CERTIFICATION GUIDE

Network+
CompTIA

CompTIA Network+ is a global IT certification validating

candidates have the core skills necessary to establish,
maintain, troubleshoot and secure networks regardless
of technology or platform.​

• The only certification on the market aligned to job roles for early-career networking professionals. Exam #
Network+ is a crucial stepping-stone for early career professionals seeking a high-growth career in N10-009
networking and cybersecurity, validating a wide range of practical skills needed to harden networks,
deploy wired and wireless solutions, and ensure critical network availability. Release Date
June 20, 2024
• Network+ exclusively validates vendor-neutral network management knowledge.
Network+ is the premier vendor-neutral IT infrastructure certification, validating the fundamental Languages
skills required for early-career networking job roles and preparing candidates to effectively manage English initially, with
and maintain modern network environments, including cloud, virtualization, and IoT. Japanese, German,
Portuguese and Spanish
• The industry standard for establishing hands-on networking expertise across any environment. to follow.
Network+ aligns with global IT standards and best practices and proves early-career networking
professionals have the hands-on and technical skills required to manage network connectivity CE Required?
in any environment, preparing them for the diverse challenges they can expect to face in their IT Yes
careers.
Accreditation
CompTIA Network+ represents the latest advancements in networking, covering the most in-demand Accredited by ANSI to
skills related to network deployment, performance, security, troubleshooting and more. The CompTIA show compliance with the
Network+ certification will certify that the successful candidate has the knowledge and skills ISO 17024 Standard.
required to:

• Establish network connectivity by deploying wired and wireless devices. With over 3 million
• Explain the purpose of documentation and maintain network documentation. certifications
• Configure common network services. granted in key tech
• Explain basic data-center, cloud, and virtual-networking concepts. domains, CompTIA’s
• Monitor network activity and troubleshoot performance and availability issues. credentials reliably
• Implement network security hardening techniques. indicate professional
• Manage, configure, and troubleshoot network infrastructure. competence.
How Does CompTIA Network+ Compare to Alternatives?

Cisco CCNA

Experience Level Early Career Early Career

Performance-based Questions Yes Yes

Vendor Neutral Yes No

1 exam with a maximum of

Exam Length 1 exam, 120 min
90 questions, 90 min

Job role based. Not job role based.

Exam Focus Covers networking technologies Covers networking for Cisco products
across all vendors & solutions. and solutions only.

9-12 months in the IT networking

Prerequisites 9-12 months in a junior networking role
field recommended

Jobs That Use CompTIA Network+

• Junior Network Administrator • Systems Administrator • Telecommunications Technician • Tier II Support Technician
• NOC Technician • Datacenter Support Technician • IT Support Manager

The great majority of candidates with IT certifications are more confident in their abilities (92%).
Furthermore, most have more confidence to explore new job opportunities (81%).

PearsonVUE
2023 Value of IT Certifications Candidate Report; 2021 Value of IT Certification Employer Report

Organizations That Use CompTIA Network+

• Amazon • Booz Allen Hamilton • Raytheon
• Apple • General Dynamics • Ricoh
• Best Buy • Microsoft • Sony
• Bloomberg • Motorola • Verizon
• Blue Cross Blue Shield • Northrop Grumman • The United States Department of Defense
Technical Skills Covered in the Certification and Training

Networking • Explain concepts related to the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) reference model.
• Compare and contract networking appliances, applications and functions.
Concepts

23
• Summarize cloud concepts and connectivity options.
% • Explain common networking ports, protocols, services and traffic types.
• Compare and contrast transmission media and transceivers.
• Compare and contrast network topologies, architectures and types.
• Given a scenario, use appropriate IPv4 network addressing.
• Summarize evolving use cases for modern network environments.

Network • Explain characteristics of routing technologies.

Implementations • Given a scenario, configure switching technologies and features.

20% • Given a scenario, select and configure wireless devices and technologies.
• Explain important factors of physical installations.

Network • Explain the purpose of organizational processes and procedures.

Operations • Given a scenario, use network monitoring technologies.

19% • Explain disaster recovery (DR) concepts.

• Given a scenario, implement IPv4 and IPv6 network services.
• Compare and contrast network access and management methods.

Network • Explain the importance of basic network security concepts.

Security • Summarize various types of attacks and their impact to the network.

14%
• Given a scenario, apply network security features, defense techniques and solutions.

Network • Explain the troubleshooting methodology.

Troubleshooting • Given a scenario, troubleshoot common cabling and physical interface issues.

