CompTIA Network+ is a vendor-neutral IT certification that validates the core knowledge and skills required to design, configure, manage, and troubleshoot network infrastructure. It’s issued by CompTIA (Computing Technology Industry Association), covers networking concepts that apply across any manufacturer or environment, and sits directly in the pathway between CompTIA A+ and Security+. For IT professionals who want to work in networking, cybersecurity, or systems administration, Network+ is one of the most recognized and widely required foundational credentials in the industry.
The current version is N10-009, released June 2024. Here’s what it covers, who it’s for, and whether it’s the right move for you.
What “Vendor-Neutral” Means, and Why It Matters
Cisco CCNA and Juniper JNCIA are vendor-specific certifications, they teach you how those companies’ products work. Network+ doesn’t work that way. It covers networking principles that apply regardless of which hardware or software you’re working with: OSI model, TCP/IP protocol suite, subnetting, VLANs, routing protocols, wireless security, network troubleshooting methodology.
That breadth is both the certification’s core value proposition and the reason so many employers list it as required or preferred.
What the N10-009 Exam Covers
The current Network+ exam (N10-009) is organized into five domains:
| Domain | Exam Weight |
|---|---|
| Networking Concepts | 23% |
| Network Implementation | 20% |
| Network Operations | 19% |
| Network Security | 14% |
| Network Troubleshooting | 24% |
Networking Concepts covers the building blocks: OSI model layers and functions, TCP/IP, IP addressing (IPv4 and IPv6), subnetting, DNS, DHCP, network topologies, wireless networking standards (Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6), and common ports and protocols.
Network Implementation goes into practical setup: configuring switches, routers, and access points; VLANs; routing protocols; cloud networking concepts (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS); virtualization; and physical cabling standards.
Network Operations covers day-to-day network management: monitoring tools, network documentation, change management procedures, high availability and disaster recovery concepts.
Network Security addresses threats, defenses, and configurations: firewalls, IDS/IPS, VPNs, AAA authentication, network hardening, zero-trust concepts, and common attack types (DDoS, man-in-the-middle, spoofing).
Network Troubleshooting is where the exam gets applied: troubleshooting methodology, physical layer issues, switch and router problems, wireless issues, and network performance analysis.
For the full exam breakdown, costs, and study strategy, see our complete guide to CompTIA Network+.
Exam Format
- Questions: Up to 90
- Time: 90 minutes
- Passing score: 720 out of 900
- Question types: Multiple-choice, performance-based questions (PBQs), and drag-and-drop
- Cost: Approximately $369 per attempt (2026)
- Validity: 3 years from certification date
Performance-based questions deserve special mention. PBQs simulate real-world network scenarios: analyze a network diagram, calculate subnets, identify the source of a connectivity problem, configure settings. Candidates who skip hands-on practice typically find PBQs the hardest part of the exam.
Who Is Network+ For?
Career changers entering IT who have foundational IT knowledge or equivalent IT support experience and want to specialize in networking or cybersecurity. IT support professionals growing their skills and wanting to formalize networking knowledge for roles that pay more. Pre-Security+ candidates: Network+ is recommended before Security+ because cybersecurity fundamentally requires understanding the network layer. Military veterans with networking skills learned in military IT roles. Anyone targeting government or defense IT where networking and security overlap heavily.
What Jobs Does Network+ Qualify You For?
Network Technician, Network Administrator, Network Support Specialist, Systems Administrator, Help Desk Technician (networking focus), Field Service Technician, Network Analyst, Junior Network Engineer.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), network and computer systems administrators earn a median annual wage of $96,800 as of May 2024. Computer network architects earn a median of $130,390.
Network+ in the Broader Certification Path
Before Network+: CompTIA A+ or equivalent foundational IT knowledge (recommended, not required); CompTIA Tech+ (formerly ITF+) for beginners starting from zero.
After Network+: CompTIA Security+ (most common next step, builds directly on Network+ networking knowledge); CompTIA Cloud+ (cloud infrastructure and networking); Cisco CCNA (vendor-specific for Cisco-heavy environments); EC-Council CEH (ethical hacking; MyCC is an EC-Council Center of Excellence); CompTIA CySA+ (cybersecurity analyst credential).
The A+, Network+, and Security+ trifecta is one of the most recognized credential stacks in entry-level IT and cybersecurity.
Do You Need Experience to Take Network+?
No. CompTIA recommends CompTIA A+ or equivalent foundational IT knowledge, plus 9 to 12 months of hands-on networking experience. But these are recommendations, not requirements. Candidates who come in with some IT background typically have an easier time with the material.
How Long Does It Take to Earn Network+?
Complete IT beginner: 3 to 4 months of structured study. A+ certified or equivalent IT background: 6 to 10 weeks. Working IT professional with networking exposure: 4 to 6 weeks of focused exam prep.
Most candidates need 60 to 100 total hours of preparation.
How to Renew Network+
Network+ is valid for three years. Renewal options: earn 30 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) through approved activities tracked through CompTIA’s CertMaster CE platform; pass a higher-level CompTIA certification (Security+, Cloud+, Server+, CySA+); pass a qualifying third-party certification (Cisco CCNA, Microsoft Azure Administrator); retake the current exam.
FAQ: What Is CompTIA Network+?
Is Network+ harder than A+?
Yes. A+ covers broad IT fundamentals. Network+ goes deeper into a specific technical domain: networking architecture, protocols, subnetting, routing, security, and troubleshooting. Subnetting and performance-based questions add difficulty that A+ doesn’t have.
What’s the difference between Network+ and CCNA?
Network+ is vendor-neutral and covers networking concepts applicable across any equipment or platform. Cisco CCNA is vendor-specific and goes deep into Cisco’s products, configuration commands, and environments. Many professionals earn both.
How much does CompTIA Network+ pay?
Network technicians report typical earnings of $50,000 to $68,000, according to labor market data (individual results vary based on role, experience, location, and employer). Network administrators earn $65,000 to $95,000, with the BLS reporting a median of $96,800 for the broader category as of May 2024.
What version of Network+ is current?
N10-009, released June 2024. The previous version (N10-008) retired in December 2024. Ensure your study materials are aligned to N10-009 objectives.
Can I skip Network+ and go straight to Security+?
Technically yes. But Security+ content assumes you understand how networks work: firewalls, IDS/IPS, VPNs, network-layer attacks all appear with networking knowledge as assumed background. Candidates who skip Network+ often find Security+ harder than it needs to be.
Is CompTIA Network+ recognized by the government?
Yes. Network+ is approved under DoD Directive 8140 for work roles including technical support specialist, network operations specialist, and system administrator. It’s widely recognized by government and defense contractor employers, and it pairs with Security+ for roles with stricter cybersecurity credentialing requirements.
Bottom Line
CompTIA Network+ is a vendor-neutral, broadly recognized networking certification that validates practical knowledge for network technician, administrator, and analyst roles. The current N10-009 exam covers modern networking realities: cloud networking, zero-trust concepts, wireless security, and systematic troubleshooting.
Network+ isn’t just a networking credential. It’s the foundation that makes Security+ more accessible, makes cybersecurity roles more attainable, and makes you a more complete IT professional.
If you want to see how Network+ fits into a complete plan for your career, MyCC’s free evaluation maps it out.