How to Pass the CompTIA Network+ Exam in 2026 (N10-009)

What is CompTIA Network+?

CompTIA Network+ is a vendor-neutral networking certification that validates the core skills needed to design, configure, manage, and troubleshoot wired and wireless network infrastructure. It sits between CompTIA A+ (foundational hardware and OS skills) and Cisco's CCNA (vendor-specific Cisco networking), making it an ideal credential for IT professionals who want to establish solid networking fundamentals without committing to a vendor-specific path.

The current version, N10-009, launched in June 2024. This release updated the exam to reflect modern networking realities including cloud networking, network virtualization, zero trust concepts, and expanded coverage of network security. If you have study materials from the previous N10-008 version, some content will carry over, but the domain structure and some topic weightings have changed, so you should verify your resources are aligned with N10-009.

The exam allows a maximum of 90 questions answered in 90 minutes. The passing score is 720 out of 900. Like the Security+ exam, Network+ includes performance-based questions (PBQs) that require hands-on application of skills rather than multiple-choice recall.

N10-009 Exam Domains and Weightings

The N10-009 exam is organized around five domains with equal or near-equal weighting:

• Networking Fundamentals (23%): OSI model, TCP/IP model, ports and protocols, network topologies, cabling types, and wireless networking standards
• Network Implementations (20%): routing technologies (OSPF, BGP basics, static routing), switching (VLANs, STP), network virtualization, and WAN technologies
• Network Operations (17%): network monitoring, traffic analysis, high availability, disaster recovery, documentation, and change management basics
• Network Security (20%): firewalls, VPNs, IDS/IPS, physical security, wireless security (WPA2/WPA3), zero trust concepts, and network hardening
• Network Troubleshooting (20%): troubleshooting methodology, network tools (ping, traceroute, nslookup, netstat), connectivity issues, and performance problems

Network Troubleshooting and Network Security each carry 20% of the exam weight, and both are highly scenario-based. The troubleshooting methodology in particular appears repeatedly in PBQs, where you are given a network scenario and must identify and resolve the issue following a structured approach.

Key Topics You Must Master for Network+

The OSI Model and TCP/IP Stack

The OSI model is foundational to Network+ and appears in questions across multiple domains. You must know all seven layers (Physical, Data Link, Network, Transport, Session, Presentation, Application) and which protocols, devices, and functions belong at each layer. Many troubleshooting questions reference a specific layer, and identifying the correct layer determines the correct diagnostic approach.

Subnetting and IP Addressing

Subnetting is the skill that separates candidates who pass Network+ from those who fail. IP addressing questions appear throughout all five domains, and subnetting underpins routing, ACLs, DHCP, and network design questions. You must be able to calculate network addresses, broadcast addresses, valid host ranges, and the number of subnets and hosts for any given CIDR notation. This skill requires practice, not just understanding. Spend at least one full week doing subnetting problems daily until it becomes automatic.

Routing Protocols and Switching Concepts

For Network+, you need to understand the purpose and basic operation of OSPF, BGP (at a conceptual level), and static routing. For switching, focus on VLANs, inter-VLAN routing, trunking (802.1Q), and Spanning Tree Protocol. You do not need to configure these to the depth required by the CCNA, but you need to understand how they work and what problems they solve.

Wireless Networking Standards

Know the IEEE 802.11 wireless standards: 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5), and 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6). For each standard, know the frequency bands used, maximum theoretical throughput, and key features. Also understand wireless security protocols: WEP (deprecated), WPA, WPA2, and WPA3.

Best Study Resources for Network+ N10-009

Professor Messer's Free Network+ Course

Professor Messer provides a completely free N10-009 video course updated for the current exam version. His videos are clear, comprehensive, and organized by exam objective. For candidates on a budget, Professor Messer's course combined with free ExamCompass practice tests is a fully capable study plan at no cost.

Mike Meyers All-in-One Network+ Guide

Mike Meyers' CompTIA Network+ All-in-One Exam Guide is the most popular written resource for Network+. Meyers writes with a conversational, accessible style that makes complex networking concepts easier to absorb than more dry technical texts. The book includes practice questions and lab activities throughout.

Jason Dion's Network+ Course and Practice Exams on Udemy

Jason Dion's Network+ video course and practice exam sets on Udemy are among the highest-rated resources for this exam. The practice exams are particularly well-regarded for their difficulty calibration and the quality of their answer explanations. Dion provides separate practice exam sets so you can test by domain before attempting full-length exams.

