The Complete CompTIA Certification List: Cost, Exam Code, Difficulty, and Renewal
All 17 CompTIA certifications with current exam codes, US voucher cost, passing score, renewal window and CEU requirements. Verified against comptia.org.
CompTIA currently offers 17 certifications, priced from $129 for Tech+ to $548 for the two exams that make up A+. Every one of them except Tech+ now expires after three years and needs continuing education units to renew. CompTIA's own certifications catalog lists far more items than that, but most of the extras are training courses and competency badges rather than proctored certifications, which is why published counts vary so widely. The table below is the annotated version CompTIA does not publish: current exam code, US list voucher price, question count, passing score, renewal window, and CEU requirement in one view. All figures were verified against comptia.org on 26 August 2026.
Quick takeaways
- There are 17 real CompTIA certifications, not the 11 to 13 most listicles report and not the far larger count you get by including the training courses and badges the catalog also lists.
- A+ exam codes changed. The current pair is 220-1201 and 220-1202. The older 220-1101 and 220-1102 retired on 25 September 2025, and any guide still quoting them is out of date.
- ITF+ is gone, replaced by Tech+ (FC0-U71). CASP+ is gone, rebranded as SecurityX (CAS-005). DataX is now DataAI.
- Three exams are pass/fail with no scaled score at all: SecurityX, CloudNetX, and DataAI. The familiar 100 to 900 scale is not universal.
- Tech+ is the only certification with a version that never expires, and the only one with no performance-based questions.
- Project+ is no longer a lifetime credential. Earned on or after 1 October 2025, it needs renewing every three years.
- Renewal is not free. CEU fees run $75 or $150 per three-year cycle, unless you renew by passing a higher certification.
Every current CompTIA certification
Voucher prices are US list prices for a single attempt, exam only, before any student or bulk discount. Passing scores are on CompTIA's 100 to 900 scale unless noted.
| Certification | Exam code | Voucher | Questions | Minutes | Pass | Valid | CEUs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tech+ | FC0-U71 | $129 | 70 | 60 | 650 | No expiry (CE version 5 yrs) | None |
| A+ | 220-1201 + 220-1202 | $548 total | 90 each | 90 each | 675 / 700 | 3 yrs | 20 |
| Network+ | N10-009 | $399 | 90 | 90 | 720 | 3 yrs | 30 |
| Security+ | SY0-701 | $439 | 90 | 90 | 750 | 3 yrs | 50 |
| CySA+ | CS0-004 | $439 | 85 | 165 | 750 | 3 yrs | 60 |
| PenTest+ | PT0-003 | $439 | 90 | 165 | 750 | 3 yrs | 60 |
| SecurityX | CAS-005 | $544 | 90 | 165 | Pass/fail | 3 yrs | 75 |
| CloudNetX | CNX-001 | $544 | 90 | 165 | Pass/fail | 3 yrs | 75 |
| Cloud+ | CV0-004 | $399 | 90 | 90 | 750 | 3 yrs | 50 |
| Linux+ | XK0-006 | $399 | 90 | 90 | 720 | 3 yrs | 50 |
| Server+ | SK0-005 | $399 | 90 | 90 | 750 | 3 yrs | 30 |
| Data+ | DA0-002 | $264 | 90 | 90 | 675 | 3 yrs | 20 |
| DataSys+ | DS0-001 | $399 | 90 | 90 | 700 | 3 yrs | 30 |
| DataAI | DY0-001 | $544 | 90 | 165 | Pass/fail | 3 yrs | 75 |
| Project+ | PK0-005 | $399 | 90 | 90 | 710 | 3 yrs | 30 |
| SecAI+ | CY0-001 | $298 | 60 | 60 | 600 | 3 yrs | 15 |
| AutoOps+ | AT0-001 | $298 | 60 | 60 | 600 | 3 yrs | 15 |
One more is announced but not yet live: SecOT+ (SOT-001), for operational technology security, arriving December 2026. CompTIA has not published its price, length, or passing score.
