N10-009 · ● Active · Entry · CompTIA
Vendor-neutral entry certification for IT operations and junior networking roles. Covers OSI/TCP-IP fundamentals, switching/routing, IP services, troubleshooting, and security basics. Updated June 2024; current as of May 2026.
Exam facts
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost | $369 USD (2026) |
| Duration | 90 minutes |
| Questions | 90 maximum (multiple-choice, drag-and-drop, performance-based) |
| Passing | 720/900 scaled |
| Format | Multiple-choice · Performance-based questions (PBQs) · Drag-and-drop |
| Delivery | Pearson VUE (desktop/onsite testing centers) |
| Languages | English, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish |
| Valid | 3 years |
| Renewal | CompTIA Continuing Education (CE) credits or retake exam |
| Prerequisites | None (A+ or CCST recommended but not required) |
| Released | June 20, 2024 |
| Retiring | Approximately December 2027 |
Vendor source — CompTIA Network+ ↗
Exam objectives — Official exam topics (5 domains, weighted) ↗
About
CompTIA Network+ (N10-009) is the vendor-neutral entry-level certification for IT support technicians, network technicians, and junior network administrators. Launched June 20, 2024, it replaced the N10-008 exam (retired December 2024) with a modernized focus on cloud interconnect, zero-trust security architectures (SASE/SSE), and software-defined wide-area networking (SD-WAN). The exam validates foundational understanding of IP addressing, routing, switching, wireless access, network services (DNS, DHCP), basic firewalls and VPNs, cabling/infrastructure, monitoring, and troubleshooting methodologies. Widely required by government contractors, SMBs, and managed service providers for entry-level roles.
Domain context — Networking · Entry
Vendor-neutral foundational IT networking skills. Entry point to Networking domain before vendor-specific specialization (Cisco CCNA, Juniper JNCIA, etc.).
Read full deep dive — Networking Domain →
Topics covered
The exam blueprint covers five functional domains with the following approximate weightings:
- Networking Concepts (23%) — OSI model, TCP/IP stack, IP addressing (IPv4/IPv6), subnetting, DNS/DHCP, routing fundamentals, switching basics
- Network Implementation (20%) — Ethernet standards, VLANs, spanning-tree, interface configuration, wireless (802.11), WAN/cloud connectivity, infrastructure resilience
- Network Operations (19%) — Network monitoring, SNMP, syslog, troubleshooting methodology, performance metrics, configuration management, disaster recovery
- Network Security (14%) — Firewalls, VPN (site-to-site, remote access), authentication (802.1X, TACACS+, RADIUS), zero-trust/SASE concepts, network segmentation
- Network Troubleshooting (24%) — Systematic troubleshooting process, common issues, packet analysis basics, cable/infrastructure diagnostics, command-line tools
Key 2024/2026 additions:
- SD-WAN and zero-trust security (SASE/SSE) as core topics
- Cloud interconnect and hybrid network design
- Intent-Based Networking (IBN) concepts
- Configuration management and automated deployment
Source: CompTIA Network+ Exam Topics ↗
Common skills at Networking · Entry
Shared foundation for all Networking domain entry-level certifications.
- OSI model and TCP/IP stack concepts
- IPv4 and IPv6 addressing, subnetting, CIDR notation
- DNS and DHCP services
- VLAN configuration and switching fundamentals
- Spanning-tree protocol and link aggregation
- Basic routing concepts and static/dynamic routing introduction
- Ethernet cabling standards (Cat5e, Cat6, fiber)
- Wireless fundamentals (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax, RF basics)
- Basic firewall and VPN concepts
- Network troubleshooting methodology and common tools (ping, traceroute, ipconfig, netstat, Wireshark)
- IP Services (NAT, DHCP, DNS)
- Zero-trust and software-defined WAN concepts (emerging)
Recommended courses at Networking · Entry
| Provider | Title | Cost | URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professor Messer (YouTube) | CompTIA Network+ (N10-009) Full Training Course | Free | ↗ |
| Jason Dion / Udemy | CompTIA Network+ (N10-009) Full Course & Practice Exam | $10–$15 | ↗ |
| Mike Meyers / Udemy | TOTAL: CompTIA Network+ (N10-009) + Practice Exam | $10–$15 | ↗ |
| CBT Nuggets | CompTIA Network+ (N10-009) | $50–$80/month | ↗ |
| Pluralsight | CompTIA Network+ (N10-009) Certification Path | $29/month (annual) | ↗ |
Practice exams
| Provider | Title | Cost | URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| MeasureUp | CompTIA Network+ (N10-009) Practice Test | ~$150–$200 | ↗ |
| Boson ExSim-Max | Network+ N10-009 Practice Lab & Exam | ~$150 | ↗ |
| Whizlabs | CompTIA Network+ (N10-009) Practice Tests | $20–$50 | ↗ |
Books
| Title | Author | Publisher | Year | ISBN | URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CompTIA Network+ Study Guide: Exam N10-009 | Jon Buhagiar, Todd Lammle | Sybex | 2024 | 978-1394235605 | ↗ |
Typical job titles at Networking · Entry
Network Technician · Junior Network Administrator · NOC (Network Operations Center) Technician · IT Support Specialist (Network focus) · Cabling Technician · Field Service Technician (Network) · Desktop Support / Network
(Job titles drawn from current job-board postings that list CompTIA Network+ as required or preferred.)
