Choose a CompTIA certification by starting with the work you want to do—not by assuming you must climb a fixed exam ladder. CompTIA’s September 2024 roadmap groups credentials across cybersecurity, infrastructure and cloud, data and AI, service management, and software development, with broad experience levels that can help narrow your options. Those levels are a shortlist aid, not proof that everyone must earn each lower-level credential first.
Which CompTIA certification should you get first?
First, write down a target role or work area, the hands-on experience you already have, and whether you need broad foundations or a specific specialty. Then use the roadmap to identify a plausible track and level. If you are new to IT and want general support work, A+ is a reasonable starting point to investigate because CompTIA places it at beginner/novice. That does not make it a universal prerequisite or the right first exam for every career goal.
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Before booking, compare the current official exam objectives with the skills you want to demonstrate. CompTIA’s September 2024 roadmap is a directional overview; it does not establish current exam codes, objectives, formal prerequisites, renewal rules, fees, or regional availability. Verify each of those on CompTIA’s current certification pages.
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In its September 2024 roadmap, CompTIA places credentials into broad experience categories. These categories describe the chart’s organization; they do not assess your individual readiness or require a fixed sequence.
#1 Best Overall
| Roadmap level | Credentials shown |
|---|---|
| Beginner/novice | A+ |
| Intermediate | Network+, Security+, Server+, Data+, DataSys+, Linux+ |
| Advanced | Cloud+, CySA+, PenTest+ |
| Expert | CloudNetX, DataX, SecurityX |
The roadmap’s chart shows credentials by level, but a position on the chart is not evidence that every learner must complete the credential below it. Choose according to your target work and experience, then verify current details for the exam you are considering. CompTIA’s roadmap footnote says CASP+ was renamed SecurityX in November 2024; SecurityX is the name used in the chart.
Choose a track by the work you want to do
General IT support
If you want to build a foundation for general support work, investigate A+. CompTIA lists it at beginner/novice in the September 2024 roadmap. The chart supports treating it as an entry-level option, not as a requirement for all IT careers.
Networking and infrastructure
For networking or systems interests, the roadmap lists Network+, Server+, and Linux+ at intermediate, with Cloud+ at advanced. Consider whether you want to focus on core networking, server and systems work, Linux, or deeper cloud infrastructure rather than treating these credentials as interchangeable steps.
Cybersecurity
The roadmap places Security+ at intermediate, CySA+ and PenTest+ at advanced, and SecurityX at expert. These point to different emphases: a broad security foundation, defensive analysis, penetration testing, and more advanced security work. The chart does not establish that you must earn them in that order.
Cloud
Cloud+ appears at advanced and CloudNetX at expert in the roadmap. The infrastructure and cloud area also includes credentials from other providers. Decide whether your target work calls for vendor-neutral knowledge or skills aligned with the technology environment you expect to use; the roadmap alone does not show which employers or regions prefer either direction.
Data and AI
Data+ and DataSys+ appear at intermediate, while DataX is listed at expert. This is a distinct path to consider if your goal centers on data or AI-related work, rather than assuming that every IT learner should follow a cybersecurity sequence.
Rank #4
Service management and project work
Project+ and other project or service-management credentials also appear in the roadmap. Consider this direction when the roles you want emphasize coordination or service management. Check the current credential details separately before deciding on an exam.
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How to choose between two plausible certifications
When more than one credential seems relevant, compare them against the job you want rather than choosing whichever appears later on a chart.
Best Value
- Target work: Which credential’s subject area is closest to the tasks in your target role?
- Experience fit: Does the current exam objective set match what you have practiced, or does it cover substantial new ground?
- Breadth or specialty: Do you need a broad foundation or a narrower skill focus?
- Role relevance: Do job descriptions for the roles you are targeting ask for or value the skills the credential covers? The roadmap itself does not establish employer demand.
- Current exam fit: Do the current official objectives line up with the knowledge you want to demonstrate?
If one option is labeled a higher level but addresses work you do not plan to perform, the label alone is not a good reason to choose it. A sensible next credential is the one that closes a relevant skills gap.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to verify before registering
- Find the credential on CompTIA’s current certification pages and confirm the exam code and availability for your location.
- Read the current exam objectives and check that they match your target work and preparation needs.
- Check the current formal prerequisites, renewal requirements, and fee before making a plan or paying for an exam.
- If buying preparation materials, match the study guide or practice tests to the current exam version and verify the edition and listing. A book or course is not an endorsement by CompTIA.
What the roadmap can—and cannot—tell you
CompTIA’s September 2024 roadmap is useful for seeing the broad range of tracks and how the organization grouped credentials by level at that time. It is not a current detailed exam catalog, a universal learning sequence, or evidence of regional employer preference. Treat its labels as orientation, then use the current official certification pages to make an exam decision.
CompTIA’s April 2022 IT Certification Roadmap stated that “CompTIA A+ certification has helped launch over 1 million IT careers.” That is CompTIA’s own promotional statement from 2022, not an independently verified employment outcome or a current estimate.
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