How much does the A+ Certification cost?
It's a simple question, but there can be multiple answers based on your situation and the options you choose. Of course, the quick answer is the price of the two exam vouchers, you’ll need to acquire to take your test ($422). However, you may qualify for discounts that can decrease this number and you may want to consider additional learning and training that can change the bottom line as well. Read on to find out more.
The basics: A+ exam voucher only
To get access to the certification test, you’ll need to buy an exam voucher. A voucher represents a unique code that you can buy at the CompTIA Store and use to take your test at a Pearson testing center. If a voucher is all you need, then the cost is $211 per exam. Since A+ consists of two exams, the total cost for your A+ certification is, if you pass both exams, $422. Find more details about the exam on the A+ product page and information on how to buy a voucher on our Testing pages. If you’re ready to buy, head over to the store.
If you don’t pass an exam, you’ll need to purchase another voucher to take another test. We recommend that you go into your exam well-prepared to you minimize the chance of not passing the test and having to purchase an additional voucher. Read on to find out about training and test preparation options.
Voucher, training and preparation
Most A+ test takers purchase some sort of training. You can choose between self-study options, such as online courses, labs, and printed books, or classroom-type training. The cost can vary greatly, depending on what kind of training you take and how much training you need.
Free and almost free A+ certification (seriously!)
Depending on where you live and what sponsorships you qualify for, special programs may be available to help you get trained and certified for free (or nearly free). Such programs are usually geared toward one or more of the following groups: Unemployed or under-employed individuals, displaced workers, military veterans, ethnic minorities, and/or women.
Typically, such free training programs fall into one of two categories: Government-sponsored programs and nonprofit charitable programs:
Government-sponsored IT training
These are programs that are typically funded with federal dollars and advertised through your county’s workforce investment board or your local American Jobs Center. To search for local training programs, go to Career One Stop.
Nonprofit charitable programs
These programs are scattered throughout the United States and may be a bit harder to locate. Here are a few on our radar (and if you learn of others, please let us know):
- Per Scholas: Locations in New York City, National Capital Region, Cincinnati, Columbus, Atlanta, and Dallas.
- IT-Ready from Creating IT Futures: Locations in Minneapolis-St. Paul and varying cities. Visit the location page for a list of current training sites that are accepting applications.
- Stride Center: Located in the San Francisco Bay Area.
- Tech901: Located exclusively in Memphis.
Because these programs typically exist to prepare people for entry-level IT jobs (such as help-desk and technical support) they typically reject applicants who already have such a job and are just looking to add a certification to their resume. As you can imagine, competition for such programs is often fierce. But if you live in one of the areas where free training is offered and fall into a group that such programs are trying to help, it would be silly not to apply.
Questions about your certification? Browse CompTIA’s certification pages as well as resources such as 4 Steps to Certification.
Available student discount
If you are a student in the United States, have a valid student ID and .edu email address, you can take advantage of CompTIA's student discounts. Both certification vouchers and training materials are offered at considerable discounts at the CompTIA Academic Marketplace. At this time, a single CompTIA A+ certification voucher is offered to students for $97.
Remember, you'll need to pass both certification exams to earn the A+ certification and you'll need at least two vouchers, provided that you pass the exam on each first attempt.