The CompTIA A+ certification is a great introduction to IT and can assist you in landing an entry-level position, such as IT Support or Help Desk. However, it’s important to note that passing the interview and succeeding in your new IT role requires more than just this certification.

Check out my What It Takes to Work in IT Support post for more details on the essential skills and qualities needed for success. Additionally, don’t miss my upcoming Intro to AD blog (coming soon).

While you don’t necessarily need this certification, it might be required to get past HR. Once you’re in the interview, hiring managers want to see how you’ve actually applied your knowledge. Build a home lab to practice your AD skills, virtual machines, networking, and other technical competencies. Buy budget PC parts to create your own setup or if you have an old laptop laying around, install a lightweight OS and practice, get hands-on with anything you haven’t tried. Set yourself apart, how do you standout?

Free Resources

For free training, Professor Messer covers everything you need to pass the A+ 220-1101 and 220-1102 exams. Also, check out The Mad Instructor on YouTube and his Discord community for support.

The Mad Instructor:

Jason Dion and Mike Meyers offer A+ courses on Udemy, often discounted to $10–$20. I recommend only purchasing these courses when Udemy runs discounts, as they can be pricey at full price.

I personally used Jason Dion’s practice exams. You may decide what’s best after studying with the free resources.

Conclusion

Take the exams in any order, and focusing on one at a time. My approach was to review Professor Messer’s videos alongside my notes and then dive into Jason Dion’s practice exams. Do this for Core 1, take the exam, pass it, and then repeat the process for Core 2.

Pay attention to question wording, review your answers, and fill any gaps with additional material. Aim for 90% or higher on practice tests to ensure readiness.

Good luck!