Part of the Cybersecurity Learning Path Guide — This article is one deep-dive in our complete learning paths series.

CompTIA Certification Pathway: A+ to CASP+

By HADESS Team | February 28, 2026 | Updated: February 28, 2026 | 13 min read

Table of Contents

• Why CompTIA Certifications Still Matter
• The Complete CompTIA Certification Path
• A+ (Core 1 and Core 2)
• Network+
• Security+
• CySA+ (Cybersecurity Analyst)
• PenTest+
• CASP+ (CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner)
• Specialty Certifications: Cloud+, Linux+, Data+
• How to Plan Your Study Timeline
• Study Resources That Work
• Cost Breakdown and Budget Planning
• Related Guides in This Series
• Take the Next Step
• Frequently Asked Questions

Why CompTIA Certifications Still Matter

The CompTIA certification path remains the most structured entry point into cybersecurity in 2026. Despite criticism from some corners of the security community — “certs do not equal skills” is a refrain you will hear often — CompTIA certifications serve specific and valuable purposes at each career stage.

For career changers and people without a technical background, CompTIA provides a structured learning framework. The exams force you to study material you might otherwise skip. For job seekers, CompTIA certifications satisfy the checkbox that automated applicant tracking systems and HR departments screen for. For Department of Defense contractors, CompTIA certifications fulfill DoD 8570/8140 requirements that are legally mandated for certain positions.

The key is understanding what each certification does and does not prove, then sequencing them in a way that supports your career goals rather than collecting them for their own sake.

CompTIA certifications are vendor-neutral, meaning they test concepts rather than specific product knowledge. This is both a strength and a limitation. You learn how firewalls work, not how to configure a Palo Alto firewall. The concepts transfer; the specific skills need to be built separately through hands-on practice.

The Complete CompTIA Certification Path

Here is the full pathway, sequenced for a cybersecurity career:

“ A+ → Network+ → Security+ → CySA+ or PenTest+ → CASP+ “

Not everyone needs every step. Where you start depends on your existing knowledge:

• No IT background — Start at A+
• Help desk or basic IT experience — Start at Network+
• Networking or system administration experience — Start at Security+
• Already in a security role — Consider CySA+, PenTest+, or CASP+ directly

The most common mistake is starting too high. If you skip A+ and Network+ and jump straight to Security+, you may pass the exam through memorization but you will lack the foundational understanding that makes the security material meaningful.

A+ (Core 1 and Core 2)

What it covers: Hardware, operating systems, networking basics, mobile devices, virtualization, cloud concepts, troubleshooting, and operational procedures.

Who needs it: People with no IT experience who are building from the ground up. If you have never configured a network adapter, installed an operating system, or troubleshot a hardware problem, start here.

Who can skip it: Anyone with 6+ months of help desk, desktop support, or IT experience. If you can explain what DHCP does, know the difference between BIOS and UEFI, and have configured network settings on both Windows and Linux, you probably do not need this cert.

Exam details:

• Two exams: Core 1 (220-1101) and Core 2 (220-1102)
• 90 questions each, 90 minutes
• Performance-based questions (simulations) and multiple choice
• Passing score: 675/900 for Core 1, 700/900 for Core 2
• Cost: approximately $370 per exam ($740 total)

Study timeline: 4-8 weeks with 10-15 hours per week

Study approach: Professor Messer’s free video course combined with hands-on practice is sufficient for most people. Set up virtual machines, practice troubleshooting scenarios, and use the CompTIA exam objectives as your study checklist.

The A+ teaches you how to think about technology systematically. That thinking process is more valuable than any specific fact the exam tests.

Network+

What it covers: Network architecture, IP addressing and subnetting, routing and switching, network security, network troubleshooting, and cloud/virtualization networking.

Who needs it: Anyone going into cybersecurity. Networking knowledge is non-negotiable for security work. Even if you skip the exam, you should study the material. Every security tool, every attack technique, and every defense mechanism operates on top of network protocols.

Why it matters for security: You cannot analyze a packet capture if you do not understand what a SYN-ACK handshake looks like. You cannot detect lateral movement if you do not know how ARP works. You cannot configure a firewall if you do not understand subnets and routing.

