Network+ or A+?

[Mary Worley]

Hey, hey, hey you all! I, too, am sharing that I passed my A+ last week!!! On to studying for the Network+ next.

Question...I wanted to confirm something that I was told about the CompTIA exams. I was told that if you jump to the Network+ exam and pass it, you would basically have the A+ incorporated, or something like that? I'm looking for the best way to advise my students that have completed prep for both A+ and Network+. Of course, I will also speak with them to see what preference they each have, but I wanted to get some expert opinions. Should they jump right to Network+ and not worry about going back to take A+ also? I've heard Network+ is easier since it's more focused.

Thoughts??

 

[Fanuel]

From my understanding of this, when you certify in N+ you get N+ Certification only. However, when you certify for both A+ and N+ you get additional certificate which is called stackable certificate. A+ and N+ make CompTIA IT Operations Specialist (CIOS).

I would encourage you to advise your students to take all the exam if they are to have stackable certification

 

[Stuart]

Each CompTIA exam builds on the previous, and there is some overlap for example in Security+ you use parts of A+ and Network+. I advise my students to take both A+ and Network+ certifications this way, they can earn the stackable cert, as @Fanuel said above. I also find that when students pass exams and earn the certification it gives them the buzz to move onto the next

 

[Mary Worley]

Each CompTIA exam builds on the previous, and there is some overlap for example in Security+ you use parts of A+ and Network+. I advise my students to take both A+ and Network+ certifications this way, they can earn the stackable cert, as @Fanuel said above. I also find that when students pass exams and earn the certification it gives them the buzz to move onto the next

Thank you for the helpful information!

 

[Gregory Childers]

A+ covers hardware & software troubleshooting.
Network+ covers a broad foundational knowledge of networking.
Security+ covers a broad foundational knowledge of security.

You need to know hardware and software to understand networking.
You need to know hardware, software, and networking to understand security.

 

[Rick Butler]

The way I see it, it's really based on the role and the kinds of things a person will need to know. CompTIA also builds the Core series with each test subsequently more challenging than the previous ones. So I would not say that "Network+ incorporates everything from the A+", because it clearly doesn't. Network+ builds on what you learn in the A+, but those are new skills that fit nicely atop the previous ones.

As to difficulty, I have seen people ace the Net+ and struggle with the A+ - and vice versa. Some people cannot get their head around ports, protocols, and subnetting, while being able to understand PC architecture easily enough. I think that depends wholly on how you're wired.

/r

 

[Jill West]

What you might be thinking of is the renewal process. If you pass A+, you get your one certification. If you have already passed A+ and then pass Net+, it also renews your lower level certs, including A+. But have to have already passed A+ within the previous 3 years.

https://www.comptia.org/continuing-...ity/earn-a-higher-level-comptia-certification

 

[Jarrel]

Hey, hey, hey you all! I, too, am sharing that I passed my A+ last week!!! On to studying for the Network+ next.

Question...I wanted to confirm something that I was told about the CompTIA exams. I was told that if you jump to the Network+ exam and pass it, you would basically have the A+ incorporated, or something like that? I'm looking for the best way to advise my students that have completed prep for both A+ and Network+. Of course, I will also speak with them to see what preference they each have, but I wanted to get some expert opinions. Should they jump right to Network+ and not worry about going back to take A+ also? I've heard Network+ is easier since it's more focused.

Thoughts??

Congratulations in passing A+!
I trust you meant Core1 and Core2 exams right?

Network+ is a different category of exam.
Where A+ has sort-of-like a general IT coverage, network+ is focused on networking.

Passing Network+ does NOT mean that you get A+ cert as well - co'z they are separate certifications.
However, if you already have A+, then you pass Network+, then you will automatically be able to renew your A+ cert as well. Nice right?

Passing Network+ and A+ will also give you a stackable certificate known as CompTIA IT Operations Specialist (CIOS)

Can you pass Network+ alone, yeah of course!
There's no prerequisite that you need to complete A+ first before you take Network+.
My first cert is Net+. Then I worked on A+afterwards.
However, as many have already pointed out - if you do not have a background on IT, then it is best that you study A+ first before you go to Network+ so that you have a general view of IT before going deep dive into the realm of networking.

 

[jasoneckert]

I've heard Network+ is easier since it's more focused.

I wouldn't say Network+ is easier than A+. Most students find it more difficult because they are new to networking and network technologies in general (i.e., few students would have heard of a VLAN prior to a Network+ class, but most students would have heard of many of the Windows and computing-related topics prior to an A+ course). That being said, A+ is an excellent introduction to the IT landscape in general, with focus on PC support, while Network+ is an excellent introduction to the network administration landscape in general, with focus on IP and device configuration.

 

[Mol_lyC]

A+ covers hardware & software troubleshooting.
Network+ covers a broad foundational knowledge of networking.
Security+ covers a broad foundational knowledge of security.

You need to know hardware and software to understand networking.
You need to know hardware, software, and networking to understand security.

This is exactly the statement I need to make to my students. I might steal this for a bulletin board. Perfect explanation.