CompTIA announced significant changes to its A+ certification in 2019, marking one of the most substantial overhauls the credential had seen in years. The A+ has long served as the starting point for millions of people entering the information technology field, and keeping it current with industry demands is something CompTIA takes seriously. Every few years, the organization reviews the certification against real-world job requirements, surveys employers and working technicians, and updates the exam objectives to reflect what professionals actually need to know on the job today rather than years ago.
The 2019 update replaced the previous 220-901 and 220-902 exam series with the new 220-1001 and 220-1002 series, commonly referred to as Core 1 and Core 2. This transition was not simply a cosmetic refresh but a meaningful restructuring of content priorities designed to align with how IT support roles had evolved. Technologies that had become obsolete received reduced coverage or were removed entirely, while emerging areas that technicians increasingly encountered in real workplaces received expanded treatment. The result was a certification that better reflected the actual responsibilities of entry-level IT professionals working in contemporary environments.
Understanding Why CompTIA Refreshes Its Certifications on a Regular Cycle
CompTIA follows a structured review process called the Job Task Analysis, which involves gathering input from thousands of IT professionals, hiring managers, and industry stakeholders to determine what skills matter most in current job roles. This process ensures that the A+ does not become a museum piece that tests knowledge of technologies no longer in widespread use. The technology landscape shifts quickly, and a certification that accurately reflected the IT support environment of 2015 would already be missing critical areas by 2019. Regular updates are therefore not just beneficial but necessary for the credential to maintain its credibility and usefulness.
The job task analysis process involves surveys, interviews, and workshops with subject matter experts who work directly in IT support roles. These contributors identify which tasks they perform regularly, which technologies they work with most frequently, and which knowledge areas are most critical for success in entry-level positions. CompTIA synthesizes this input into updated exam objectives that reflect consensus across a broad cross-section of the industry. This methodology is part of why the A+ is recognized by employers as a meaningful credential rather than a theoretical exercise disconnected from workplace realities.
Core 1 Exam Coverage and the Technologies It Emphasizes
The 220-1001 Core 1 examination covers hardware, networking, mobile devices, virtualization, and cloud computing fundamentals. One of the notable shifts in the 2019 update was increased emphasis on cloud technologies and virtualization concepts, reflecting how dramatically these areas had grown in IT support environments. Technicians who once worked exclusively with physical hardware on premises were increasingly being asked to support hybrid environments where some resources lived in the cloud and some remained local. The updated Core 1 exam acknowledged this reality by dedicating meaningful coverage to cloud concepts that previous versions of the A+ had treated only briefly.
Mobile device support also received expanded and updated treatment in Core 1, recognizing that smartphones and tablets had become primary computing devices for many users. Technicians supporting end users increasingly spent time troubleshooting mobile platforms, configuring mobile device management solutions, and addressing connectivity issues on devices that ran iOS and Android rather than traditional desktop operating systems. The updated exam objectives reflected the diversity of devices that contemporary IT support professionals encounter, ensuring that certified individuals would be prepared to help users regardless of what hardware they happened to be working with.
Core 2 Exam Coverage and Its Focus on Operating Systems and Security
The 220-1002 Core 2 examination addresses operating systems, security, software troubleshooting, and operational procedures. Windows remained the dominant operating system in enterprise environments and therefore continued to receive substantial coverage, but the 2019 update expanded treatment of macOS and Linux to reflect their growing presence in workplaces. Many organizations had adopted macOS through bring-your-own-device policies or by deploying Apple hardware for creative and development teams, while Linux appeared increasingly in server environments and specialized workstations that support technicians might encounter.
Security received notably increased emphasis in the Core 2 exam, reflecting the reality that IT support professionals were being asked to serve as a first line of defense against threats. Even entry-level technicians needed to recognize the signs of malware infections, understand basic security best practices, and know how to implement fundamental protections on the systems they managed. The 2019 update expanded security content beyond what previous versions covered, ensuring that A+ holders would enter the workforce with the awareness needed to support organizational security rather than inadvertently undermining it through lack of knowledge.
