{"id":690,"date":"2025-09-07T18:36:14","date_gmt":"2025-09-07T18:36:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unlvhelpdesk.test.sites.unlv.edu\/?page_id=690"},"modified":"2025-09-07T20:40:31","modified_gmt":"2025-09-07T20:40:31","slug":"faq","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.unlvhelpdesk.test.sites.unlv.edu\/?page_id=690","title":{"rendered":"CompTIA FAQ"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<style>\n  .faq-container {\n    max-width: 800px;\n    margin: auto;\n    padding: 1em;\n    font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\n  }\n  .faq-title { text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1em; }\n  details {\n    border: 1px solid #ccc;\n    border-radius: 8px;\n    padding: 0.75em;\n    margin-bottom: 1em;\n    background-color: #f9f9f9;\n    transition: 0.3s;\n  }\n  summary {\n    font-weight: bold;\n    cursor: pointer;\n    font-size: 1.1em;\n  }\n  summary::-webkit-details-marker { display: none; }\n  details[open] {\n    background-color: #eef8ff;\n    border-color: #007cba;\n  }\n<\/style>\n\n<div class=\"faq-container\">\n  <details>\n    <summary>\ud83e\udd14What is CompTIA?<\/summary>\n    <p>CompTIA (Computing Technology Industry Association) is a nonprofit trade association that issues professional certifications for the information technology (IT) industry.<\/p>\n  <\/details>\n\n  <details>\n    <summary>\ud83e\udd13Which CompTIA certification should I start with?<\/summary>\n    <p>Most beginners start with the CompTIA Tech+ or CompTIA A+ depending on their experience level. A+ is more in-depth and considered the industry standard for entry-level IT jobs.<\/p>\n  <\/details>\n\n  <details>\n    <summary>\ud83d\uddfa\ufe0fWhat is the order of CompTIA certifications?<\/summary>\n    <p>A typical path is: Tech+ \u2192 A+ \u2192 Network+ \u2192 Security+ \u2192 (Choose a path: CySA+ \/ PenTest+ \/ SecurityX depending on your goals).<\/p>\n  <\/details>\n\n  <details>\n    <summary>\ud83d\udcc5How long are CompTIA certifications valid?<\/summary>\n    <p>Most CompTIA certifications are valid for three years. You can renew them by earning CEUs, retaking the exam, or completing approved activities.<\/p>\n  <\/details>\n\n  <details>\n    <summary>\u2705Are CompTIA exams multiple choice?<\/summary>\n    <p>Yes, CompTIA exams include multiple choice questions, performance-based simulations, and drag-and-drop questions.<\/p>\n  <\/details>\n\n  <details>\n    <summary>\ud83e\udee1How can I prepare for CompTIA exams?<\/summary>\n    <p>You can use study guides, online labs, practice exams, flashcards, and hands-on labs. Many students use platforms like Professor Messer, Dion Training, TryHackMe, and CompTIA\u2019s CertMaster.<\/p>\n  <\/details>\n\n  <details>\n    <summary>\ud83d\udedcCan I take CompTIA exams online?<\/summary>\n    <p>Yes, you can take CompTIA exams online via Pearson VUE\u2019s online proctoring system. Make sure your environment meets their technical and privacy requirements.<\/p>\n  <\/details>\n\n  <!-- New FAQs start here -->\n\n  <details>\n    <summary>\u2753How many questions and how much time do I get?<\/summary>\n    <p>CompTIA exams typically include up to ~90 questions with a time limit around 90 minutes. Exact counts and timing vary by certification\u2014check the current exam page before you schedule.<\/p>\n  <\/details>\n\n  <details>\n    <summary>\ud83e\udd7cWhat is a performance-based question (PBQ)?<\/summary>\n    <p>PBQs are hands-on, scenario-style tasks that simulate real IT work (e.g., configuring settings, interpreting logs, or troubleshooting). They\u2019re graded like any other question and appear alongside multiple-choice items.<\/p>\n  <\/details>\n\n  <details>\n    <summary>\ud83d\udcafWhat score do I need to pass?<\/summary>\n    <p>CompTIA uses scaled scores (for example, often out of 900). The passing score differs by exam. Always verify the current passing score on the specific certification\u2019s page.<\/p>\n  <\/details>\n\n  <details>\n    <summary>\ud83d\ude1eWhat\u2019s the exam retake policy?