If you’ve spent some time resetting passwords, swapping cables, or fielding “the internet is down” tickets, you’ve probably wondered how to move from general IT support into networking. The CompTIA Network+ certification is one of the most common next steps. It shows employers that you understand how networks are designed, configured, monitored, secured, and repaired, regardless of which vendor’s equipment they use.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through who Network+ is for, what CompTIA recommends before you sit for the exam, how long to study, the jobs and salaries it can support, how to keep it active, and which certifications make sense next.

Who Should Take the CompTIA Network+ Exam?

CompTIA positions Network+ as a certification for early-career networking professionals. It’s a strong fit if you are:

  • A help desk or desktop support technician who wants to take on more network responsibility, such as troubleshooting switches, Wi-Fi, and DHCP or DNS problems.
  • A recent A+ earner looking for the next logical step in CompTIA’s core series (A+, Network+, Security+).
  • A junior network administrator or NOC technician who has learned on the job and wants a credential that proves it.
  • A career changer or student in an IT program who wants a vendor-neutral foundation before specializing in Cisco, cloud, or security.
  • A systems administrator or developer who works around networks and wants to fill knowledge gaps in routing, subnetting, and troubleshooting.

CompTIA aligns Network+ with technical support specialist, network operations specialist, and system administrator job roles, including DoD 8140 work roles. That matters if you’re pursuing government or defense contractor work.

Who Might Want to Wait?

If you’re brand-new to IT and terms like IP address, MAC address, and default gateway are unfamiliar, you may get more out of starting with CompTIA A+ or building basic hands-on skills first. On the other end, if you already configure enterprise routers and switches daily, you may be ready for the exam quickly, or you might choose a vendor-specific certification like Cisco’s CCNA instead of, or alongside, Network+.

What Are the CompTIA Network+ Eligibility Requirements?

There are no formal eligibility requirements. Anyone can buy an exam voucher and schedule the N10-009 exam.

CompTIA does recommend the following preparation on its Network+ certification page:

  • CompTIA A+ certification (or equivalent knowledge).
  • 9 to 12 months of hands-on experience in a junior network administrator or network support technician role.

These recommendations reflect the level the exam is written for. Many candidates pass with less experience, but they usually make up for it with lab practice.

How Do You Register?

  1. Purchase an exam voucher from CompTIA (the certification page lists current pricing).
  2. Create an account and schedule through Pearson VUE, either at a test center or online with OnVUE proctoring.
  3. Review the CompTIA testing options page for ID, test-day, and online proctoring rules.
  4. Take the exam. You’ll see your score on screen right away, and you need 720 on a 100–900 scale to pass.

If you don’t pass, CompTIA’s retake policy lets you retest immediately after the first attempt. Before a third or later attempt, you must wait at least 14 calendar days, and each attempt requires a new voucher.

How Long Should You Study for the CompTIA Network+ Exam?

Most candidates need 6 to 12 weeks of consistent study, depending on their background and how much time they can commit each week. These are planning ranges, not official CompTIA figures.

  • Experienced (working in networking, strong on subnetting): 4 to 6 weeks, focusing on new N10-009 topics like SASE, infrastructure as code, and zero trust, plus timed practice.
  • A+ level with some support experience: 8 to 10 weeks at 6 to 8 hours per week.
  • Newer to IT: 12 weeks or more, with extra time for the OSI model, ports, and subnetting before moving on.

Sample 10-Week Network+ Study Plan

This plan follows the domain weights in the N10-009 exam objectives, giving the most time to Networking Concepts (23%) and Network Troubleshooting (24%).

