What are the differences between the CompTIA A+ 220-1102 Exam and the A+ 220-1202 Exam?

This document was updated on March 30, 2025

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

The CompTIA A+ certification is one of information technology’s most popular certifications, and it’s common to see the A+ certification requested on many job postings. The A+ certification focuses on fundamental technologies, networking, IT security, and other entry-level topics.

In this article, we’ll discuss which topics are new in the A+ 220-1202 exam objectives, which topics have been removed, and which topics are the same from the earlier 220-1102 A+ exam version.

Why does CompTIA change their exams?

CompTIA updates their A+ exam objectives every few years, and this process ensures the exam topics are up to date with the latest technologies and operating systems. Professor Messer’s video training courses and study materials are always updated to stay consistent with the latest set of official CompTIA exam objectives. 

Why is this information important?

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

Does it matter which A+ exam version I take?

Once you pass both A+ exams, you are officially CompTIA A+ certified. The version of the exams is not part of the certification credential, so someone who passes the 220-1101 and 220-1102 A+ exams, the 220-1201 and 220-1202 A+ exam, or any other version of the A+ exams earns the same A+ certification.

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

It takes time to study for the CompTIA A+ 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 A+ 220-1201 and A+ 220-1202 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 A+ 220-1101 Exam Version?

The English-language version of the CompTIA A+ 220-1101 and 220-1102 exams was released on April 20, 2022 and will retire on September 25, 2025.

What is the Availability of The CompTIA A+ 220-1201 Exam Version?

The CompTIA A+ 220-1201 and 220-1202 exams were released on March 25, 2025, and are estimated to be available for approximately three and a half years. This would put the estimated retirement date of the CompTIA A+ 220-1201 and 220-1202 exams as September of 2028. CompTIA commonly provides more detailed exam retirement information on their website as this date gets closer.

What has changed in the CompTIA A+ 220-1202 Exam?

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

This diagram shows a summary of the differences between the A+ Core 1 220-1102 and the A+ 220-1202 exams:

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 based on the CompTIA official exam objectives documents. This comparison also shows how these objectives are distributed between the two versions. The 220-1102 version of the A+ exam version is on the left, and the 220-1202 version is on the right.

Number of objectives

As the diagram shows, the overall size of the two A+ exams is similar, with a total of 580 objectives on the 220-1201 to approximately 665 objectives on the 220-1202, or an addition of 85 objectives. This similar number of exam objectives means there are about the same amount of topics on both exams, so the time required to study for the 220-1102 and the 220-1202 should be similar.

What topics were dropped between the CompTIA A+ 220-1102 and 220-1202 exams?

When an exam is updated, topics are often modified between versions due to changes in technologies, a decrease in the use of a particular technology, or a change to the scope of the exam itself.

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 220-1202 exam version.

The following CompTIA A+ 220-1102 topics were dropped from the A+ 220-1202 exam objectives:

220-1102 Domain 1: Operating Systems

  • 1.1 – No dropped topics
  • 1.2 – Some command line options, xcopy, copy, shutdown
  • 1.3 – No dropped topics
  • 1.4 – No dropped topics
  • 1.5 – No dropped topics
  • 1.6 – No dropped topics
  • 1.7 – New application impacts
  • 1.8 – ext3 file system
  • 1.9 – Optical media
  • 1.10 – No dropped topics
  • 1.11 – Linux features, yum command

220-1102 Domain 2: Security

  • 2.1 – No dropped topics
  • 2.2 – No dropped topics
  • 2.3 – No dropped topics
  • 2.4 – No dropped topics
  • 2.5 – No dropped topics
  • 2.6 – Disable AutoPlay
  • 2.7 – Mobile firewalls, Internet of Things
  • 2.8 – No dropped topics
  • 2.9 – Static WAN IP, changing channels
  • 2.10 – No dropped topics

220-1102 Domain 3: Software Troubleshooting

  • 3.1 – No dropped topics
  • 3.2 – No dropped topics
  • 3.3 – No dropped topics
  • 3.4 – AirDrop
  • 3.5 – No dropped topics

220-1102 Domain 4: Operational Procedures

  • 4.1 – Network topology diagram
  • 4.2 – No dropped topics
  • 4.3 – No dropped topics
  • 4.4 – No dropped topics
  • 4.5 – No dropped topics
  • 4.6 – Non-expired licenses
  • 4.7 – No dropped topics
  • 4.8 – No dropped topics
  • 4.9 – Microsoft Remote Assistance (MSRA)

What topics were added to the CompTIA A+ 220-1202 exam?

