The CompTIA Certification Path Explained

Key takeaways

CompTIA certifications and certification paths outline and demonstrate levels of mastery in computer technology.

• The CompTIA certification path starts with the core skills pathway, consisting of the A+, Network+, Security+, and Tech+ certifications.

• After the core certifications, you can pivot to the Infrastructure pathway, consisting of the Server+, Linux+, and Cloud+, or the Cybersecurity pathway, consisting of the PenTest+, SecurityX, and CySA+.

• You can qualify for various IT jobs with a CompTIA certification, including IT support specialist, network engineer, and cybersecurity specialist.

Learn more about CompTIA certification paths and how they can help you advance your IT career. If you’re ready to start preparing for an IT role, enroll in the Google IT Support Professional Certificate. You’ll have the opportunity to learn about IT fundamentals such as wireless networking, computer systems, network troubleshooting, information systems security, and more in as little as three months. By the end, you’ll have earned a career certificate for your resume and had the opportunity to gain the skills you need to succeed in an entry-level IT role.

What are CompTIA certifications?

CompTIA certifications and certification paths help outline and demonstrate levels of mastery in computer technology topics. By earning these certifications, you can demonstrate to employers that you have a standardized set of skills. The complete list of certifications as of May 2026 is as follows [1]:

• CompTIA A+

• CompTIA Network+

• CompTIA Security+

• CompTIA Cloud+

• CompTIA CloudNetX

• CompTIA Linux+

• CompTIA Server+

• CompTIA SecurityX

• CompTIA Penetration Testing (PenTest+)

• CompTIA Data+

• CompTIA Data Systems (DataSys+)

• CompTIA Project+

• CompTIA Tech+

• CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+)

• CompTIA DataAI

CompTIA certification path options

CompTIA certifications cover different topics relevant to various careers in computer tech and IT. To make it easier to navigate which certifications are right for your career, CompTIA certifications are classified into five career paths: core skills, infrastructure, cybersecurity, data and analytics, and professional.

Core skills

The core skills pathway can help you learn IT and computer skills relevant to a wide range of careers in the industry. It comprises four certifications:

• CompTIA A+

• CompTIA Network+

• CompTIA Security+

• CompTIA Tech+

These certifications can help you begin a career as a technical support specialist, field service technician, security engineer, and more. 

Infrastructure

The infrastructure pathway builds on the certifications you earn in core skills. It adds Server+ or Linux+, followed by Cloud+. This pathway also has stackable certifications to help you demonstrate your skill combination. For example, you could earn your CompTIA Systems Support Specialist certification by stacking A+ and Linux+. Stackable infrastructure certifications include:

• CompTIA Systems Support Specialist (A+ / Linux+)

• CompTIA IT Operations Specialist (A+ / Network+)

• CompTIA Cloud Admin Professional (Network+ / Cloud+)

• CompTIA Network Infrastructure Professional (Network+ / Server+)

• CompTIA Linux Network Professional (Network+ / Linux+)

Cybersecurity

The cybersecurity pathway extends the core pathway to PenTest+, followed by SecurityX or CySA+. Similar to the infrastructure pathway, the cybersecurity pathway features stackable certifications to help you demonstrate a combination of skills. The stackable certifications in the cybersecurity pathway include: 

• CompTIA Secure Infrastructure Specialist (A+ / Network+ / Security+)

• CompTIA Secure Cloud Professional (Security+ / Cloud+)

• CompTIA Security Analytics Professional (Security+ / CySA+)

• CompTIA Network Vulnerability Assessment Professional (Security+ / PenTest+)

• CompTIA Network Security Professional (Security+ / PenTest+ / CySA+)

• CompTIA Security Analytics Expert (Security+ / CySA+ / SecurityX)

• CompTIA Secure Infrastructure Expert (Security+ / CySA+ / PenTest+ / SecurityX) 

Data and analytics

The data and analytics pathway stands alone with Data+, which can help you begin or enhance a career as a data analyst, reporting analyst, or business data analyst. This certification demonstrates your skills in data mining, data environments, visualization, data governance, and data analysis. 

Professional

The professional pathway offers Project+. The Project+ certification can help you prepare for a job as a project manager or business analyst. 

How to get CompTIA certification

To earn your CompTIA certifications, you will need to pass an exam. Each exam has a recommended level of experience for professionals interested in gaining the certification, from no experience to up to three or four years of work experience. 

CompTIA offers other educational products to help prepare for your exam, such as e-learning programs through its CertMaster Learn platform, which includes interactive labs. You can also find practice exams, e-books, and study guides to help you prepare. 

Consider Coursera.

You can prepare to take any CompTIA certification exam with online courses from other education providers. For example, the Information Technology (IT) and Cloud Fundamentals Specialization offered by IBM can help you prepare for the CompTIA Tech+ exam.

Who should pursue CompTIA certifications?

CompTIA offers certifications relevant to many different IT and computer technology careers.

CompTIA suggests these job roles can benefit from its certifications:

What jobs can you get with a CompTIA certification?

CompTIA certification can help you qualify for various jobs and potentially advance in your current IT role. Remember that a CompTIA certification isn’t the only factor employers consider in a candidate. Take a look at three careers that you may qualify for with CompTIA certifications.

All salary information represents the median total pay from Glassdoor as of May 2026. These figures include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

IT support specialist

Estimated median annual total salary in the US: $71,000 [2]

Education requirements: 50 percent hold a bachelor’s degree, 32 percent have an associate degree, and 5 percent have a master's degree [3] 

As an IT support specialist, you will help people troubleshoot and correct problems with technical equipment. IT support specialists often work directly with customers or network users in person, over the phone, or through email or chat. You may be responsible for managing workstations and maintaining software within an organization. 

Network engineer

Estimated median annual total salary in the US: $123,000 [4]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 12 percent [5]

Education requirements: 62 percent hold a bachelor’s, 21 percent hold an associate degree, and 10 percent have a master's degree, typically in computer science or electrical engineering [6]

As a network engineer, you will be responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining network connections. In this role, you may collaborate with other IT professionals to configure, troubleshoot, and optimize the infrastructure needed to power your organization’s network. 

Cybersecurity specialist

Estimated median annual total salary in the US: $146,000 [7]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 29 percent [8]

Education requirements: 56 percent hold a bachelor’s degree, 23 percent have an associate degree, and 14 percent hold a master's degree, typically in computer science or computer information systems [9] 

As a cybersecurity specialist, you will work to prevent, detect, and respond to security incidents. Depending on your role, you may work to build security measures or respond to threats as they happen. You may also be responsible for reporting on security matters to leadership. 

Read more: 5 Cybersecurity Career Paths (and How to Get Started)

Renewing your CompTIA certification

Once you earn your CompTIA certification, it will be valid for three years before it expires. You can renew your CompTIA certification by earning enough continuing education units (CEUs) for your specific certification. You may do this in several ways:

1. Complete a single high-level activity, such as passing the latest release of your certification exam, completing a higher-level CompTIA certification, completing a CompTIA CertMaster CE course, or earning a non-CompTIA IT industry certification.

2. Complete multiple activities together, such as training or higher education, earning another CompTIA certification, or publishing a relevant article or white paper. 

Prepare for a new direction in your professional journey

Planning your next career move? Get expert advice and the latest career insights by subscribing to our LinkedIn newsletter, Career Chat. You can also continue exploring IT careers, skills, and courses by checking out these free resources:

• Take the quiz: Which IT Course Should You Take? 

• Watch on YouTube: 7 IT Career Paths to Explore (And How to Start)

• Hear from pros: Meet the IT Support Tech Advancing Toward a Cybersecurity Career

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