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What Is CompTIA Network+ Certification?

January 3, 2025

The CompTIA Network+ certification is an IT certification exam that verifies you have the essential knowledge and skills in networking to develop a career in IT infrastructure.

Unlike other vendor-specific networking certifications, CompTIA Network+ prepares you to support the network regardless of the platform. It forms the foundation you need before specializing in a vendor solution. CompTIA Network+ is the only industry certification covering wired and wireless networks.

CompTIA’s Network+ validates the knowledge and skills needed to troubleshoot, configure, and manage wired and wireless networks in companies worldwide. CompTIA Network+ certifies a professional-level understanding of emerging technologies, including cloud and virtualization technologies.

What job roles should take the exam?

CompTIA Network+ is for professionals with the recommended prerequisite of CompTIA Network+ certification and nine months of networking experience looking to develop their networking careers. CompTIA Network+ prepares candidates for the following job roles:

  • Network administrator
  • Network field technician
  • Junior network administrator
  • IT consultant
  • Network field engineer
  • Computer technician
  • Help desk technician
  • System engineer
  • Network support specialist
  • Network analyst

How much can I make with CompTIA Network+ certification?

Here are a few CompTIA Network+ jobs and their average salaries according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:

  • Network administrator – $86,340
  • Network support specialist – $67,510
  • Network system analyst – $92,740

What is on the CompTIA Network+ exam?

CompTIA’s Network+ certification validates the knowledge and skills needed to troubleshoot, configure, and manage both wired and wireless networks in companies worldwide. CompTIA Network+ certifies a professional-level understanding of emerging technologies, including cloud and virtualization technologies.

CompTIA Network+ ensures an IT professional has the following knowledge and skills:

  • Design and implement functional networks
  • Configure, manage and maintain essential network devices
  • Use devices such as switches and routers to segment network traffic and create resilient networks
  • Identify the benefits and drawbacks of existing network configurations
  • Implement network security, standards, and protocols
  • Troubleshoot network problems
  • Support the creation of virtualized networks

The CompTIA Network+ exam includes the following domains and topics:

  • Networking Concepts: Explain the purpose of various networking concepts and implement them appropriately.
  • Infrastructure: Determine and explain the appropriate cabling, device, and storage technologies.
  • Network Operations: Use best practices to manage the network, determine policies, and ensure business continuity.
  • Network Security: Summarize physical security and common attacks while securing the wired and wireless network.
  • Network Troubleshooting and Tools: Explain the network troubleshooting methodology and appropriate tools to support connectivity and performance.

Click here to review the detailed exam objectives.

Who is CompTIA?

CompTIA helps students, professionals and career changers unlock their full potential by providing the tools to succeed as they begin or progress in a career in technology. We accomplish this through a shared commitment with academic institutions, partners, non-profits, job corps centers, and other organizations focused on developing and certifying the next generation of technology talent.

For more than 20 years, CompTIA has developed training and certification exams for computing support, networking, security, open-source (Linux) development, cloud, and mobility. Our regular review and updates of exams ensure that CompTIA certifications continue to address the needs of today’s technology challenges.

Ready for a career in networking?

We’ve made it easy to get started planning your path in networking.

  1. Begin by reading up on the four essential steps toward your certification.
  2. Then, learn everything you need to know about CompTIA Network+ certification.
  3. And finally, download the exam objectives.

CompTIA now offers several exam training options for CompTIA Network+ to fit your particular learning style and schedule. Many of these may be used in combination as you prepare for your exam.

There’s a wealth of information to take you all the way from deciding if CompTIA Network+ is right for you to taking your exam. We’re with you every step of the way!