What are the differences between the CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Exam and the Network+ N10-009 Exam?

This document was updated on December 15, 2024

The CompTIA Network+ certification is one of the most popular information technology credentials in the world, and earning a Network+ certification is a great starting point for anyone interested in getting into IT, network administration, or almost any other aspect of technology.

In this article we’ll detail which topics are new in the N10-009 exam objectives, which topics have been removed, and which topics are the same between the N10-008 and N10-009 exam versions.

Why does CompTIA change their exams?

CompTIA updates their Network+ exam objectives every few years to keep the exam topics current and to include emerging technologies into the exam. Professor Messer’s video training courses and study materials are always updated to maintain accuracy and consistency with the latest set of official exam objectives. You can start your studies using the free Professor Messer CompTIA Network+ N10-009 training course here:

https://www.professormesser.com/get-n10-009-network-plus-certified/

Why is this information important?

 The questions on the CompTIA exams are pulled directly from these objectives, so anyone who’s studied the objective list will have a very good chance of passing their exam. It’s useful to refer to the objectives as a checklist of study topics.

Does it matter which Network+ exam version I take?

Once you pass any single Network+ exam, you are officially CompTIA Network+ certified. The version of the exam is not part of the certification credential, so someone who passes the N10-008 exam, the N10-009 exam, or any previous version of the Network+ exam, earns the same Network+ certification.

Once the Network+ certification is earned, the certification is good for three years before it expires. A credential holder can choose to renew the Network+ certification at any time during this three year period. There are a number of different renewal options available, such as accumulation of continuing education credits, taking higher-level certifications, or online renewal training through Certmaster CE.

It takes time to study for the CompTIA Network+ exam, so the retirement date of the certification exam is important for planning your studies. Always check an exam’s retirement date and make sure there’s enough time to study and pass your selected version of the exam.

When are the Network+ N10-008 and Network+ N10-009 Exams available?

A timeline showing the release and retirement dates for the CompTIA Network+ N10-008 exam and the N10-009 exam

What is the Availability of the CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Exam Version?

The CompTIA Network+ N10-008 exam was released on November 15, 2021 and will be retired on December 20, 2024. With the retirement of this exam version, the CompTIA Network+ N10-009 exam version becomes the current and only available version.

What is the Availability of The CompTIA Network+ N10-009 Exam Version?

The CompTIA Network+ N10-009 exam was released on June 20th, 2024, and is estimated to be available for approximately three and a half years. This would place the estimated retirement date of the CompTIA Network+ N10-009 exam to be approximately December of 2027. CompTIA commonly provides more detailed exam retirement information on their website as this date gets closer.

What has changed in the CompTIA Network+ N10-009 Exam?

With each release of a new exam version, CompTIA makes minor updates to the official exam objectives and adds technologies used in many organizations. 

This diagram shows a summary of these differences:

A visual comparison of exam objective changes between the N10-008 and N10-009 Network+ exam versions

This diagram compares the total size of both exams based on the total number of exam objectives from the CompTIA official exam objectives documents. This comparison also shows how these objectives are distributed between the two versions. The N10-008 version of the Network+ exam version is on the left, and the N10-009 version is on the right.

Number of objectives

As the diagram shows, the overall size of the Network+ exam has decreased by 27%, or from a total of 590 objectives to approximately 430 objectives. This smaller exam size means there are fewer topics to remember, and this focuses N10-009 exam studies around a more core set of objectives. Although it’s unlikely the difficulty of the exam questions themselves varies between versions, it probably helps that there are about 150 fewer topics to memorize and retain for the exam.

What topics were dropped between the CompTIA Network+ N10-008 and N10-009 exams?

When an exam is updated, there are a number of topics that are sometimes dropped between versions due to outdated technologies, a decrease in the industry’s use of a particular topic, or a change to the scope of the exam itself.

Approximately 300 topics were dropped from the CompTIA Network+ N10-009 exam objectives when compared to the N10-008 version. This is a significant number of objectives, and it appears that CompTIA not only decreased the overall size of the exam but also removed a number of topics many would describe as “rote memorization.” For example, instead of requiring detailed memorization of every 802.11 wireless network standard ever created, the newer objectives focus on the broader topic of wireless usage and how access points are deployed on modern networks.

As we mentioned earlier, about half of the CompTIA Network+ N10-008 exam objectives don’t appear in the N10-009 exam objectives. This list isn’t intended to be a comprehensive comparison, but we’ll highlight some of the most significant items which have been dropped from the N10-009 exam version.