Specific Domain Weightings and How They Shifted From Previous Versions
CompTIA publishes detailed exam objectives for each certification that include domain weightings, indicating what percentage of the examination each major topic area represents. The 2019 update redistributed these weightings to reflect changing priorities. For Core 1, mobile devices, networking, hardware, virtualization and cloud computing, and hardware and network troubleshooting each received assigned percentages that guided both exam construction and candidate preparation. The explicit inclusion of virtualization and cloud computing as a standalone domain with its own weighting was a clear signal that these topics had moved from peripheral to essential.
For Core 2, the domains covered operating systems, security, software troubleshooting, and operational procedures. The security domain weighting in Core 2 increased compared to equivalent coverage in the previous exam series, reflecting the growing security responsibilities being placed on entry-level technicians. Operational procedures, which cover topics like documentation, change management, basic scripting concepts, and professional communication, also maintained meaningful weight in the updated exam. CompTIA had recognized that technical knowledge alone was insufficient and that effective IT support required the soft skills and procedural knowledge that operational procedures content addressed.
Retirement Timeline for the Previous 900 Series Examinations
Whenever CompTIA releases a new version of a certification, it establishes a retirement date for the previous version to give candidates already in the middle of preparation time to complete their certification under the existing objectives. For the 2019 A+ update, CompTIA announced that the previous 220-901 and 220-902 examinations would be retired in mid-2019, giving candidates a window to either complete their certification under the old objectives or transition to preparing for the new Core 1 and Core 2 exams. This transition period is a standard part of how CompTIA manages version changes across its certification portfolio.
Candidates who had already passed one of the two previous exams but not both faced a decision about whether to complete the old series before retirement or start fresh with the new series. CompTIA provided clear guidance on this situation, and most candidates who were close to completing the previous version chose to finish under those objectives rather than restart. Candidates who had not yet begun their A+ journey were generally advised to start with the new 1000 series from the beginning, since those exams would remain active and relevant for years to come while the 900 series was headed for retirement.
What the Updates Meant for Training Providers and Study Material Publishers
The release of updated exam objectives created immediate work for training providers, textbook publishers, and online course creators who needed to align their materials with the new content. Study guides and practice tests built around the 220-901 and 220-902 objectives would become outdated once the new exams launched, requiring publishers to revise or replace their existing products. This update cycle is well understood by the certification preparation industry, and major publishers typically begin working on new editions as soon as CompTIA releases updated objectives.
For candidates beginning their A+ preparation after the launch of the new series, this transition meant that not all available study materials were equally current. Older books and courses that had not been updated still appeared in bookstores and on online platforms, and candidates who inadvertently purchased materials aligned to the retired 900 series would find gaps between what they had studied and what the current exams actually tested. Checking publication dates and confirming that materials explicitly reference the 220-1001 and 220-1002 objectives became an important step in building an effective study plan during this transitional period.
Expanded Emphasis on Scripting and Automation Concepts
One of the more forward-looking additions in the 2019 A+ update was the introduction of basic scripting and automation concepts into the exam objectives. This was a significant departure from earlier versions of the A+ that focused almost exclusively on hands-on hardware and operating system knowledge without touching scripting. The inclusion of scripting concepts reflected how IT support roles were beginning to incorporate basic automation, with technicians expected to understand simple scripts even if they were not writing complex programs from scratch. Batch files, PowerShell basics, and simple command-line automation were now considered foundational knowledge for entry-level professionals.
This addition signaled something important about the direction of IT support as a discipline. Automation was increasingly being used to handle routine tasks, deploy configurations, and manage systems at scale, and even technicians in traditional support roles needed enough scripting literacy to read, modify, and execute basic scripts. CompTIA was effectively acknowledging that the boundary between traditional IT support and more technical system administration was becoming less distinct. By introducing scripting concepts at the A+ level, the certification was helping candidates build a foundation that would serve them well as they advanced into more technical roles throughout their careers.
