What CompTIA A+ actually costs in 2026
Short answer: Getting CompTIA A+ certified costs about $548 in exam fees alone in 2026 (two exams, roughly $274 each), and a realistic all-in total with study materials and one retake usually lands between $700 and $1,200. On top of the money, plan for at least 120 hours of studying, which is about 3 to 4 months if you have a job and study part-time. Then you pay again every 3 years to keep it active.
Here is the honest breakdown, because most "A+ cost" pages stop at the exam price and skip the parts that actually get people.
It's two exams, not one
A+ is not a single test. You have to pass two separate exams to get certified, and this trips up almost everyone budgeting for it:
- Core 1 (220-1201): hardware, networking, mobile devices, virtualization, and troubleshooting.
- Core 2 (220-1202): operating systems, security, software, and operational procedures.
Each exam runs about $274 in the US as of the mid-2026 price increase (it was $253 before that). So the base cost to sit both is roughly $548. You cannot mix exam versions, and you need to pass both to earn the cert.
The retake trap
CompTIA does not give free retakes. Every attempt costs a full voucher. Fail Core 2 once and that is another ~$274 to try again.
The timing rules:
- You can retake immediately after your first fail, no waiting period.
- After a second fail on the same exam, you wait 14 days before trying again.
Budget like you might need one retake somewhere, because plenty of people do. That is where "the exams cost $548" quietly turns into "$800-plus."
Study materials: this is where it adds up
If you buy CompTIA's official CertMaster products at full retail, here is what each one costs:
- CertMaster Learn (the self-paced course): ~$369
- CertMaster Labs (hands-on practice): ~$135 per core
- CertMaster Practice (practice questions): ~$149
- Official Study Guide: ~$95
Buy the full official stack and you are looking at $600 to $800 in materials on top of the exams. You do not have to buy all of it, and most people don't, but it shows why a "just the exam" budget is misleading.
The part nobody mentions: renewal
A+ is good for 3 years, then you renew or it lapses. Your options:
- Earn 20 continuing-education units (CEUs) and pay the $75 CE fee across the 3-year cycle.
- Or take CertMaster CE for a $129 one-time fee (no separate CE fee that cycle).
- Or just retake the newest exam (~$274, no CE fee).
So the cert has an ongoing cost, not one-and-done. The cheapest keep-it-alive path is the $75 CEU route.
The real total
Add it up for a realistic first-timer who buys some official materials and needs one retake:
| Line item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Two exams (Core 1 + Core 2) | ~$548 |
| One retake (it happens) | ~$274 |
| Some official study materials | $150 to $700 |
| First renewal (3-year, CEU path) | $75 |
| Realistic all-in, first cycle | ~$700 to $1,200+ |
The time cost people underestimate
CompTIA says a beginner should plan for at least 120 hours of study, plus extra hands-on practice. In real calendar terms:
- 5 to 10 hours a week: about 3 to 5 months.
- 10 to 20 hours a week (intense): about 6 to 10 weeks.
Your time is a real cost too. 120-plus focused hours is the honest number, and hands-on practice matters as much as reading.
How to spend less without cutting corners
- You do not need the full official CertMaster stack. A solid course, real practice questions, and hands-on reps cover it.
- Do not book the exam until you are consistently scoring well on practice tests. A retake costs more than a few extra weeks of studying, so treat the practice exam as your go / no-go signal.
- Learn by doing, not just reading. The hands-on questions are where unprepared people lose points.
Where Revy's Tech Journey fits
Here is the honest pitch, and it is a small one. Official CertMaster training alone runs $600 to $800. Revy's Tech Journey gives you the practice questions, the hands-on simulator, flashcards, and adventure-style lessons for A+ (and Network+ and Security+) for $24 a month on Pro, or a one-time Lifetime option. It does not replace sitting the exam, and we will never tell you it guarantees a pass. It is the practice-and-reps layer that keeps you from paying for a retake.
Study smart, sit the exam once, and the whole thing costs a lot less. The full objective map is on the A+ certification track page, and pricing lays out Pro and Lifetime side by side.
Questions about your path to A+? Email the team. We reply personally, usually within a day.
Sources
Figures are US, 2026. Sourced from CompTIA official pages, including the CompTIA A+ certification overview, the certification retake policy, and the continuing-education renewal fees, plus authorized-partner data for the 2026 exam price increase and current CertMaster retail pricing.
About the authors
IT Service Center Manager and former CTE / IT teacher. Owner of Revtek in Chicago's south suburbs. Writes everything that ships under his name and reviews every line of Revy-assisted drafting before publish.
LinkedIn ↗Revy helps draft and structure these posts. Every piece is reviewed, edited, and fact-checked by Nick before publish. We disclose this here because it is the right thing to do. See the AI Policy for the full stance.