Exam codes that changed recently
This is where most published CompTIA lists go wrong, because a code that was correct 18 months ago is often wrong now.
| Certification | Old code | Current code | What happened |
|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 220-1101 / 220-1102 | 220-1201 / 220-1202 | V14 retired 25 September 2025 |
| ITF+ | FC0-U61 | FC0-U71 (as Tech+) | Renamed, launched July 2024 |
| CASP+ | CAS-004 | CAS-005 (as SecurityX) | Rebranded December 2024 |
| CySA+ | CS0-003 | CS0-004 | V3 retires in English 22 December 2026 |
| Linux+ | XK0-005 | XK0-006 | V8 launched July 2025 |
| Data+ | DA0-001 | DA0-002 | V2 launched October 2025 |
Security+ SY0-701 is still current. CompTIA's own page says only that retirement is "estimated 2026" and has published no successor code, so treat any specific date you see quoted elsewhere as unconfirmed.
What CompTIA actually charges to renew
The voucher is not the total cost. Every certification except Tech+ expires after three years, and keeping it alive costs both CEUs and money. CompTIA's own continuing education FAQ states the rule plainly: you must complete the CE requirements within three years of earning or renewing.
- $75 per three-year cycle: A+, Data+, SecAI+, AutoOps+
- $150 per three-year cycle: Network+, Security+, CySA+, PenTest+, SecurityX, Cloud+, Linux+, Server+, DataSys+, DataAI, CloudNetX, Project+
- $0: Tech+ (renew by passing the latest exam version)
There is a way around the fee entirely. Passing a higher certification renews the ones below it, and renewing through a CertMaster CE course carries no separate CE fee. The hierarchy runs SecurityX at the top, renewing CySA+ and PenTest+, which renew Security+, which renews Network+, which renews A+. In practice, someone who earns Security+ three years after A+ has already renewed their A+ without paying a CEU fee.
Difficulty, honestly ranked
CompTIA does not publish pass rates, and neither will we invent them. What can be stated factually is the experience each exam assumes, which is the most reliable available proxy for difficulty.
| Tier | Certifications | Experience CompTIA recommends |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | Tech+ | None |
| Foundation | A+ | 12 months in IT support |
| Intermediate | Network+, Linux+, Project+, Data+ | 9 to 24 months in the relevant role |
| Professional | Security+, Cloud+, Server+, DataSys+, SecAI+, AutoOps+ | 2 to 3 years |
| Advanced | CySA+, PenTest+ | 3 to 4 years specialising |
| Expert | SecurityX, CloudNetX, DataAI | 10+ years total, 5+ years specialised |
The three expert-tier exams are also the three scored pass/fail rather than on a scale, and they run to 165 minutes. SecurityX asks for a minimum of ten years in IT including five hands-on in security, which puts it well outside the range of anyone treating it as a next step after Security+.
Which certification to start with, and where PrepClubs fits
For most people entering IT with no experience, A+ then Network+ then Security+ remains the standard sequence, and it is the one hiring managers recognise. Tech+ sits below A+ and is genuinely aimed at people deciding whether IT is for them at all, not at job seekers.
Two shortcuts worth knowing. If you already work in IT support, you can often skip straight to Network+ and save $548 and several weeks. And if security is the goal, Security+ is the credential that appears in job postings and in US Department of Defense 8140 requirements, so it is worth reaching directly rather than collecting the full set first.
Being direct about our own scope: PrepClubs covers three of the 17 certifications on this list. A+, Network+, and Security+, each with an original practice-question bank of full-length mocks plus topical drills mapped to the current exam objectives, at $69 per certification.
We do not have banks for Linux+, Cloud+, CySA+, PenTest+, Server+, Data+, DataSys+, DataAI, Project+, SecAI+, AutoOps+, SecurityX, CloudNetX, or Tech+. If you are preparing for one of those, CompTIA's own CertMaster products or another vendor will serve you better than we can right now.
PrepClubs is also not a certifying body and is not affiliated with CompTIA. The banks are original questions written against the published exam objectives, never reproduced live exam items. Access is a one-time payment covering 30 days, not a subscription, and if you do not pass, we extend your access at no extra cost.
FAQ
How many CompTIA certifications are there?
