Overview
CompTIA Network+ is a vendor-neutral certification for entry-level networking skills, run by CompTIA. The current version is V9, exam code N10-009, which launched on 20 June 2024. CompTIA lists its target roles as technical support specialist, network operations specialist and system administrator, and maps it to NICE and DoD 8140 work roles.
The certificate is earned by passing a single exam. There are no separate levels or stages.
Who can apply
CompTIA recommends the CompTIA A+ certification plus 9 to 12 months of hands-on experience as a junior network administrator or network support technician. These are recommendations, not entry requirements.
Exam pattern
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Exam code | N10-009 |
| Questions | Up to 90 |
| Question types | Multiple-choice and performance-based |
| Time allowed | 90 minutes |
| Languages | English, German, Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish |
Syllabus
The exam is split into five domains, each with a share of the questions.
| Domain | Share of exam |
|---|---|
| Networking concepts | 23% |
| Network implementation | 20% |
| Network operations | 19% |
| Network security | 14% |
| Network troubleshooting | 24% |
CompTIA describes the skills covered as deploying wired and wireless devices (IP addressing, ports, protocols and network architecture), documentation and configuration management, virtualisation and cloud concepts, monitoring networks for availability, hardening against security threats, and troubleshooting with the right tools.
Marking and results
The passing score is 720 on a scale of 100 to 900.
Important dates
The V9 exam launched on 20 June 2024. CompTIA estimates it will retire around 2027, usually about three years after launch. Check the official page for the confirmed retirement date and for the successor version before booking.
Preparation tips
Download the official N10-009 exam objectives from CompTIA and study against each domain.
Give extra time to troubleshooting and networking concepts, which together make up almost half of the exam.
Practise performance-based tasks, since they appear alongside multiple-choice questions.
What is the Network+ exam code?
The current version is V9, exam code N10-009.
What score do I need to pass?
A score of 720 on a scale of 100 to 900.
How long is the exam and what questions does it have?
It runs for 90 minutes with up to 90 questions, a mix of multiple-choice and performance-based.
Is CompTIA A+ required first?
No. CompTIA recommends A+ and 9 to 12 months of networking experience, but lists them as recommended experience.