How the 2019 Update Addressed Virtualization and Cloud Topics
Virtualization and cloud computing had existed in previous versions of the A+ but occupied a relatively minor portion of the content. The 2019 update elevated these topics substantially, creating a dedicated domain in Core 1 that addressed virtualization concepts, cloud computing models, and the client-side components that technicians would need to support. This elevation reflected how thoroughly virtualization had penetrated enterprise IT environments, where physical servers had largely been replaced by virtual machines and where even small organizations were using cloud services for storage, productivity applications, and communication tools.
The cloud computing content in the updated A+ covered the basic service models of infrastructure as a service, platform as a service, and software as a service, along with deployment models including public, private, hybrid, and community clouds. While the A+ did not go into the depth of cloud-specific certifications, it gave candidates enough foundational understanding to recognize cloud environments, support users working with cloud-based applications, and understand the basic concepts that distinguished cloud resources from traditional on-premises infrastructure. This foundation proved valuable as candidates advanced in their careers and encountered cloud platforms with increasing frequency in professional settings.
Professional Communication and Soft Skills Within the Updated Objectives
CompTIA had long recognized that technical knowledge was only part of what made an effective IT support professional, and the 2019 update continued to emphasize professional communication and soft skills within the operational procedures domain. Topics such as active listening, professional appearance, positive attitude, and time management appeared alongside more technical operational content. These inclusions might seem surprising in a technical certification, but they reflected feedback from employers who consistently noted that interpersonal and communication skills were among the most important attributes they looked for when hiring entry-level technicians.
IT support roles place professionals in direct contact with end users who are often frustrated, stressed, or confused about technology problems affecting their work. The ability to communicate clearly, remain patient under pressure, set appropriate expectations, and follow up reliably is what distinguishes good technicians from great ones. By including these soft skills in the exam objectives, CompTIA reinforced to candidates and to training providers that preparation for the A+ should address the full picture of what effective IT support requires. Candidates who studied these sections carefully entered the workforce better prepared for the human dimensions of technical work.
The Impact on Candidates Already Working Toward Certification
For candidates who were actively preparing for the A+ when the 2019 update was announced, the transition created a moment of decision. Those who had invested significant time in studying for the 900 series needed to assess whether to accelerate their preparation and test before the retirement date or to pivot and begin studying the new objectives instead. CompTIA provided enough advance notice of the transition timeline that most candidates could make an informed choice without feeling rushed. The retirement of the 900 series did not invalidate credentials already earned under those objectives, so holders of existing A+ certifications were not affected by the update.
Candidates who chose to transition to the new 1000 series had to account for the differences in content coverage, particularly in areas like cloud computing, scripting, and the updated security content. Most experienced test preparation advisors recommended reviewing the new exam objectives carefully and identifying which topics were entirely new versus which were familiar content that had simply been reorganized or reweighted. This gap analysis approach allowed candidates to focus their additional preparation time efficiently rather than starting over completely from the beginning.
Industry Reception and Employer Perspectives on the Updated Credential
The reception of the 2019 A+ updates among employers and industry observers was broadly positive, with many noting that the additions of cloud content, scripting awareness, and expanded security coverage made the credential more relevant to contemporary IT support roles. Employers who had grown accustomed to A+ as a baseline hiring criterion saw the updated version as better aligned with what their entry-level positions actually required. The inclusion of topics that had previously been considered intermediate-level knowledge raised the ceiling of what the A+ demonstrated, making certified candidates more immediately productive in modern IT environments.
Some industry voices noted that the updates reflected a gradual elevation of expectations for entry-level IT professionals as a whole. The technology that technicians were being asked to support had grown more complex, and the updated A+ acknowledged this by demanding a broader and more sophisticated knowledge base than earlier versions. This evolution was viewed positively by most observers because it ensured that A+ certification continued to represent a meaningful achievement rather than becoming an outdated baseline that failed to reflect current workplace demands.