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

122 topics are new to the 220-1202, so the total size is not much larger than the older 220-1102 objectives. If you are migrating your studies to the newer exam version, you’ll find these 220-1202 objectives will cover topics not previously seen on the 220-1102 exam.

We 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 220-1102 exam and you sit for the 220-1202 exam, you are likely to find a number of topics not covered in your studies.

If you are moving between exam versions, the transition should be relatively easy. About 80% of the 220-1202 topics are the same between the two versions, so the new exam should look familiar to anyone who has previously studied for the 220-1102 exam version.

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 A+ 220-1202 exam version:

220-1202 Domain 1: Operating Systems

  • 1.1 – ReFS, XFS
  • 1.2 – Multiboot, zero-touch deployment, TPM, UEFI
  • 1.3 – Windows 11 editions
  • 1.4 – No new topics
  • 1.5 – whoami command
  • 1.6 – No new topics
  • 1.7 – No new topics
  • 1.8 – macOS system folders, Rapid Security Response (RSR), iCloud features, continuity
  • 1.9 – fsck, mount, dnf, ping, curl, traceroute, du, common configuration files, systemd, kernel, bootloader
  • 1.10 – Image deployment
  • 1.11 – Cloud productivity tools

220-1202 Domain 2: Security

  • 2.1 – Mobile digital keys, facial recognition, voice recognition, zero trust model, authentication methods, MDM, DLP, directory services
  • 2.2 – Passwordless authentication, joining an Active Directory domain
  • 2.3 – No new topics
  • 2.4 – Stalkerware, fileless malware, potentially unwanted program (PUP), EDR, MDR, XDR, email security gateway
  • 2.5 – QR code phishing, spear phishing, business email compromise (BEC), supply chain attack
  • 2.6 – Reimage/reinstall
  • 2.7 – Password uniqueness, complexity, password managers, account expiration dates, disable unused services
  • 2.8 – Configuration profiles, application updates, content filtering
  • 2.9 – Regulatory and environmental requirements
  • 2.10 – Configure secure management access
  • 2.11 – Browser patching, proxy, secure DNS, plug-ins, extensions, features

220-1201 Domain 3: Software Troubleshooting

  • 3.1 – No new topics
  • 3.2 – Application fails to install
  • 3.3 – No new topics
  • 3.4 – Unwanted notifications within the OS, OS updates failures, degraded browser performance

220-1201 Domain 4: Operational procedures

  • 4.1 – Service level agreements
  • 4.2 – Change management types
  • 4.3 – Backup recovery
  • 4.4 – Cable management
  • 4.5 – No new topics
  • 4.6 – Order of volatility, perpetual license agreement, NDA
  • 4.7 – No new topics
  • 4.8 – No new topics
  • 4.9 – SPICE, WinRM
  • 4.10 – Managing AI topics

What strategies should be used when moving from the 220-1102 A+ exam to the 220-1202 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 A+ exam. These objectives are not only valuable to use during your studies, but they also make a great checklist before taking your exam.

Get the latest objectives here:

https://www.professormesser.com/objectives/

Use the right study materials

As you’ve already seen, there are quite a few differences between the 220-1102 exam objectives and the 220-1202 exam objectives. Because of these changes, we highly recommend you use study materials written to match the version of the exam you’re planning to take. If you’re taking the 220-1202 exam, make sure all of your videos, books, and other study materials have been specifically written for the 220-1202 objectives.

Get the right mix of study materials

The best combination of study materials follows the Professor Messer WRAP Formula: Watch a video training course, Read a good book, Apply your knowledge with hands-on labs, and Practice with lots of Q&A.