  • Week 1: Take a baseline quiz. Start Domain 1.0 with the OSI model, appliances, and cloud concepts.
  • Week 2: Finish Domain 1.0: ports and protocols, media and connectors, topologies, and modern use cases like SD-WAN and VXLAN.
  • Week 3: IPv4 subnetting practice every day (CIDR, VLSM, private ranges) and IPv6 basics.
  • Week 4: Domain 2.0: routing (OSPF, EIGRP, BGP, administrative distance), switching (VLANs, 802.1Q, spanning tree), wireless, and physical installations.
  • Week 5: Domain 3.0: documentation, SNMP and syslog monitoring, disaster recovery metrics, DHCP, DNS, and remote access methods.
  • Week 6: Domain 4.0: security concepts, attack types, and defenses like 802.1X, port security, and ACLs.
  • Weeks 7 and 8: Domain 5.0: the seven-step troubleshooting methodology, cable and interface issues, service issues, performance issues, and command-line tools. Practice in a lab or simulator.
  • Week 9: Mixed review of your weakest objectives and PBQ-style practice.
  • Week 10: Full-length timed practice exams, a final pass through the acronym list, and rest before exam day.

What Careers Can CompTIA Network+ Support?

Network+ is often listed in job postings for roles such as:

  • Network support specialist or network technician
  • Junior network administrator
  • Network operations center (NOC) technician
  • Technical support specialist or field service technician
  • Systems administrator

These roles show up in nearly every industry, including managed service providers, telecommunications, healthcare, education, finance, and government. Over time, many Network+ holders move into network administration, network engineering, cloud networking, or cybersecurity.

What Is the Salary for CompTIA Network+ Jobs?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) doesn’t track pay by certification, but it does publish data for the occupations Network+ commonly supports. According to the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for computer support specialists, the median pay in May 2025 was:

  • Computer network support specialists: $76,220 per year
  • Computer user support specialists: $61,860 per year
  • All computer support specialists: $62,890 per year

As you gain experience, network administration pays more. The BLS reports a median of $99,130 in 2025 for network and computer systems administrators, a role that typically calls for a bachelor’s degree.
It’s worth knowing the outlook, too. BLS projects employment of computer support specialists to decline 3% from 2025 to 2035 and network and computer systems administrators to decline 4%, largely because of automation and outsourcing.

Even so, BLS expects about 48,700 openings per year for support specialists and 13,400 for administrators, mostly to replace workers who move on. Skills in automation, cloud, and security, several of which appear on N10-009, can help you stand out.

How Do You Maintain the CompTIA Network+ Certification?

Network+ is valid for three years from the date you pass. To renew it through the CompTIA Continuing Education (CE) program, you need 30 continuing education units (CEUs) within your three-year cycle. According to CompTIA’s CEU page, options include:

  • Completing CompTIA CertMaster CE for Network+.
  • Earning a qualifying higher-level CompTIA certification or approved non-CompTIA IT certification.
  • Completing approved training or college courses.
  • Related work experience, industry participation, or publishing.

Activities must relate to the exam objectives, and a CE fee applies, so check CompTIA’s CE pages for the current amount.

What Certifications Stack Well With CompTIA Network+?

The best next step depends on where you want your career to go:

  • CompTIA Security+: The natural next step for most candidates. It builds directly on Network+ Domain 4.0 and is widely required for DoD cybersecurity roles.
  • Cisco CCNA: A strong choice if you’ll work with Cisco routers and switches. Network+ gives you the theory, and CCNA adds vendor-specific configuration depth.
  • CompTIA Cloud+ or a cloud provider’s networking certification: Good if your organization runs workloads in AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.
  • CompTIA Linux+ or Server+: Useful if you’re heading toward systems administration.
  • CompTIA CySA+: A later step for security operations roles once you’ve earned Security+ and built experience.

Start Preparing for the CompTIA Network+ Exam With Pocket Prep

Pocket Prep’s CompTIA Network+ practice questions give you 1,130 exam-style questions, each with a detailed explanation, plus a full-length mock exam that mirrors the 90-question format. Fit study into short breaks with Quick 10, and keep your momentum going with study reminders. Wherever you’re starting from, consistent practice will get you there.