Roadmap to Success: CompTIA Network+
Roadmap to Success is a series of posts designed to help learners better understand certification pathways, career opportunities associated with those certifications, and next steps beyond certification.
UPDATED: This article was updated on August 23, 2016, to reflect relevant changes to the CompTIA Network+ certification curriculum.
The CompTIA Network+ certification is an excellent entry point for learners just starting their IT careers, particularly in networking. It is among the most popular courses CBT Nuggets offers and is highly sought after by employers seeking entry-level IT professionals.
This certification generally qualifies learners for roles including network administrator, technician, installer, help desk technician, or IT cable installer.
CompTIA Network+
The CompTIA Network+ certification is intended to equip learners with the skills and knowledge needed to troubleshoot, configure, and manage common network wireless and wired devices, establish basic network design and connectivity, understand and maintain network documentation, identify network limitations and weaknesses, and implement network security, standards, and protocols.
The CompTIA Network+ certification consists of just one exam, CompTIA Network+ N10-006, covered by the CBT Nuggets course.
Typically, learners pursuing this certification should have 6-9 months of experience working in IT, particularly networking. The CompTIA Network+ certification is an entry-level professional certification, making it an excellent entry point for many new IT professionals.
Downloadable Study Plans
CBT Nuggets offers two study plans that map to Keith Barker's CompTIA Network+ N10-006 course. This downloadable CompTIA Network+ study plans to break down the courses and supplemental learning resources to equip learners with a strategic and manageable approach to conquer training goals.
Exam Details
The CompTIA Network+ is made up of just one exam.
Time allotted for exam: 1.5 hours (90 minutes)
Number of questions: Maximum of 90 questions
Passing score: 720 (on a scale of 100-900)
Question types: Multiple choice; multiple choice/multiple answer; drag and drop; and performance-based
Exam registration: Pearson Vue
Exam cost: $294 (USD)
Exam objectives: CompTIA Network+ N10-006 (free resource)
Recertification
CompTIA certifications are valid for three years from the date of certification. The CompTIA Network+ certification is eligible for renewal through CompTIA's continuing education (CE) program. CBT Nuggets is a CompTIA partner, meaning that our courses are pre-approved for continuing education credit.
Review our recent blog post, Continuing Education Credits for CompTIA for more information on our partnership with CompTIA.
The Next Step
CompTIA certifications serve as excellent building blocks enabling learners to pursue more advanced, vendor-specific certifications or further CompTIA certifications. Following the CompTIA Network+ certification, learners most typically pursue:
CCNA Routing and Switching (made up of two exams: ICND1 and ICND2);
MCSA Windows Server 2012 R2 (made up of three exams: 70-410, 70-411, and 70-412); or
CompTIA Security+ (made up of just one exam: SY0-401).
Often, the next step in training is determined by the products learners use in their work.
Career Considerations
CompTIA provides excellent information about IT career paths related to their certifications, including a career roadmap that identifies certifications from CompTIA and other providers that equip learners for specific career opportunities.
Payscale.com/ provides a helpful salary guide to help learners determine appropriate pay scales for job opportunities associated with the CompTIA Network+ certification.
Depending on professional experience, someone with a CompTIA Network+ certification can earn, on average, between $34,415 and $99,992. Roles for employees holding the CompTIA Network+ certification include systems administrator, network administrator, IT manager, network engineer, IT specialist, and more.
The CompTIA Network+ certification meets the requirements for DOD 8750 and/or DOD 8140 baseline certifications for IAT Level I, qualifying learners for Department of Defense jobs and contract work for the U.S. federal government.
CompTIA Certification Pathways
CompTIA certifications are considered to be "vendor neutral," meaning that the content addressed by CompTIA certifications is universally applicable to any product or brand. Generally, CompTIA certifications are broad in scope, providing a conceptual framework that can be broadly applied.
CompTIA certifications are broken down into four categories: Basic, Professional, Specialty, and Master certifications. However, no CompTIA certifications carry prerequisite exams, so learners can begin at any level. Though learners can start with any CompTIA certification, the hierarchy should be considered when developing training plans.
Basic certifications:
Professional certifications:
CompTIA Mobility+
Specialty certifications:
CompTIA CDIA+
CompTIA Healthcare IT Technician
CompTIA Social Media Security Professional (SMSP)
Master certifications:
Concluding Thoughts
Earning CompTIA Network+ certification is one of the first steps to launching a long-term, growth-oriented career in IT networking. Launch your networking career today with the CompTIA Network+ certification!
Watch. Learn. Conquer the CompTIA Network+!
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