<\/summary>\n    <p>CompTIA\u2019s retake policy generally allows a retake if you don\u2019t pass; additional retakes may require a waiting period. Policies can change\u2014confirm the latest rules on CompTIA\u2019s site before you book.<\/p>\n  <\/details>\n\n  <details>\n    <summary>\ud83d\udcc3Do I need prerequisites?<\/summary>\n    <p>No formal prerequisites are required for most CompTIA exams. However, recommended experience (e.g., 9\u201312 months of hands-on practice for A+\/Net+\/Sec+) can boost your chances of success.<\/p>\n  <\/details>\n\n  <details>\n    <summary>\ud83c\udd95How do renewals and CEUs work?<\/summary>\n    <p>You can renew by earning Continuing Education Units (CEUs) through approved activities (training, higher-level certs, webinars, work experience), or by passing the current version of the exam again.<\/p>\n  <\/details>\n\n  <details>\n    <summary>\ud83d\udc8eIf I earn a higher-level CompTIA cert, do lower ones renew automatically?<\/summary>\n    <p>Often yes\u2014higher-level certifications can renew certain lower-level CompTIA certifications. Check CompTIA\u2019s renewal chart to see which credentials qualify.<\/p>\n  <\/details>\n\n  <details>\n    <summary>\u23f0How do I schedule or reschedule an exam?<\/summary>\n    <p>Schedule through Pearson VUE for a test center or online proctored session. You can reschedule within Pearson VUE\u2019s portal\u2014fees and deadlines may apply, so review their policy first.<\/p>\n  <\/details>\n\n  <details>\n    <summary>\ud83d\udcddWhat should I bring on exam day?<\/summary>\n    <p>Bring valid, matching government-issued ID. Personal items (phones, notes, watches) aren\u2019t allowed. For online exams, complete the system check and room scan ahead of time.<\/p>\n  <\/details>\n\n  <details>\n    <summary>\ud83d\udcb8Are there student discounts or voucher bundles?<\/summary>\n    <p>Yes\u2014academic discounts, exam vouchers, and study bundles are commonly available through CompTIA and authorized partners. Compare options to save on training + exam costs.<\/p>\n  <\/details>\n\n  <details>\n    <summary>\ud83d\udcdbWhen do I get my results and badge?<\/summary>\n    <p>You usually receive a provisional pass\/fail immediately after the exam. Official results and a digital badge (via a credentialing platform) follow after processing.<\/p>\n  <\/details>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\ud83e\udd14What is CompTIA? CompTIA (Computing Technology Industry Association) is a nonprofit trade association that issues professional certifications for the information technology (IT) industry. \ud83e\udd13Which CompTIA certification should I start with? Most beginners start with the CompTIA Tech+ or CompTIA A+ depending on their experience level. A+ is more in-depth and considered the industry standard for [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"parent":80,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-690","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unlvhelpdesk.test.sites.unlv.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/690","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unlvhelpdesk.test.sites.unlv.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unlvhelpdesk.test.sites.unlv.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unlvhelpdesk.test.sites.unlv.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unlvhelpdesk.test.sites.unlv.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=690"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.unlvhelpdesk.test.sites.unlv.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/690\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":701,"href":"https:\/\/www.unlvhelpdesk.test.sites.unlv.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/690\/revisions\/701"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unlvhelpdesk.test.sites.unlv.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/80"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unlvhelpdesk.test.sites.unlv.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=690"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}