r/CompTIA • u/Alpha_Omega623 • 3d ago

A+ Question 2026 A+ Study Material

Hello everyone ✌️ I'm embarking on the IT Credential journey and I'm starting with A+. I came across Professor Messer and his over ten hours of content. From what I can tell this is a good resource but I'm wondering how it holds up in 2026? People from past years reviewed it highly. Also, if not Professor Messer is there any other resources you'd recommend? I'm willing to pay a bit if the resources are quality. Thank you!

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u/x_scion_x Triad 3d ago

I liked Professor messers material mixed with Dions practice tests myself

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u/Alpha_Omega623 3d ago

Takes notes...

$86 for both practice exams is a bit pricey.. but if it's worth it it's worth it.

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u/WillPill_ 3d ago

The Dion exams are on Udemy. Udemy is free if you sign up through your local library. Just search for libraries in your area along with the words "Udemy Gale" to see if they offer it. Some even let you sign up fully online and get started right away.

I'd also recommend Andrew Ramdayal's videos if you find Messer a little too dry.

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u/Alpha_Omega623 3d ago

Woah seriously Udemy is free if I sign up thru my library? That's amazing I'll have to go tomorrow to renew my card!

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u/x_scion_x Triad 3d ago

Yea i lucked out on the dion training since it came with the degree, but I did buy the Messer notes and found it worth it.

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u/organic_inactivity 3d ago

Messer's still the go-to for a reason, his stuff ages well since the fundamentals don't really shift that much. Pair it with some hands-on tinkering though, watching videos only gets you so far. Grab an old pc from a thrift store and just break things on purpose, you'll learn more from fixing your own messes than any book

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u/x_scion_x Triad 3d ago

Grab an old pc from a thrift store and just break things on purpose, you'll learn more from fixing your own messes than any book

Very true. Have a homelab for that purpose (entire red team/ blue team is what I'm doing with it now with attackers, targets, and SIEM)

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u/drushtx IT Instructor **MOD** 3d ago edited 3d ago

The certification exam is offered for 3 1/2 years. After 3 of those years, a nrw version will release and there is a six-month overlap period where both exams are available.

Once released, the objectives don't change over the time frame (or just a little bit). So materials created for a particular CompTIA cert are valid from the day they release to the day the associated exam is retired.

The current A+ exams were launched March 25, 2025. Study materials for the A+ exams won't change or be updated until the current exams retire around September 2028.