Salary
| Region | Range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| USD | $66k–$105k (Network Technician); $88k–$127k (Network Administrator) | Glassdoor Network Technician ↗ · Robert Half 2026 Salary Guide ↗ |
| ZAR | R270k–R350k (entry); R400k–R500k (mid, 4–9 yrs) | PayScale ZA Network Engineer ↗ · Jobted ZA ↗ |
| GBP | £45k–£65k (entry) | IT Jobs Watch ↗ · Hays |
Salary rule: Entry-level roles (Network Technician, junior support) trend toward the lower end; mid-level roles (Network Administrator, NOC Tech) command the higher range. Salary varies significantly by geography, company size, and specialization (e.g., cloud/SD-WAN premium).
Skills validated
Cert-specific — concrete technologies and tools tested on the exam.
- IPv4 and IPv6 addressing and subnetting
- TCP/IP protocol stack and OSI model application
- DNS and DHCP configuration and troubleshooting
- VLAN trunking and inter-VLAN routing
- Spanning-tree protocol and RSTP
- Basic BGP, OSPF, and EIGRP concepts
- Ethernet standards (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T, fiber)
- 802.11 wireless (a/b/g/n/ac/ax) RF fundamentals and security (WPA2/WPA3)
- NAT and Port Address Translation (PAT)
- Site-to-site and remote-access VPN concepts
- Firewall rule sets and access control lists (ACLs)
- 802.1X and AAA (TACACS+, RADIUS)
- SD-WAN and zero-trust architecture (SASE/SSE)
- Network monitoring tools (Wireshark, tcpdump, netstat, traceroute)
- SNMP and syslog
- Cable management and infrastructure best practices
- Disaster recovery and business continuity concepts
Related certifications
- Stacks with: CompTIA A+ (foundational IT) and CompTIA Security+ (security specialist track)
- Prerequisite for: Cisco CCST Networking (100-150) or Cisco CCNA (200-301); Juniper JNCIA-Junos (entry to Juniper track)
- Replaces: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 (retired December 2024)
- Equivalents at this level: Cisco CCST Networking (100-150); Juniper JNCIA-Junos (JN0-106)
- Vendor overview: CompTIA Vendor Overview ↗ (file not yet created)
Sources
- CompTIA Network+ (official): https://www.comptia.org/en-us/certifications/network/
- CompTIA exam retirement dates: https://www.examcompass.com/comptia/exam-retirement-dates
- Professor Messer N10-009 Training: https://www.professormesser.com/network-plus/n10-009/n10-009-video/n10-009-training-course/
- Jason Dion Udemy course: https://www.udemy.com/course/comptia-network-009/
- Mike Meyers Total Seminars Udemy: https://www.udemy.com/course/comptia-networkplus-certification/
- CompTIA Network+ Sybex Study Guide (ISBN 978-1394235605): https://www.amazon.com/CompTIA-Network-Study-Guide-N10-009/dp/1394235607
- MeasureUp Practice Tests: https://www.measureup.com/comptia-network-n10-009-practice-test.html
- Boson ExSim Practice Labs: https://www.boson.com/practice-exam/n10-009-network-plus-practice-exam
- Glassdoor Network Technician Salaries (USD): https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/network-technician-salary-SRCH_KO0,18.htm
- Robert Half 2026 Salary Guide: https://www.roberthalf.com/us/en/insights/salary-guide
- PayScale ZA Network Engineer: https://www.payscale.com/research/ZA/Job=Network_Engineer/Salary
Last verified: 2026-05-01
Parent ecosystem: Networking · Entry
Parent domain: Networking Domain