ExamCompass Free Practice Tests

ExamCompass offers free Network+ practice tests organized by domain and objective. They are particularly useful for early-stage studying when you want to identify weak areas before investing in a full practice exam resource.

8-Week Network+ Study Plan

Week 1: Networking Fundamentals and OSI Model

Cover the OSI model thoroughly, TCP/IP fundamentals, basic networking topologies, and cabling types. Take domain-specific quizzes at the end of the week to measure retention. Begin daily subnetting practice using online tools.

Week 2: IP Addressing and Subnetting Deep Dive

Dedicate this week entirely to IP addressing and subnetting mastery. Cover IPv4 classful addressing, CIDR, VLSM, and private address ranges. By the end of week 2, you should be able to solve any subnetting problem in under 60 seconds. Also introduce IPv6 addressing concepts.

Week 3: Network Implementations (Switching and Routing)

Study VLANs, trunking, STP, inter-VLAN routing, and static and dynamic routing protocols. Watch video content and reinforce with lab simulations in Packet Tracer if available, or use network simulation tools online.

Week 4: Wireless Networking and WAN Technologies

Cover wireless standards, wireless security protocols, and wireless architecture (access points, controllers, mesh networking). Study WAN connection types: fiber, cable, DSL, satellite, cellular, and SD-WAN concepts.

Week 5: Network Security

Cover firewalls (stateful, stateless, NGFW), VPNs (site-to-site and remote access), IDS and IPS, network hardening techniques, and zero trust architecture concepts. This domain overlaps significantly with Security+, so candidates planning to pursue both certifications will find this week's content doubly useful.

Week 6: Network Operations and Monitoring

Study network monitoring tools (SNMP, NetFlow, SIEM), documentation practices, change management concepts, high availability design (redundancy, failover, load balancing), and backup and disaster recovery fundamentals.

Week 7: Network Troubleshooting and Tools

Master the CompTIA troubleshooting methodology (identify, establish theory, test, plan, implement, verify, document). Study key command-line tools: ping, traceroute, nslookup, ipconfig/ifconfig, netstat, and Wireshark basics. Practice interpreting network scenarios and applying the troubleshooting methodology.

Week 8: Full Practice Exams and PBQ Preparation

Take at least two full-length practice exams under timed conditions. Focus final review on your weakest domains based on practice exam analytics. Spend dedicated time on PBQs: practice identifying network issues from diagrams, interpreting packet captures, and analyzing routing tables.

How Certify Copilot AI Helps with Network+

Network+ scenario questions and PBQs frequently require connecting multiple concepts simultaneously. A single question might present a subnetting problem embedded in a routing scenario, or ask you to identify why a VLAN is not forwarding traffic based on a configuration snippet. Certify Copilot AI helps by explaining the interplay between concepts in real time, helping you build the connected mental model that complex Network+ questions demand.

If you are planning to continue beyond Network+ into more advanced networking or security credentials, read our guide on how to pass the Cisco CCNA for the logical next step in networking, or our guide on how to pass the CompTIA Security+ if you want to pivot into cybersecurity after Network+.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I get CompTIA A+ or Network+ first?

If you are new to IT with no hands-on experience, A+ first is the recommended path. A+ covers hardware, operating systems, troubleshooting, and basic networking that form the foundation for Network+ content. However, if you already have IT experience or a relevant degree, you can skip A+ and go directly to Network+. CompTIA does not enforce a prerequisite sequence, so the choice depends on your current knowledge baseline.

Is Network+ harder than Security+?

Most candidates who have taken both report that Network+ and Security+ are comparable in difficulty, with Security+ being slightly harder overall. Network+ has more content depth in networking protocols and configurations, while Security+ has broader conceptual coverage and more complex scenario questions. If you are planning to pursue both, taking Network+ before Security+ is the logical sequence since networking knowledge is foundational to many Security+ domains.

How long is the Network+ certification valid?

CompTIA Network+ is valid for three years, the same as Security+. You can renew it through the CompTIA CE program by earning continuing education credits, passing a higher-level CompTIA exam (such as Security+ or CySA+), or retaking the current exam before expiration. Active IT professionals who stay current with their technology skills will find the renewal process straightforward.

Is Network+ enough to get a job?

Network+ on its own can qualify you for entry-level networking roles such as network support technician, help desk with networking focus, and junior network administrator. However, most mid-level networking roles prefer candidates who also hold a CCNA or have demonstrated hands-on experience. Use Network+ as the foundation and pathway to more specialized credentials rather than as a terminal goal.