CompTIA ITF+ Is Now Tech+: What Changed and Is It Worth It
CompTIA IT Fundamentals (ITF+) is now CompTIA Tech+. CompTIA rebranded the certification with a new exam, FC0-U71, and retired the old ITF+ exam, FC0-U61, in English on July 31, 2025. If you already hold ITF+, you keep it: CompTIA says it stays valid for life. Many study sites still describe FC0-U61 as the current exam, so check the exam code before you buy a course.
ITF+ vs Tech+ at a glance
| ITF+ | Tech+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Exam code | FC0-U61 | FC0-U71 |
| Launched | September 4, 2018 | July 16, 2024 (the date on CompTIA's Tech+ page) |
| Status | Exam retired July 31, 2025 (English) | Current |
| Domains | 6, with 33 objectives | 6, with 31 objectives |
| Expires? | No, valid for life | No, unless you take the CE version (FC0-U71-CE) |
The Tech+ exam
- Questions: up to 70 questions, all multiple choice. There are no performance-based questions.
- Time: 60 minutes.
- Passing score: 650 on a 100–900 scale.
- Price: $129 for a voucher in the U.S., or $179 with a retake included. Prices differ by country.
- Experience: none required. CompTIA says no prior experience is necessary, and its exams have no prerequisites.
- Languages: English and Japanese.
- Renewal: the standard exam, FC0-U71, doesn't expire. FC0-U71-CE covers the same content but is valid for 5 years, for states, schools and employers that require renewal.
What changed: the domains
| Domain | ITF+ | Tech+ |
|---|---|---|
| 1. IT Concepts and Terminology | 17% | 13% |
| 2. Infrastructure | 22% | 24% |
| 3. Applications and Software | 18% | 18% |
| 4. Software Development Concepts | 12% | 13% |
| 5. Data and Database Fundamentals | 11% | 13% |
| 6. Security | 20% | 19% |
Both exams keep six domains in the same order. Software Development became Software Development Concepts, and Database Fundamentals became Data and Database Fundamentals. Infrastructure grows from 22% to 24% and data and databases from 11% to 13%, while IT concepts and terminology drops from 17% to 13%.
New topics in Tech+
- AI and emerging tech: a new objective on common uses of AI (chatbots, assistants, generative AI, and AI-generated code and content), plus virtual and augmented reality devices. CompTIA also lists the Internet of Things as new, but ITF+ already covered it.
- Virtualization and cloud: hypervisors, guest operating systems and cloud service models such as IaaS, PaaS and SaaS.
- More on data: a new objective on backup concepts, plus new items like data analytics, Big Data and data monetization.
- Current Wi-Fi and privacy: 802.11ax, the 2.4, 5 and 6 GHz bands, WPA3, and privacy items like GDPR and cookie consent.
Comparing the two objectives documents, Tech+ no longer lists SQL commands, one-, two-, three- and n-tier application architecture, business continuity and disaster recovery, named attacks such as man-in-the-middle and replay, access-control models, or older items like FireWire. WEP is gone from the wireless security settings but still appears in the acronym list. CompTIA's Tech+ page and blog also mention robotics, and the blog mentions quantum computing, but neither is in the Tech+ objectives.
Is Tech+ worth it?
CompTIA calls Tech+ a pre-professional certification for advanced end users who may go on to certifications like A+. It isn't required for A+: CompTIA exams have no prerequisites, so Tech+ is an optional first step.
- Take Tech+ if computers are new to you beyond everyday use, your school or program asks for it, or you want a first credential before committing to A+'s two exams.
- Go straight to A+ if you already set up devices, install software and fix basic problems, or your goal is an IT support job. CompTIA says A+ prepares you for entry-level roles like help desk technician.
- Already hold ITF+? CompTIA says there's no need to take Tech+.
Tech+ vs A+
| Tech+ | A+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Exams | 1 (FC0-U71) | 2 (220-1201 and 220-1202) |
| Questions | Up to 70 | Up to 90 per exam |
| Time | 60 minutes | 90 minutes per exam |
| Question types | Multiple choice | Multiple choice, drag-and-drop and performance-based |
| U.S. voucher price | $129 | Two vouchers at $274 each ($548 total) |
| Expires? | No (standard version) | After 3 years, renewable through continuing education |
For the other first certifications, see IT certifications for beginners. For support jobs specifically, see help desk certifications.
Try A+ questions before you decide
Not sure you need Tech+? Try the free A+ practice test and the free A+ labs. If most of the questions make sense, you can probably start with A+. If most of the terms are new, Tech+ is a gentler start.