24% • Given a scenario, troubleshoot common issues with network services.

• Given a scenario, troubleshoot common performance issues.
• Given a scenario, use the appropriate tool or protocol to solve networking issues.

Nearly all IT managers (97%) recognize the value certified professionals bring to the
organization such as boosting productivity, helping to meet client requirements and closing
organizational gaps.
Skillsoft IT Skills & Salary Report 2022
Research and Statistics

Network+ is in U.S. employers posted nearly 38,000 job ads looking to hire candidates with
Demand Network+ certification over the last 12 months through October 2023.1

Well-Paying The median annual salary for Network Administrators is $90,520.2

Positions

Projected Job Demand for infrastructure skills continues to grow. There were 1.31 million workers
Growth employed in infrastructure roles in 2023. That is nearly 1 in 4, or 22% of all tech
workers that are primarily in an infrastructure role, with growth projected through the
next 10 years reaching about 1.47 million infrastructure workers by 2033.3

Training Available for CompTIA Network+

CompTIA CertMaster eLearning Solutions

First and foremost, CompTIA is an education company. We offer everything
candidates need to get ready for their Network+ certification exam.

CompTIA eLearning solutions feature a diverse set of hands-on, interactive

resources to promote the development of job-ready skills and give candidates
the confidence they need for success in a technology career. Training developed
by CompTIA offers options that fit various learning styles and timelines.

CertMaster Learn CertMaster Labs CertMaster Perform

CompTIA Certmaster Learn is a CompTIA CertMaster Labs is a CompTIA CertMaster Perform is a
comprehensive eLearning solution with new stand-alone lab solution that new eLearning solution, combining
instructional lessons, videos, practice enables hands-on practice and skills the best of both CertMaster Learn
questions, hands-on simulations and development through labs in both live and CertMaster Labs offering a
performance-based questions designed and simulated environments, making comprehensive eLearning experience
to help candidates gain the knowledge it easy for candidates to practice and that helps candidates gain knowledge
and skills to be successful on their apply their skills in real world scenarios and practical experience through
certification exam. in preparation for the certification exam. instructional lessons and labs in both
live and simulated environments.

CertMaster Practice CertMaster CE

CompTIA CertMaster Practice CompTIA CertMaster CE is a self-
is an adaptive online knowledge paced e-learning course that enables
assessment and training companion candidates to bridge knowledge gaps
tool that gauges preparedness for the and acquire new expertise to match
certification exam and helps candidates the requirements included in the most
identify and fill gaps in knowledge. recent exam objectives.
Official CompTIA Study Guides
Official CompTIA Content (OCC) is the only study material exclusively developed by CompTIA for the CompTIA certification
candidate; no other content library covers all exam objectives for all certifications.

CompTIA self-paced study guides are fully illustrated and packed with informative and accessible content that maps directly
to Network+ exam objectives, ensuring candidates focus on what they need to know for the certification exam. Study guides
are available in both eBook and print and are clearly structured and flexible so candidates can learn at any pace.

Instructor-led Training
Online instructor-led test preparation simulates the traditional classroom learning experience, training candidates on
everything they need to know to pass their CompTIA certification exam. All CompTIA instructor-led courses are taught by our
highly qualified CompTIA instructors. Each instructor holds the certification being taught and has real world IT experience.
CompTIA instructors follow industry-standard IT training best practices to get results.

* What does it mean to be a “high stakes” exam?

An extraordinarily high level of rigor is employed in developing CompTIA certifications. Each question created for a CompTIA exam
undergoes multiple layers of quality assurance and thorough psychometric statistical validation, ensuring CompTIA exams are
highly representative of knowledge, skills and abilities required of real job roles. This is why CompTIA certifications are a requirement
for many professionals working in technology. Hiring managers and candidates alike can be confident that passing a CompTIA
certification exam means confidence on the job.

* What does it mean to be a “vendor-neutral” certification?

All CompTIA certifications are vendor neutral. This means each exam covers multiple technologies without confining the
candidate to any one platform. Vendor neutrality is important because it ensures IT professionals can perform important job
tasks in any technology environment. IT professionals with vendor-neutral certifications can consider multiple solutions in their
approach to problem solving, making them more flexible and adaptable than those with training to just one technology.

1
Lightcast
2
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
3
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

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owners. Reproduction or dissemination prohibited without written consent of CompTIA Properties, LLC. Printed in the U.S. 10875-March2023 to 11072-Feb2024