Tech+ vs A+: Which CompTIA Certification Should You Take First?

Two CompTIA certifications sit near the start of the pathway, and beginners constantly ask which to take first: Tech+ or A+. They're not competitors so much as two different starting lines. This article compares them by difficulty, format, and career value so you can pick the one that fits where you're actually starting from.

New to Tech+ itself? The complete Tech+ guide covers the exam. This piece is about the choice.

The one-line difference

Tech+ is a technology-literacy certification for people with little or no IT background. A+ is a job-ready technician certification for people ready to work in hands-on support roles. Tech+ answers "is IT for me, and do I understand the basics?" A+ answers "can I do the job of an IT support technician?"

Difficulty and depth

Tech+ (FC0-U71) is deliberately broad and shallow. It's a single exam, entirely multiple-choice with no performance-based questions, and it requires no prior experience. It's designed to build a foundation and confidence.

A+ is a bigger commitment. It's a two-exam certification (Core 1 and Core 2), it includes performance-based simulations, and it goes far deeper into hardware, operating systems, troubleshooting, and support procedures. It assumes — or expects you to build — real hands-on familiarity.

If you're a complete beginner, jumping straight to A+ can feel like being thrown in the deep end. Tech+ lets you learn to swim first.

Format at a glance

• Tech+: one exam, up to 70 multiple-choice questions, 60 minutes, 650/900 to pass, no PBQs, and lifetime validity for the standard version. See the format guide.
• A+: two separate exams (Core 1 and Core 2), each with multiple-choice and performance-based questions, and a three-year renewal cycle rather than lifetime validity.

Career value

Here's the honest part. A+ is the credential employers actually recognize for entry-level IT support and help desk roles — it's a genuine job qualifier. Tech+ is not primarily a job-getter; it's a foundation-builder and a signal of digital literacy. It helps students, career changers, and non-technical professionals establish a base and decide whether to invest further.

So the career answer depends on your goal. If you want an IT support job soon, A+ is the target. If you're exploring, building confidence, or need foundational literacy for a non-technical role, Tech+ is the smarter first step — and it makes A+ easier when you get there.

Who should take which

Take Tech+ first if you:

• Have little or no IT background and want a gentle, confidence-building start.
• Are a student or career changer exploring whether tech is right for you.
• Work in a non-technical field and want solid technology literacy.
• Want a lifetime credential without renewal obligations.

Go straight to A+ if you:

• Already have some hands-on experience with computers and networks.
• Are aiming for an IT support or help desk job in the near term.
• Are comfortable with a bigger, two-exam commitment that includes simulations.

Many people do Tech+ then A+, using the first to build a base and the second to become job-ready. From there the pathway continues to Network+, Security+, and eventually specialized credentials — the long game leads toward certifications like PenTest+ and beyond. Our is Tech+ worth it piece maps that journey.

If Tech+ is your starting point

The official self-paced course is the most straightforward way to cover every objective, especially for a first certification.

Get started: CompTIA Tech+ CertMaster Learn (FC0-U71). As an Authorized CompTIA Partner, materials are official. When you're ready to book, you'll redeem a CompTIA exam voucher at Pearson VUE.

A note on voucher eligibility: Voucher eligibility depends on your exam testing location, per CompTIA policy. Testing in an emerging-market region? We don't sell those here — contact us.

FAQ

Is Tech+ easier than A+? Yes. Tech+ is a single, broad, multiple-choice exam with no simulations, while A+ is a deeper, two-exam certification with performance-based questions.

Which one gets me a job? A+ is the recognized entry-level qualifier for IT support and help desk roles. Tech+ is a foundation-builder rather than a direct job-getter.

Do I have to take Tech+ before A+? No. Tech+ isn't a prerequisite. It's an optional gentler starting point for complete beginners.

Does A+ replace Tech+? They serve different purposes. A+ is job-focused; Tech+ builds foundational literacy and confidence first.

If I already use computers confidently, should I skip Tech+? Possibly. If you have hands-on familiarity and want a job-ready credential, A+ may be the better first target.