There are 17 currently offered proctored certifications, with an eighteenth, SecOT+, due in December 2026. Published counts vary because CompTIA's certifications catalog also lists training courses, "Essentials" badges, and TestOut-derived products that carry a competency certificate rather than a certification. Older articles reporting 11 or 13 predate SecAI+, AutoOps+, CloudNetX, and the Tech+ rename.
Which CompTIA certification is considered the best?
Security+ by a wide margin, judged by how often it appears in job postings. It is the baseline security credential recognised under US Department of Defense 8140 requirements, which makes it effectively mandatory for a large set of government and contractor roles. A+ is the best first certification for someone with no IT experience, but Security+ is the one that most reliably changes what jobs you qualify for.
What are the top 5 certifications?
Ranked by how often they appear in US IT job postings and how much they change what you qualify for, the five that matter most are: 1. Security+, the baseline security credential and a DoD 8140 requirement. 2. A+, the standard entry credential for help desk and IT support. 3. Network+, the networking foundation and the usual bridge between A+ and Security+. 4. CySA+, the most common next step for security analyst roles. 5. Cloud+, for infrastructure roles moving to cloud platforms. If you only ever take one, take Security+.
What is the hardest CompTIA cert?
By CompTIA's own recommended experience, SecurityX (CAS-005) is the hardest: it asks for at least ten years in IT including five years hands-on in security, runs 165 minutes, and is scored pass/fail with no partial credit visible in a scaled score. CloudNetX and DataAI sit at the same tier. Among the widely taken certifications, CySA+ and PenTest+ are the steepest step up from Security+.
Is CompTIA still relevant in 2026?
Yes for the core three, with qualifications. A+, Network+, and Security+ remain widely requested in entry and mid-level IT job postings, and Security+ carries formal regulatory weight through DoD 8140. CompTIA has also kept expanding the line, adding SecAI+ and AutoOps+ in 2026, which is not the behaviour of a shrinking programme. The fair criticism is that the specialist certifications compete against vendor-specific credentials from AWS, Microsoft, and Cisco that employers often value more for cloud and networking specifically.
How much do CompTIA certifications cost in total?
The voucher alone runs $129 to $548. The A+ is the most expensive single certification because it requires two separate exams at $274 each. Add training and the number changes substantially: CompTIA's own bundles run from $265 for Tech+ to $1,293 for the A+ complete bundle with a retake. Renewal then costs $75 or $150 every three years unless you renew by passing a higher certification.
Do CompTIA certifications expire?
All of them except Tech+ expire three years after you earn or last renew them. Tech+ has a non-expiring version (FC0-U71) alongside a five-year CE version. Project+ used to be a lifetime credential, but that changed: earned on or after 1 October 2025, it now follows the standard three-year cycle. Anything earned by 30 September 2025 stays valid for life.
What is the passing score for CompTIA exams?
Most use a scaled score from 100 to 900, with different cut points per exam: 675 for A+ Core 1, 700 for A+ Core 2, 720 for Network+ and Linux+, 750 for Security+, CySA+, PenTest+, Cloud+, and Server+. SecurityX, CloudNetX, and DataAI are reported simply as pass or fail with no scaled score. Tech+ requires 650.
Related on PrepClubs
- The CompTIA trifecta: A+, Network+ and Security+ explained
- A+ vs Network+: which to take first
- Network+ vs Security+ compared
- What the CompTIA A+ exam actually costs
- How hard is the CompTIA A+, honestly
Practise the three we cover properly
If your target is A+, Network+, or Security+, PrepClubs has an original question bank for each: full-length mocks that match the real question count and timing, plus topical drills mapped to the current exam objectives (220-1201 and 220-1202, N10-009, and SY0-701). Each is $69 as a one-time payment with 30 days of access, not a subscription. If you do not pass, we extend your access at no extra cost. Over 1,600 students have used PrepClubs to prepare.
Get Security+ practice access or start with the free Security+ practice test.
Junaid Khalid runs PrepClubs, a practice-test platform with 1,600+ students who have prepped for cognitive, aptitude, and IT certification exams.