Exam details:

• One exam: N10-009
• 90 questions, 90 minutes
• Passing score: 720/900
• Cost: approximately $370

Study timeline: 4-6 weeks with 15-20 hours per week

Study approach: Subnetting must become second nature. Practice it every day until you can subnet a /22 in your head. Use Wireshark to capture and analyze real traffic. Build a small network in a lab environment and configure it from scratch.

Hands-on labs matter more here than for A+. Reading about routing is not the same as watching packets take the wrong path because you misconfigured a route and then figuring out why.

Security+

What it covers: Threats, vulnerabilities, and attacks; architecture and design; implementation; operations and incident response; governance, risk, and compliance.

Who needs it: Almost everyone entering cybersecurity. Security+ is the de facto standard entry-level security certification. It is accepted worldwide, fulfills DoD 8570 IAT Level II, and appears in the majority of entry-level security job postings.

What it proves: You understand security concepts, common threats, and the principles of securing systems and data. It does not prove you can do security work — it proves you understand the theory well enough to start learning.

Exam details:

• One exam: SY0-701
• 90 questions, 90 minutes
• Performance-based questions and multiple choice
• Passing score: 750/900
• Cost: approximately $404

Study timeline: 6-10 weeks with 15-20 hours per week

Study approach: Study every exam objective. Use at least two resources — a video course and a textbook or practice test platform. The exam is broader than it is deep, so surface-level understanding of many topics beats deep knowledge of a few.

Performance-based questions trip people up. Practice configuring firewalls, analyzing log data, and identifying attack types in simulated scenarios before exam day.

For a detailed 90-day preparation plan, see our Security+ in 90 days guide.

CySA+ (Cybersecurity Analyst)

What it covers: Threat and vulnerability management, software and systems security, security operations and monitoring, incident response, and compliance and assessment.

Who needs it: Analysts heading toward SOC, incident response, or threat intelligence roles. CySA+ is the natural next step after Security+ for defensive security careers. It validates that you can detect, analyze, and respond to security events.

How it differs from Security+: Security+ tests whether you understand security concepts. CySA+ tests whether you can apply them. The exam scenarios are more realistic — you get log data, alert outputs, and packet captures and need to determine what happened.

Exam details:

• One exam: CS0-003
• 85 questions, 165 minutes
• Heavy on performance-based questions
• Passing score: 750/900
• Cost: approximately $404

Study timeline: 6-8 weeks with 15-20 hours per week (assumes Security+ level knowledge)

Study approach: Set up Splunk or Elastic and practice analyzing logs. Study MITRE ATT&CK tactics and techniques. Practice with SOC simulation platforms. The exam expects you to look at real-ish data and draw conclusions.

CySA+ is often underestimated. It is harder than Security+ and more practical. People who study only theory and skip the hands-on analysis practice fail at high rates.

PenTest+

What it covers: Planning and scoping, information gathering and vulnerability scanning, attacks and exploits, reporting and communication, and tools and code analysis.

Who needs it: People pursuing offensive security careers. PenTest+ validates fundamental pen testing knowledge and methodology. It is not a replacement for the OSCP, but it serves as a stepping stone and satisfies certain compliance and hiring requirements.

How it compares to OSCP: PenTest+ is a multiple-choice and performance-based exam. OSCP is a hands-on practical exam where you hack into machines. PenTest+ proves you understand pen testing concepts; OSCP proves you can do pen testing. Many people take PenTest+ first and OSCP later.

Exam details:

• One exam: PT0-002
• 85 questions, 165 minutes
• Performance-based and multiple choice
• Passing score: 750/900
• Cost: approximately $404

Study timeline: 6-8 weeks with 15-20 hours per week

Study approach: Practice on Hack The Box or TryHackMe alongside your study material. The exam tests methodology knowledge — can you plan a test, scope it, choose the right tools, and explain findings in a report? Hands-on practice and report writing are both important.

CASP+ (CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner)

What it covers: Security architecture, security operations, security engineering and cryptography, and governance, risk, and compliance at an enterprise level.

Who needs it: Security professionals with 5-10 years of experience who want an advanced vendor-neutral certification. CASP+ fulfills DoD 8570 IAT Level III and IASAE requirements. It positions you for security architect, senior security engineer, or security management roles.

How it differs from everything below it: CASP+ has no multiple choice. Every question is scenario-based, requiring you to analyze a situation and select the best course of action. There is no “right answer” in many cases — there is a “best answer given the constraints.” This mirrors real-world security decision-making.

