Cost · IT & Cloud
A+ cost: full breakdown (2026)
What the A+ actually costs once you add up the exam fee and everything around it - plus a realistic total, what a retake adds, and honest ways to keep the bill down. Fees change, so treat these as a planning guide and confirm the current amount on the official page before you pay.
Full cost breakdown
Every cost line we could confirm for A+. Optional items are marked - you do not need them all to pass.
Only the items above are confirmed from the provider. We do not list fees we cannot verify, so your real-world total may include extras (travel to a test centre, optional courses) that are personal to you.
What you will realistically spend
At minimum you pay the exam fee: $274–$548 (US$274 per exam; both Core 1 and Core 2 are required for certification (US$548 total). Confirm current pricing with CompTIA.). For most candidates the real outlay lands higher than the bare fee once you add the items below - how much higher depends on the choices you make, not on a fixed price.
Included in the figures above: the official exam fee only.
Not included (and easy to forget):
- Study materials or a prep course, if you choose paid ones over the free and official resources.
- Travel or a test-centre surcharge, if you sit in person rather than online.
- Renewal or recertification later - this credential is valid for 3 years (continuing education).
- A retake fee if you do not pass first time (see below).
If you have to retake it
A resit means paying the exam fee again. Sitting once and retaking once would cost roughly $548–$1096 in exam fees alone - about double the single-sit cost, depending on US$274 per exam; both Core 1 and Core 2 are required for certification (US$548 total). Confirm current pricing with CompTIA..
Some providers run discounted or bundled resit pricing and may require a waiting period between attempts. Check the provider's retake policy before you book - the figure above assumes you simply pay full price twice.
How to spend less on A+
- Lean on free and official material first. The provider's own objectives and guides are free and are the most accurate source - paid courses are optional, not required to pass.
- Watch for early-bird or scheduled-discount windows. Some bodies discount fees at certain times of year or for first attempts; book when a legitimate discount is live rather than assuming the price is fixed.
- Do the membership maths. Where a membership lowers the exam fee, add the membership cost to the discounted fee and compare against the non-member fee - it only saves money if the total is lower.
- Self-study before you buy a course. Try the free resources first; only pay for structured training if you genuinely need the structure. That single decision is usually the biggest line on the bill.
- Pass the first time. The cheapest exam is the one you only sit once - the retake fee above is the easiest cost to avoid.
Free, no-cost resources for A+:
- CompTIA - official A+ exam objectives (free download on the certification page) ↗
- CompTIA help center - exam policies, scheduling and renewal rules ↗
We keep this honest: there is no trick that removes the official exam fee. Real savings come from skipping paid extras you do not need and not paying for a retake.
Is it worth the money?
For someone starting an IT career with no degree in the field and no certifications, yes: A+ is the credential that help desk and desktop support postings ask for most often, it is vendor-neutral, and preparing for it genuinely teaches the day-to-day work - hardware, Windows, basic networking and security hygiene. Be clear-eyed about the cost structure, though: it is two exams, so the real price is roughly double what a single-exam certification suggests, and a failed attempt means buying a new voucher unless you paid extra for a retake bundle. If you already have a year or two of hands-on IT experience, consider skipping A+ and starting at Network+ or Security+, which hiring managers weight more heavily. Treat A+ as a door-opener into first-line support, not a guarantee of employment.
For the roles, pay bands and job outlook this credential is linked to, see the salary and career value section on the A+ overview. That is where the cost above turns into a return - or does not.
How the price compares
Exam fees for other IT & Cloud certifications, for a sense of whether A+ sits at the cheap or pricey end:
| Exam | Exam fee |
|---|---|
| A+ (this page) | $274–$548 (US$274 per exam; both Core 1 and Core 2 are required for certification (US$548 total). Confirm current pricing with CompTIA.) |
| Terraform Associate | $70.5 (approximately US$70.50; confirm current pricing with HashiCorp.) |
| AZ-900 | $99 (varies by country) |
| CLF-C02 | $100 |
Fees shown for comparison only and change over time. Currencies may differ by provider; confirm each on its official page.
To see where A+ sits across every field, see our 2026 certification cost report - all 65 exams ranked, with mandatory add-on fees and renewal costs compared.
A+ cost: common questions
- How much does the A+ exam cost?
- The official A+ exam fee is $274–$548 (US$274 per exam; both Core 1 and Core 2 are required for certification (US$548 total). Confirm current pricing with CompTIA.). The range reflects US$274 per exam; both Core 1 and Core 2 are required for certification (US$548 total). Confirm current pricing with CompTIA.. That is the core cost, before any optional study materials or travel.
- What is the total cost of A+ in 2026?
- At minimum you pay the exam fee ($274–$548 (US$274 per exam; both Core 1 and Core 2 are required for certification (US$548 total). Confirm current pricing with CompTIA.)). A realistic total usually lands higher once you add any paid study materials, test-centre or travel costs, and a possible retake. The breakdown on this page shows every confirmed line so you can build your own estimate.
- How much does it cost to retake the A+ exam?
- A resit means paying the exam fee again. One sit plus one retake is roughly $548–$1096 in exam fees, about double a single sit. Some providers offer discounted resit pricing or require a waiting period, so check the official retake policy.
- Are there ways to pay less for A+?
- Yes. Lean on the free and official study material before paid courses, watch for legitimate early-bird or scheduled discounts, do the membership maths where a membership lowers the fee, and pass the first time so you avoid a retake. There is no trick that removes the official exam fee itself.