Introduction
One of the most common questions from anyone starting an IT career is: which CompTIA certification should I take first? A+, Network+, and Security+ are the three core certifications in the CompTIA infrastructure pathway — and they're not interchangeable. Each one tests different skills, opens different doors, and serves different career goals.
This guide cuts through the confusion and gives you a clear answer based on where you are now and where you want to go.
The Short Answer: A+, Then Network+, Then Security+
For most people with no prior IT experience, the recommended order is A+ first, then Network+, then Security+. CompTIA designed these certifications to build on each other, and there are practical reasons why this sequence makes sense.
That said, the "right" order depends on your starting point. If you already work in IT and have several years of hands-on experience, you may not need A+ at all. If your goal is a specific cybersecurity or federal IT role, Security+ might be your immediate target regardless of what else you hold.
Let's break down each certification and then look at the different starting scenarios.
CompTIA A+: The Entry Point to IT
What it covers: Hardware, operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux, mobile), networking fundamentals, troubleshooting, virtualisation, security basics, and IT operational procedures.
Exam format: Two separate exams — Core 1 (220-1101) and Core 2 (220-1102). Each has up to 90 questions and a 90-minute time limit. You must pass both to earn A+.
Passing score: 675 for Core 1, 700 for Core 2 (on a 900-point scale).
Who it's for: People with no IT experience who want to demonstrate foundational skills to employers. A+ is the hiring threshold at many help desk and IT support positions. It's also required or valued for entry-level roles at managed service providers (MSPs), corporate IT departments, and government IT support.
Who can skip it: If you already work in IT — even in a non-technical role — or have completed an IT degree or intensive bootcamp, you likely already have the knowledge A+ tests. In that case, jumping directly to Network+ or Security+ is reasonable.
CompTIA Network+: The Bridge to Specialisation
What it covers: Networking concepts (OSI model, TCP/IP, routing and switching), network implementations (Wi-Fi, Ethernet, cloud and virtualisation), network operations, network security basics, and troubleshooting.
Current exam code: N10-009
Exam format: Up to 90 questions, 90 minutes, passing score of 720.
Who it's for: Anyone moving into networking roles (network technician, network administrator), and anyone who wants a solid foundation before tackling Security+. Network+ knowledge underlies a large chunk of Security+ content — firewalls, VPNs, network segmentation, and intrusion detection all make much more sense if you already understand how networks function.
CompTIA officially recommends having A+ (or equivalent experience) before sitting Network+. That's not a formal prerequisite — you can sit the exams in any order — but it reflects how the content builds.
Who can skip it: Network+ is the certification most commonly skipped in the A+ → Network+ → Security+ path, and sometimes reasonably so. If your goal is purely cybersecurity (especially for a DoD 8570 role), some candidates go directly from A+ to Security+. However, skipping Network+ often means studying extra networking material as part of Security+ preparation. Whether you do that in a standalone Network+ study cycle or as part of Security+ prep is mostly a question of timing and exam costs.
CompTIA Security+: The Cybersecurity Standard
What it covers: Threats, vulnerabilities and attack techniques, cryptography and PKI, identity and access management, network and cloud security, incident response, risk management, and compliance frameworks.
Current exam code: SY0-701
Exam format: Up to 90 questions (including performance-based questions), 90 minutes, passing score of 750.
Who it's for: Anyone targeting a cybersecurity, information security, or IT security role. Security+ is also required for US federal and DoD IT positions under the DoD 8570/8140 baseline certification framework. Explore our Security+ practice questions to see the depth of content you'll need to cover.
Security+ assumes comfort with networking concepts and basic security principles. Candidates who jump straight to Security+ without any networking background consistently find the exam harder and take longer to study for it.
The Four Common Starting Scenarios
Scenario 1: Complete Beginner
Your situation: You're new to IT. You might be changing careers, just finishing a degree in a non-IT field, or entering the workforce for the first time.
Recommended path: A+ → Network+ → Security+
Study and sit them sequentially. Don't rush. The knowledge genuinely compounds — concepts from A+ reappear in Network+, and both reappear in Security+. Candidates who try to shortcut this path often pass the later exams but with shakier foundations.
Timeline: 12–18 months studying part-time (around 10 hours/week) is realistic for all three certifications.
Scenario 2: IT Support Worker Targeting Cybersecurity
Your situation: You work help desk, desktop support, or a similar entry-level IT role. You have hands-on experience but no certifications.
Recommended path: Skip A+. Sit Network+ if you haven't already, then Security+.
If you spend your days troubleshooting hardware, configuring Windows, and resetting passwords, you have the equivalent of A+ experience. Spending months studying for an exam that tests what you already know every day is an inefficient use of time. Get the certification you don't have.
Timeline: Network+ in 2–3 months, then Security+ in 2–3 months after that.
Scenario 3: Career-Changer Targeting a DoD/Federal IT Role
Your situation: You're a military veteran, federal employee, or defence contractor targeting a role that explicitly requires Security+ under DoD 8570/8140. Your employer or prospective employer has told you: get Security+.
Recommended path: Go directly for Security+. If you lack networking knowledge, budget extra study time and cover networking fundamentals as part of your Security+ prep.
For this scenario, Security+ is the destination, not a stepping stone. Don't let a well-meaning career adviser talk you into three certifications when the job requires one.
Timeline: 8–16 weeks depending on your existing IT knowledge.
Scenario 4: Already Have A+, Deciding Between Network+ and Security+
Your situation: You passed A+ and are deciding what to study next.
Recommended path: Network+ first, unless a specific job listing you're applying for requires Security+ urgently.
Network+ will make Security+ significantly easier to pass. The networking concepts in Security+ (firewalls, VPNs, network segmentation, DNS security, protocol vulnerabilities) will feel familiar rather than alien. You'll study less total material across both exams if you take them in order.
Cost Consideration
CompTIA exams are not cheap. At the time of writing, each voucher costs approximately $239–$392 depending on the exam and how you purchase it. Discounts are available through CompTIA's academic partner programme, bulk purchases, and occasional sales.
This cost structure makes the certification order matter practically, not just educationally. If you fail Security+ because you skipped the foundations, you're paying $300+ for a retake.
One Subscription, All Three Certs
Once you decide on your path, you need quality practice questions for every exam. CompTIA Prep includes A+, Network+, and Security+ practice questions in a single subscription — so you can practise for your current exam and preview what's coming in the next one.
All three cert modules are available: start with the exam you're targeting and work through the domains systematically. Tracking your scores by domain will show you exactly where to spend your revision time.
The Bottom Line
The CompTIA A+ → Network+ → Security+ path exists for good reasons. Each certification builds on the last, and candidates who follow the sequence in order typically find each subsequent exam more manageable.
But the "right" order is the one that fits your career situation. If you have practical experience, skip what you already know. If a DoD role is on the line, go straight to Security+. If you're starting from zero, follow the path.
Whatever your order, consistent practice with realistic exam questions is what actually gets you through.