Exam details:

• One exam: CAS-004
• 90 questions, 165 minutes
• Scenario-based, no straight multiple choice
• Pass/fail (no numeric score)
• Cost: approximately $509

Study timeline: 8-12 weeks with 15-20 hours per week

Study approach: CASP+ requires experience to understand. Studying for it without having worked in security is like reading about surgery without having been in an operating room. Use scenario-based study materials and focus on understanding trade-offs rather than memorizing facts.

Specialty Certifications: Cloud+, Linux+, Data+

CompTIA also offers specialty certifications that supplement the core pathway:

• Cloud+ (CV0-004) — validates multi-cloud architecture and security knowledge. Useful if your target role involves cloud security.
• Linux+ (XK0-005) — validates Linux system administration. Useful for pen testing, SOC, and DevSecOps paths where Linux is the primary operating system.
• Data+ (DA0-001) — validates data analysis fundamentals. Relevant for security analytics and GRC roles.

These are optional. Pursue them if they align with your specific career direction, not as general resume padding.

How to Plan Your Study Timeline

The most effective approach is one certification at a time with no more than 8-10 weeks between starting study and sitting the exam. Longer timelines lead to forgetting earlier material and losing momentum.

Recommended sequences by career goal:

Parentheses indicate optional steps that depend on your existing knowledge.

Study Resources That Work

Free resources:

• Professor Messer (video courses for A+, Network+, Security+)
• Cybrary (free tier for select courses)
• CompTIA official exam objectives (your study checklist)

Paid resources worth the investment:

• Jason Dion’s Udemy courses and practice exams (frequently on sale for $10-15)
• CompTIA CertMaster Practice (expensive but well-aligned with exam format)
• Boson practice exams (known for being harder than the real exam — good preparation)

Practice environments:

• TryHackMe (subscription) for CySA+ and PenTest+ prep
• Hack The Box (subscription) for PenTest+ prep
• Home lab with VMs for all certifications

The pattern that works: watch/read the material, take notes on concepts you do not understand, do hands-on practice, then test yourself with practice exams. Repeat until you consistently score 85%+ on practice tests.

Cost Breakdown and Budget Planning

CompTIA certifications are not cheap. Budget accordingly:

Cost reduction strategies:

• CompTIA Academic pricing (if you qualify through a school partnership)
• CompTIA voucher bundles (exam + retake for a discount)
• Employer reimbursement (many companies cover certification costs)
• GI Bill benefits for qualifying veterans
• WGU or other academic programs that include CompTIA vouchers in tuition

Plan your certification roadmap with the HADESS Certificate Roadmap tool, which factors in cost, timeline, and career goal alignment.

Related Guides in This Series

• How to Self-Study for Security+ in 90 Days
• SOC Analyst Learning Path: From Zero to Hired
• Penetration Tester Roadmap 2026

Take the Next Step

Plan your full certification path with the HADESS Certificate Roadmap tool, which sequences certifications based on your career goals, timeline, and budget.

Frequently Asked Questions

What order should I take CompTIA certifications for cybersecurity?

A. The standard sequence is Network+ then Security+ then either CySA+ (defensive) or PenTest+ (offensive). If you have no IT experience, add A+ at the beginning. Skip certifications that cover material you already know from work experience.

How long does it take to get Security+ from scratch?

A. If you have Network+ level knowledge, 6-10 weeks of focused study at 15-20 hours per week. If you are starting with no IT background, add 8-12 weeks for A+ and Network+ foundations first. Total from zero: 4-6 months.

Are CompTIA certifications recognized internationally?

A. Yes. CompTIA certifications are recognized in over 140 countries. They are ISO/ANSI accredited. Security+ is particularly well-recognized globally because of its vendor-neutral content and DoD approval.

Should I get CySA+ or PenTest+ after Security+?

A. It depends on your career direction. CySA+ is the right choice for SOC analyst, incident response, and threat intelligence paths. PenTest+ is right for offensive security and penetration testing paths. If you are unsure, CySA+ has broader applicability.

How long do CompTIA certifications last?

A. Three years from the date you pass the exam. You renew by earning Continuing Education Units (CEUs) — attending training, publishing articles, completing higher certifications, or participating in industry events. You do not need to retake the exam to renew.

— HADESS Team consists of cybersecurity practitioners, hiring managers, and career strategists who have collectively spent 50+ years in the field.