab work A+ is known for. You will also see training options, retake rules and the three-year renewal. By the end you will know which version to take and where the money goes.

CompTIA A+ is a vendor-neutral certification for entry-level IT support work. Earning it means passing two separate exams, Core 1 and Core 2, and both must come from the same series. CompTIA launched the current V15 series on March 25, 2025, and the older 220-1101 and 220-1102 exams retired on September 25, 2025.

How much does the CompTIA A+ certification cost in 2026?

CompTIA charges $274 USD for each A+ exam voucher in the United States. That is the price after the increase CompTIA applied across its lineup on June 1, 2026, which moved A+ from $265 to $274 per exam. Since you need both Core 1 and Core 2, the voucher bill for the full certification is $548.

You may still see $265 on older pages, and some training partners have not updated their prices. That is why two different numbers show up online. The current list price is the one to budget against.

Everything else depends on your choices. For most candidates the comptia a+ certification cost breaks into three parts: two vouchers, study material, and a possible retake. Here is the full picture.

Two rows in that table deserve a second look. The hands-on lab work costs nothing extra, because CompTIA folded it into the Core exams. The renewal fee of $75 is small next to a $548 voucher bill, but it lands in year three. Put it in the budget now.

Total Seminars puts a realistic all-in A+ budget between $700 and $1,200. If you plan to stack A+ with Security+, our Security Plus certification cost guide shows what the second exam adds.

Which version of A+ should you take in 2026?

Take the current V15 series. Core 1 has exam code 220-1201 and Core 2 has code 220-1202. Both launched on March 25, 2025, and the earlier 220-1101 and 220-1102 exams retired on September 25, 2025. Any study guide or course you buy should name the 1201 and 1202 codes.

CompTIA is explicit that Core 1 and Core 2 must come from the same series. If you passed Core 1 in the old series before it retired, you have to finish with the old Core 2 to earn the credential.

The format is the same on both cores. CompTIA lists a maximum of 90 questions in 90 minutes, with multiple-choice, drag-and-drop and performance-based questions. The passing score is 675 out of 900 on Core 1 and 700 out of 900 on Core 2. CompTIA also recommends 12 months of hands-on work in an IT support role before either exam, and the exams run in English, German and Japanese.

For the wider IT budget, our ITIL certification cost breakdown covers a framework above the help desk. That is the usual next step after A+.

Does A+ need a hands-on practical lab and what does that add?

A+ is one of the few entry-level certifications you cannot pass on theory alone. CompTIA's official exam details list multiple-choice and performance-based questions inside each Core, and the performance-based items put you on a live virtual machine. You diagnose a fault, run a command, or secure a device while a timer runs. That hands-on work is the practical exam, and it explains the A+ reputation as a tough exam.

Here is the good news. There is no separate lab voucher to buy in the current series. The hands-on portion sits inside the Core 1 and Core 2 vouchers you already pay for, and CompTIA's published exam details list no third exam. Older A+ versions did ship a standalone practical exam, but that series is long gone.

What you do pay for is practice. CompTIA sells CertMaster Labs with a live virtual lab environment, and the official pages estimate 15 to 25 hours for that product. Third-party lab courses range from free walkthroughs on YouTube to paid browser labs. Budget $30 to $70 for practice tests, and more time than money. The A+ punishes slow troubleshooting more than memorised command names.

How much do A+ training and study material cost?

CompTIA sells four CertMaster products for A+. The official pages estimate 25 to 40 hours for Learn and 10 to 20 for Practice. Labs needs 15 to 25 hours, and Perform needs 30 to 60. You do not need all of them, and many candidates pass with a book and free video content instead.

Total Seminars puts the Mike Meyers All-in-One CompTIA A+ V15 guide at $40 to $60 in print. It also lists practice exam packages from $30 to $70. Add both to the voucher bill and a careful self learner sits around $618 to $678.

Two discounts move those numbers. A CompTIA Authorized Partner typically sells the same official voucher 10 to 15 percent below list price. That is $50 to $80 off a full A+. Students with a .edu email can cut prices by up to half through the CompTIA academic store.

Some employers cover the whole thing. Active-duty military members often get certification funded by their unit, and large IT teams run training budgets for new hires. Ask before you pay, because the comptia a+ certification cost can drop to zero with one email.

What happens if you fail an A+ exam and what does a retake cost?

A retake costs another full voucher, so $274 per exam in the United States. CompTIA says plainly that a failed exam means buying another voucher for another test, and there is no discount on the repeat. You can rebook soon after a first failure, but a 14-day wait applies from the third attempt onward.

Paying for protection up front costs less than paying twice. Total Seminars says a voucher with retake protection costs under $100 more than a plain voucher, much cheaper than another $274 later. CompTIA also sells that bundle with its CertMaster training, so the retake and the course arrive together.

For the sibling exam, Security+ now costs $439 per voucher after the same June 1, 2026 increase, up from $425. Our Security Plus price hike breakdown has the full numbers. If you are planning a security track, our CISSP certification cost breakdown shows the next step up and its much bigger budget.

How do you renew A+ and what does that add to the bill?

A+ lasts three years from the date you pass the second Core. You renew in one of two ways. Earn 20 Continuing Education Units through CompTIA's program and pay a fee. Or earn a higher certification such as Network+ or Security+, which renews A+ and waives the CE fee. CompTIA's published fee for A+ continuing education is $75 for the whole three-year cycle.

If a higher cert is on your plan anyway, the upgrade route is the cheapest one. CompTIA also notes that you only pay CE fees for your highest-level certification. A stack of CompTIA certs then costs less to maintain than most people assume. Earning Security+ renews A+ for free, and our CompTIA Security+ exam cost guide shows the next line in that budget.

One habit closes the loop. Track the three-year date now and set a reminder for month thirty. Most people find the renewal email long after they stopped studying, and the $75 then lands on top of a new exam fee.

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