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CompTIA A+ certification has gone through several major overhauls since the 800 series launched in 2012, with the current version — V15, using exams 220-1201 (Core 1) and 220-1202 (Core 2) — released in March 2025. Understanding this evolution matters for anyone planning to sit the exam, since CompTIA revises A+ roughly every three years and each version reflects real shifts in what entry-level IT technicians need to know on the job.[comptia]

Why CompTIA Retired the 800 Series

When the 800 series launched in October 2012, it replaced the 700 series and introduced two changes that reshaped A+ certification going forward. First, it added performance-based questions — simulated IT environments where candidates solve real problems instead of just answering multiple-choice items, a format CompTIA compared to the difference between a written test and a road test for a driver's license. Second, it expanded coverage to include mobile device configuration for iOS and Android, reflecting the smartphone and tablet boom of the early 2010s.

Those two innovations — performance-based testing and mobile device coverage — became permanent fixtures of A+ certification and still anchor the exam today, more than a decade later.[comptia]

From 800 Series to V15: What Changed at Each Step

CompTIA has cycled through several major exam families since the 800 series, each one retiring older technology coverage and adding new domains as the IT landscape shifted:[sprintzeal]

• 800 series (2012): Added performance-based questions and mobile device (iOS/Android) configuration; covered Windows 7 and eliminated Windows 2000.[sprintzeal]
• 900 series and 1000 series: Expanded troubleshooting scope and refreshed operating system coverage as Windows 8/10 and cloud basics entered mainstream IT support work.
• 1101/1102 (April 2022): Rebuilt for hybrid workforce support, adding deeper networking, virtualization, and cloud computing content, plus expanded hardware and troubleshooting domains.[infosecinstitute]
• 1201/1202, V15 (March 2025): The current version, emphasizing Linux and macOS alongside Windows, more advanced security and encryption topics, and updated hardware for modern displays and wireless environments.[comptia]

Current Exam Structure (V15)

The certification still requires passing two exams — Core 1 and Core 2 — and CompTIA does not allow mixing exam versions; both must come from the same series. Each exam allows a maximum of 90 questions, combining multiple-choice with performance-based simulations.[comptia]

Data compiled from CompTIA's official V15 exam objectives.[comptia]

Core 2 now covers Windows, macOS, and Linux installation and management, encryption and wireless security protocols, and structured backup and recovery procedures — a notable expansion from the Windows-centric focus of the 800 series.[comptia]

Experience Recommendations Have Increased Over Time

CompTIA's recommended hands-on experience before testing has crept upward since the 800 series first raised it from six months to twelve. Today, CompTIA recommends 9 to 12 months of hands-on experience in help desk, desktop support, or field service roles, though this isn't a formal prerequisite and can include lab work, internships, or self-directed practice. This flexibility matters for career-changers: informal tech support experience still counts toward readiness in CompTIA's own guidance.[onlc]

Why the Exam Keeps Changing

A fair question worth asking: if A+ already tests fundamentals, why does CompTIA revise it every three years instead of leaving it stable? The answer lies in how the exam is built — CompTIA consults large technology companies, the U.S. military, and surveys of currently certified professionals to identify which skills have become obsolete and which new ones the market demands. This is the same review process that originally justified dropping Windows 2000 in favor of Windows 7, and it's the same logic behind V15 dropping older troubleshooting scenarios in favor of multi-OS and wireless complexity content relevant to 2026 IT environments.[ituonline]

Another question candidates often overlook: does performance-based testing actually predict job readiness better than multiple-choice alone? CompTIA's own rationale — comparing it to driving tests — suggests the format exists specifically because critical analysis of a problem on paper doesn't guarantee someone can execute the fix in a live environment. This is worth internalizing during exam prep: memorizing objectives isn't sufficient if you can't also navigate command prompts, Windows tools, or networking configurations under simulated pressure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still take the older 1101/1102 exams instead of V15?
CompTIA typically allows a transition window where both the retiring and new versions are available, but check CompTIA's retirement schedule directly, since older versions eventually get phased out entirely and V15 is now the primary path for new candidates.[comptia]

Do Core 1 and Core 2 have to be taken together?
No, but both exams must be passed from the same version — you cannot mix a Core 1 exam from one series with a Core 2 exam from another.[comptia]

Is real-world experience required before taking the A+ exam?
No formal prerequisite exists, but CompTIA recommends 9–12 months of hands-on experience, which can come from academic labs, internships, or informal tech support work rather than only full-time employment.

Staying current with which A+ version you're studying for — and understanding why CompTIA keeps reshaping the exam — makes a real difference in how efficiently you prepare. If you want structured, up-to-date training aligned with the latest A+ objectives, TrainACE's CompTIA A+ certification courses offer hands-on labs and instructor-led prep built around the current exam version.

Sources: CompTIA Core 1 V15; CompTIA Core 2 V15; CompTIA Core 1 and 2 V15; Sprintzeal; CertBlaster Core 2 Objectives; ONLC; CompTIA A+ Overview; New Horizons; InfoSec Institute; ITU Online; ExamCompass Core 1 Objectives[comptia]