Network+: is it the right next step from support work?
A CompTIA Network+ voucher costs $399 in the US (November 2026), and you can prepare for it free. With free videos, the voucher is the whole bill; with a five-day class, a first attempt runs up to $3,294. Network+ suits help-desk and support staff moving toward network administration. If you have used A+ material or worked a support desk, we would budget 6 to 10 weeks of study with free or low-cost videos and a practice test, and try that before paying for a class.
Key facts
- A Network+ voucher costs $399 in the US, or $519 with a retake. (CompTIA, checked November 5, 2026)
- N10-009 has up to 90 questions in 90 minutes, with a passing score of 720 on a 100 to 900 scale. (CompTIA, checked November 5, 2026)
- Network+ is valid for three years; renewal takes 30 continuing education units and a $150 fee, or CertMaster CE for $199. (CompTIA, checked November 5, 2026)
Is Network+ your next step?
Network+ shows that you understand how networks are built, addressed and troubleshot, without tying that knowledge to one vendor's equipment. It is mostly taken by help-desk and support staff moving toward network administration, often after A+. The exam tests working knowledge, so subnetting and troubleshooting practice count for more than memorized definitions.
A good fit if
- You work a help desk or in desktop support and want to move into network administration
- Your workplace runs equipment from several vendors, so a vendor-neutral credential matches the job better than a Cisco one
- You have covered A+ material or worked a support desk and can study for 6 to 10 weeks
Think twice if
- Your employer runs Cisco gear and the job ads you want name CCNA
- You are new to IT and have not yet covered A+ basics such as hardware, operating systems and troubleshooting
- You want a security or cloud role: Network+ is a networking foundation, not a security or cloud credential
Consider instead: Cisco's CCNA if you will work on Cisco networks, CompTIA A+ if you are starting in IT, or ISC2 CC or CompTIA Security+ for an entry security credential. See CCNA vs Network+.
One exam, N10-009
Network+ is a single exam, N10-009, launched June 20, 2024: up to 90 questions in 90 minutes, with a passing score of 720 on a 100 to 900 scale. There is no formal prerequisite. CompTIA recommends A+ plus 9 to 12 months as a junior network administrator or support technician. CompTIA says the exam will usually retire about three years after launch, so expect a new version in 2027.
When paying for a class makes sense
Subnetting, routing and troubleshooting are skills you build with practice, not lectures. A five-day class covers the material quickly but you will still need weeks of labs afterward. Pay for one when your employer is paying, when you need a fixed deadline, or when you have tried self-study and stalled.
The voucher and the add-ons CompTIA sells
CompTIA sells the voucher on its Network+ page for $399, or $519 with a retake. It also sells study bundles, each with a voucher and a retake: practice tests for $548, its CertMaster Learn course for $916, and a complete bundle for $978. If you study with free videos, the $548 practice bundle is the cheapest way to add official practice tests and a second attempt.
Training prices compared
Each total adds the $399 voucher unless the provider includes one.
| Route | Provider and course | Published price | Exam fee | First attempt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free videos | Professor Messer, N10-009 video course, free. Checked November 5, 2026. | $0 | + $399 voucher | $399 |
| Paid video course | Dion Training, CompTIA Network+ (N10-009) full course, self-paced. Checked November 5, 2026. | $315 | + $399 voucher | $714 |
| E-learning | NetCom Learning, Network+ certification prep (N10-009), e-learning; voucher not mentioned. Checked November 5, 2026. | $475 | + $399 voucher | $874 |
| On-demand with voucher | ONLC Training Centers, Network+ On-Demand, 360-day access; the voucher is released after you score 85% on a practice test. Checked November 5, 2026. | $1,295 | Included | $1,295 |
| Live class with voucher | ONLC Training Centers, Network+ live online, 5 days; voucher with retake released after an 85% practice score; $2,745 for late registration. Checked November 5, 2026. | $2,495 | Included | $2,495 |
| Live class, 5 days | New Horizons, CompTIA Network+, live virtual; the exam voucher is an optional add-on, priced separately. Checked November 5, 2026. | $2,495 | + $399 voucher | $2,894 |
| Live class with voucher | Learning Tree, CompTIA Network+ training, 5 days, voucher included. Checked November 5, 2026. | $2,790 | Included | $2,790 |
| Classroom, 5 days | Global Knowledge, CompTIA Network+ (G005), US public classroom; vouchers sold separately. Checked November 5, 2026. | $2,895 | + $399 voucher | $3,294 |
Two details change the comparison. ONLC's on-demand course includes a voucher, but you have to score 85% on its practice test to receive it. ONLC's five-day live class at $2,495 also includes a voucher with a retake on the same condition, which makes it the lowest-priced live class in our table.
Questions to put to a Network+ trainer
- Does the course target N10-009? New Horizons names N10-009 but still mentions N10-008 in its audience line. With a new exam version expected in 2027, ask whether your access (360 days for ONLC's on-demand course) carries over to updated material.
- Is the voucher included, and on what condition? Learning Tree includes one; both ONLC courses release theirs after an 85% practice score, and the live class adds a retake; New Horizons sells it as an add-on and Global Knowledge sells it separately.
- What hands-on lab access comes with it, and for how long after the class ends? Subnetting and troubleshooting need weeks of practice beyond the five days.
- When does the price go up? ONLC charges $2,745 instead of $2,495 for late registration on its live class.
Keeping it current
Network+ is valid for three years. To renew, earn 30 continuing education units and pay CompTIA's $150 renewal fee for the three-year period, or take CertMaster CE for Network+ ($199), which includes the fee.
Funding Network+ for a support team
Frame the request around the network faults your team escalates today. For several staff, compare a private class with CompTIA's Learn and exam bundle at $916 per person.
FAQ
- How much does the Network+ exam cost?
- $399 for a voucher on CompTIA's site as of November 2026, or $519 with a retake included.
- Can I pass Network+ with free resources?
- Yes. Professor Messer's N10-009 videos are free; add a practice test and the $399 voucher is your main cost.
- Do Network+ courses include the exam?
- Some do. Learning Tree and both ONLC courses include a voucher (ONLC's after an 85% practice score); New Horizons sells it separately from tuition.
- How long is Network+ valid?
- Three years, renewed with 30 continuing education units and a $150 fee.
Next step
Ask for help choosing Network+ training
Sources
- CompTIA: Network+ (exam details, voucher and bundle prices, retirement guidance), checked November 5, 2026
- CompTIA: continuing education for Network+, checked November 5, 2026
Prices are published list prices we recorded on the dates shown, not quotes. How we research.