The following topics were dropped from the CompTIA Network+ N10-009 exam version:

N10-008 Domain 1: Networking Fundamentals

  • 1.1 – Ethernet header details
  • 1.2 – LAN, MAN, WAN, and other network type definitions
  • 1.3 – Detailed punchdown block comparisons and comparisons between specific IEEE Ethernet standards
  • 1.7 – Network architecture details relating to software-defined networking and some storage area network types

    N10-008 Domain 2: Network Implementations

    • 2.1 – Some network device types, such as repeaters, voice gateways, HVAC sensors, and IoT devices
    • 2.4 – A detailed list of 802.11 wireless standards

    N10-008 Domain 3: Network Operations

    • 3.1 – Log details regarding log types, some detailed error counts, and a number of environmental factors
    • 3.2 – A number of specific security policies, including onboarding, offboarding, and data loss prevention
    • 3.3 – High availability, including load balancing, multipathing, and NIC teaming

    N10-008 Domain 4: Network Security

    • 4.1 – A high-level comparison of threats and vulnerabilities
    • 4.2 – Password attacks, spoofing, and deauthentication
    • 4.3 – Network hardening techniques, including dynamic ARP inspection, control plane policing, and private VLANs. Some wireless security technologies were also removed
    • 4.4 – Some specific remote access technologies, including VNC and virtual desktops
    • 4.5 – Most physical security topics were removed

    N10-008 Domain 5: Network Troubleshooting

    • 5.2 – Cable connectivity topics, including rollover cables, incorrect pinouts, opens, shorts, and duplexing issues. Most hardware tools were dropped, including crimpers, punchdown tools, loopback adapters, and fusion splicers
    • 5.3 – Software tools such as port scanners, iperf, NetFlow analyzers, TFTP servers, and more
    • 5.4 – Many wireless troubleshooting topics were removed, including RSSI, EIRP, antenna placement, and site surveys
    • 5.5 – Some network troubleshooting issues were dropped, including duplicate MAC addresses, multicast flooding, routing loops, certificate issues, and more

    What topics were added to the CompTIA Network+ N10-009 exam?

    An updated set of exam objectives often introduce new technologies and topics. CompTIA tends to focus on a practical use of networking technologies, so their exams often include both older and newer technologies on the same test.

    140 new topics were added to the N10-009, so about a third of the N10-009 exam contains new objectives. If you are migrating your studies to the newer exam version, you’ll find these objectives cover topics not previously seen on the N10-008 exam. 

    This is why we highly recommend studying from materials that match the version of the exam you’re planning to take. If all of your studies have been for the N10-008 and you sit for the N10-009 exam, you will be at a significant disadvantage.

    If you are moving between exam versions, not all of your previous study time is lost. Almost 300 topics are the same between the two versions, so about two-thirds of the N10-009 objectives should look familiar to anyone who has previously studied for the N10-008 exam.

    About a third of the CompTIA Network+ N10-009 exam contains new exam objectives, and a summary of those new topics are listed below. This isn’t a comprehensive list, but we’ll highlight some of the most significant additions.

    The following topics are new in the CompTIA Network+ N10-009 exam version:

    N10-009 Domain 1: Networking Concepts

    • 1.3 – Cloud technologies, including virtual private cloud, network security groups, and cloud gateways
    • 1.8 – Detailed software defined networking topics, Virtual Extensible LAN, zero trust, and infrastructure as code

    N10-009 Domain 2: Network Implementation

    • 2.2 – VLAN databases, switch virtual interfaces (SVI)
    • 2.3 – Wireless technologies, including channel widths, 802.11h impacts, band steering, and others
    • 2.4 – Physical installation considerations, including rack size, port-side exhaust, power load, and more

    N10-009 Domain 3: Network Implementation

    • 3.1 – Layered network diagrams and asset inventory documentation, life-cycle management topics, decommissioning, and configuration management
    • 3.2 – API integration, network discovery solutions, availability monitoring, and more
    • 3.3 – Tabletop exercises and validation tests
    • 3.4 – DNSSEC, DHS over HTTPS, DNS over TLS, and PTP and NTS time protocols
    • 3.5 – Remote access via API, graphical user interface, console, and jump boxes

    N10-009 Domain 4: Network Security

    • 4.1 – Data in transit/data at rest, public key infrastructure, data locality, PCI DSS, GDPR, and more
    • 4.2 – MAC flooding and dumpster diving
    • 4.3 – Key management, access controls lists, and trusted vs. untrusted zones

    N10-009 Domain 5: Network Troubleshooting

    • 5.2 – Single mode vs. multimode, crosstalk, improper termination, port status, and PoE issues
    • 5.3 – Network loops, root bridge selection, port roles, default routes, and more
    • 5.4 – Congestion/contention, bottleneck, packet loss, and roaming misconfigurations
    • 5.5 – Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP), Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP), and basic network device commands such as show mac-address-table, show arp, show vlan and show power

    What strategies should be used when moving from the N10-008 Network+ exam to the N10-009 version?

    Use the Exam Objectives as a checklist

    CompTIA’s official exam objectives are always the best source to determine which topics are associated with the Network+ exam. Not only are these objectives valuable to use during your studies, they also make a great checklist before booking your exam.

    Use the right study materials

    As you’ve already seen, there are significant differences between the N10-008 exam objectives and the N10-009 exam objectives. Because of these changes, it’s highly recommended to use study materials that match the version of the exam you’re planning to take. If you’re taking the N10-009 exam, make sure all of your videos, books, and other study materials have been specifically written for the N10-009 exam.

    Get the right mix of study materials

    The best combination of study materials includes video training, a good book, hands-on labs, and plenty of practice questions. Professor Messer provides a complete video training course covering every topic from the official CompTIA Network+ N10-009 Exam Objectives, including both free and commercial options:

    https://www.professormesser.com/get-n10-009-network-plus-certified/