Checked against what you do
Each step is checked against what you actually do in the simulated tool, not against which answer sounds right.
Labs
Do the job task, step by step.
65 hands-on labs across CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, and CompTIA Security+. Each one is a procedure from documentation, worked step by step in a simulated tool. 52 of them are free to use without an account. They are not exam questions and not a score predictor.
What is a hands-on IT lab?
A hands-on IT lab is a practice task where you do the job instead of reading about it. Each RTJ lab gives you a goal, the ordered steps, and what you should see when a step works, then checks every step against what you actually do in the simulated tool. Labs pair with the Study Guide for the idea behind a step and the Help Desk Simulator for the judgment calls around it.
Free, and what the plans add
52 labs are free to use with no account: 34 for CompTIA A+, 11 for CompTIA Network+, and 7 for CompTIA Security+. They are the sample. The other 13 are included with Academy, Lifetime, the teacher plans, and school and district licenses. See pricing for what each plan includes.
Browse the labsWhat it is.
Hints that explain
When you are stuck, the hints on 60 of the 65 labs explain the why and the where first and show the exact command only as the last rung.
A how-to page for every lab
Every lab has a public how-to page with the objective, the steps, and the outcome, so you can read the procedure before you start.
How it works.
- 01
Pick a lab
Open the Labs page and choose by certification or objective. Each card shows the objective it covers and says whether the lab is free or included with Academy.
- 02
Work the steps in order
Do the task in the simulated tool, in the order the lab lists. Each step is checked against what you did.
- 03
Climb the hints only as far as you need
The first hint nudges, the next names the tool, and only the last shows the exact command. Stop the moment you are unstuck.
- 04
Repeat it until you do not need the hints
Run the lab again the next day and see whether you still need a hint. 31 of the 65 labs also end with a few quick prompts about why a step worked and how you would check it if it failed.
A look inside
Labs in practice.
Four free labs, photographed from the live site: a command-line lab, a hands-on bench, a firmware screen, and a security console. Each one opens with no account.
Restart a stuck Print Spooler
Command Prompt, CompTIA A+. net stop spooler has run, so step 1 is checked off and step 2 is next.
Open this lab, no account
Test the cable that looks fine
Cable tester, CompTIA Network+. The link lights are checked and the wire test found pair 4-5 open.
Open this lab, no account
Configure UEFI firmware for Windows 11
UEFI setup screen, CompTIA A+. The Boot tab shows Secure Boot enabled and the boot mode set to UEFI.
Open this lab, no account
Spot the phish and report it
Mail review console, CompTIA Security+. A quarantined message is open and inspected: SPF and DKIM fail.
Open this lab, no accountThe tools in a lab are simulated and use canned data.
Questions.
Are the labs free?+
52 of the 65 labs are free to use with no account: 34 for CompTIA A+, 11 for CompTIA Network+, and 7 for CompTIA Security+. The other 13 are included with Academy, Lifetime, the teacher plans, and school and district licenses. Pro includes the free labs but not the other 13.
Are labs the same as exam questions?+
No. A lab teaches the procedure behind an objective, the way a help desk tech works a printer that will not print. It is not an exam question and it does not predict a score or tell you when to schedule.
Do I need to install anything?+
No. Labs run in your browser with simulated tools, so there is nothing to install and no hardware to buy.
Which objectives does a lab cover?+
Every lab lists the CompTIA objectives it covers, on its card and on its how-to page. One lab can serve more than one objective, because a real task does.
Can a teacher assign a lab to a class?+
Yes, with a teacher plan. A teacher can assign a lab to a class from classwork and see completion there, and every one of the 65 labs has a teacher guide with what a correct run looks like and the mistakes to watch for.
Start free. Move when ready.
Free includes one full Adventure lesson per track and 5 Sim tickets per day. Upgrade if and when you want more.