How Long Does It Take to Study for CompTIA A+?
Updated July 2026
There's no single answer, but there are honest ranges. Here's how long CompTIA A+ typically takes based on your background and how much time you can put in each week.
A realistic range
Most candidates take 1 to 3 months to prepare for both A+ exams. A common rule of thumb is around 120 total study hours across Core 1 and Core 2 — but your starting point matters a lot.
- Some IT experience (help desk, built a PC, comfortable with Windows): ~4–6 weeks.
- Complete beginner: ~8–12 weeks.
- Studying full-time: you can compress this to a few focused weeks.
- 1–2 hours a night, a few nights a week: budget 2–3 months.
Pick your exam date first, then work backwards. A fixed deadline turns "someday" into a weekly plan.
How to plan your timeline
Divide the official objectives by the weeks you have, protect time for PBQ practice (the part people underestimate), and leave the final week for full-length practice exams. Study a little every day rather than cramming — spaced repetition sticks far better for the acronyms and port numbers A+ loves to test.