Comparison Between the Old and New Exam Structures
Comparing the structure of the previous 900 series to the new 1000 series reveals both continuity and meaningful change. Both series used two examinations to cover the full range of A+ content, maintaining the practical advantage of dividing the credential into manageable segments that candidates could approach sequentially. The question formats remained similar, with both series using a combination of multiple-choice questions and performance-based items that required candidates to demonstrate practical knowledge by completing simulated tasks rather than simply selecting answers. This format continuity meant that general test-taking strategies from the previous series remained applicable.
Where the series diverged most clearly was in content priorities and the specific technologies addressed. The 1000 series gave cloud, virtualization, mobile platforms, and security meaningfully more space than their predecessors had. Hardware content remained important but was presented alongside a broader ecosystem of technologies that reflected how IT support had expanded beyond traditional desktop and laptop hardware. The overall effect was a certification that maintained its identity as a foundational credential while updating its substance to remain genuinely relevant to the environments where contemporary IT professionals worked every day.
Preparing Effectively for the Updated Core 1 and Core 2 Examinations
Candidates approaching the updated A+ examinations needed to build preparation strategies that addressed the full breadth of the new objectives without neglecting any domain. Starting with the official CompTIA exam objectives document was the most reliable way to ensure complete coverage, since this document defined exactly what the exams tested and in what proportions. Building a study schedule that allocated time proportional to domain weightings helped candidates avoid the common mistake of over-investing in areas they already knew while underinvesting in less familiar but heavily weighted topics.
Practice examinations played a particularly important role in preparation for the 1000 series because they exposed candidates to the blend of conceptual and applied questions the exams used. Performance-based items in particular required different preparation than multiple-choice questions, since they assessed the ability to actually complete tasks rather than simply recognize correct answers. Hands-on practice with operating systems, networking equipment, hardware components, and virtualization software strengthened the practical competency that these items tested. Candidates who combined thorough reading of study materials with genuine hands-on experience consistently reported feeling better prepared on exam day than those who had relied exclusively on passive study.
Conclusion
The 2019 CompTIA A+ updates represented a pivotal moment in the evolution of one of the technology industry’s most enduring and widely recognized entry-level credentials. By expanding coverage of cloud computing, virtualization, mobile devices, scripting concepts, and security, CompTIA demonstrated its commitment to keeping the A+ aligned with the genuine demands of contemporary IT support roles rather than allowing it to drift out of relevance. The transition from the 900 series to the 1000 series was managed transparently and with sufficient notice to allow candidates, training providers, and employers to adapt without disruption.
For candidates who pursued the updated credential, the changes meant engaging with a broader and more sophisticated body of knowledge than previous generations of A+ test-takers had encountered. This was ultimately a positive development, because it meant that earning the credential carried more genuine meaning and better prepared holders for the environments they would actually work in. An entry-level technician who understood cloud fundamentals, could navigate multiple operating systems, recognized security threats, and had basic scripting awareness was simply more capable and more valuable than one whose knowledge stopped at physical hardware and Windows configuration.
Looking beyond 2019, the update also illustrated a broader truth about professional certifications in technology fields. No credential can remain static in a discipline defined by constant change, and the willingness to revise and strengthen examination objectives is what separates certifications that maintain long-term credibility from those that gradually become irrelevant. CompTIA’s structured approach to periodic updates, grounded in systematic analysis of actual job requirements, is a model that serves candidates and employers alike. For anyone considering the A+ as a starting point for an IT career, the 2019 update reinforced that the credential remains a worthwhile and forward-looking investment, reflecting not just the IT support environment of today but actively anticipating where the discipline is heading in the years ahead. The technicians who earn the updated A+ enter the workforce equipped with knowledge that employers genuinely value, and that alignment between certification content and workplace demand is the foundation of everything that makes professional credentials worth pursuing.