SecProve
ProfessionalVendor-neutralCompTIA· issued from US

Net+

CompTIA Network+

CompTIA Network+

Official page at CompTIA↔ Compare with another cert
Exam fee
$358
Ongoing
$0/yr AMF · 17 CPE/yr
Study time
40–100 hrs
Delivery
Hybrid
Validity
3 yrs (renewal cycle)

› Quality score

29.5 / 40

Four-axis SecProve rubric, each 0–10. SecProve editorial assessment — each axis carries a written justification so you can push back on any single call without dismissing the whole score.

Blueprint rigor
How well-defined and rigorous the exam blueprint is.
CompTIA Network+ ECO is well-defined and provider-neutral.
7.5/10
Practical evidence
Hands-on labs / written reports vs pure MCQ.
Performance-based items with networking scenarios.
5.5/10
Currency & upkeep
How aggressively content is kept current with the field.
Three-year refresh cycle; current N10-009 reflects modern infra.
7.5/10
Market recognition
How often this signal actually moves a hiring decision.
Universally accepted entry-level networking credential. [Holders: 600k, 2024-12]
9.0/10

› Market signals

public, citable inputs to the recognition score
Holders worldwide
600,000
as of 2024-12 · source

› Exam format

Max. 90 questions (multiple-choice + performance-based), 90 minutes, proctored via Pearson VUE. Passing score: 720/900.

Passing score
720/900 (~80%)
Retake policy
Fee: $404 per attempt
Wait: 0d between attempts

First retake immediate; 14-day wait before each subsequent attempt. Retake fee equals the standard exam fee.

› Recertification

Valid for 3 years. Renewal via 30 CEUs or higher-level CompTIA cert (stacking) or re-exam.

› NICE Framework work roles

The NIST NICE work-role IDs this cert maps to. NICCS lookup.

DD-WRL-001DD-WRL-004DD-WRL-007IO-WRL-004IO-WRL-005IO-WRL-007PD-WRL-004
Recognition
Global
Exam languages
en

› Core domains covered

The 1 domain this cert is centrally about. Passing the exam demonstrates working knowledge of each.

A2Network Security

Firewalls, IDS/IPS, network segmentation, DNS security, SD-WAN, VPN, traffic analysis, wireless security.

› Prerequisites

Experience

No formal prerequisites. Recommended: A+ and 9–12 months networking experience.

› Progression

requiredrecommended

Where this cert fits in the typical learning path. Required edges are vendor-gated; recommended edges reflect de facto industry progression.

Required prereqs (0)

No vendor-gated prereqs.

Recommended priors (0)

No de facto priors typically expected.

Net+
CompTIA
Required by (0)

No certs require this one.

Recommended next (1)
Security+CompTIA

› Study materials

Curated starting points. Not exhaustive — vet each against your learning style and the current exam version.

Official guides
  • CompTIA Network+ (N10-008) Study Guide — Sybex / Pearson IT Certification
Training providers
Practice tests
  • Boson ExSim-Max for Network+ (N10-008)
  • Jason Dion Practice Exams (Udemy)

› Version & lifecycle

Current version
N10-008
Released
2021-09

N10-009 expected 2025.

› Salary signal

Junior network administrator, US, 1-3 years.

$60K–$95K
median $75K

Robert Half Salary Guide + Glassdoor 'Network Administrator' aggregations · 2024 · US base only · p25–p75 range

› How it compares

vs
CCNA

Network+ is vendor-neutral fundamentals; CCNA is Cisco-specific with more depth.

↔ Compare side-by-side
vs
Security+

Network+ → Security+ is the standard CompTIA progression for security analysts.

↔ Compare side-by-side

See this cert’s domains highlighted on the interactive map, or compare it against the rest of the catalog.

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