The short version: The CompTIA A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, Twelfth Edition, by Glen E. Clarke and Edward Tetz with series editor Mike Meyers, is now available for preorder in eBook, softcover, or combo formats. The bestselling Exam Guide covers both A+ exams, Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202), across all nine official domains in 29 chapters.

The CompTIA A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, Twelfth Edition, by Glen E. Clarke and Edward Tetz, with Mike Meyers as series editor, is now available for preorder. It covers everything you need to know to pass both CompTIA A+ exams, Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202), and it was written to the current objectives.

If you are aiming for your first job in IT support, a help desk role, or a field service position, A+ is where most people start, and most employers treat it as the entry level to your career. Here is what the new edition covers, how the two exams break down, and what comes with the book.

What the Twelfth Edition Covers

The book starts with safety and professionalism and finishes with operational procedures. Along the way it covers all nine official domains across both exams, building from foundational concepts to more complex hands-on topics, so even a beginner can follow the more difficult topics starting from the first chapter. We help you identify what topics show up on what exam, and help you differentiate between historical objectives and what you need to know to succeed on the job now.

By the end, you should be able to install and configure core hardware, including CPUs, RAM, motherboards, power supplies, and storage. You will learn how to navigate and administer Windows, macOS, and Linux, including the command line, and how to create and manage users, groups, and file permissions. You will master how to configure networking settings, troubleshoot connectivity, and set up small office and home office networks. You’ll be ready to answer questions about how to set up and secure mobile devices, printers, and multifunction devices, and you’ll be ready to do it in the real world. The book also explains virtualization, cloud computing, and the new AI concepts tested on the exam.

How the Two A+ Exams Break Down

CompTIA A+ requires you to pass two separate exams. Each exam has a maximum of 90 questions, runs 90 minutes, and is scored on a scale of 100 to 900. See the CompTIA website for more information about how the exams are scored individually.

Core 1 (220-1201) covers five domains. Here’s the breakdown:

• Hardware and Network Troubleshooting is the largest at 28%
• Hardware at 25%
• Networking at 23%
• Mobile Devices at 13%
• Virtualization and Cloud Computing at 11%

Core 2 (220-1202) covers four domains:

• Operating Systems at 28%
• Security at 28%
• Software Troubleshooting at 23%
• Operational Procedures at 21%

Security being tied with Operating Systems at 28% shows how much cybersecurity carries real weight here, from malware and social engineering to authentication and workstation hardening.

Both exams mix multiple-choice questions with a few performance-based questions, so the book is built to help you answer both types under timed exam conditions.

What Comes With the Book

The Twelfth Edition is available in three formats: eBook, softcover, or an eBook and softcover combo (available only from Total Seminars). eBook access lasts three years from the date you receive it, through the Total Seminars Training Hub, and works on a computer running Windows, macOS, Chrome OS, or Linux.

The book also includes sample online content so you can practice what you read. You get a sample TotalTester bank of 260 practice questions covering Core 1 and Core 2, more than an hour of sample video training, and more than 20 TotalSims, interactive simulations built around the performance-based questions that trip up so many candidates. The Glossary is available online for print book customers, along with the bonus “Try This” lab-based appendix. These are available with the eBook if you decide to buy the eBook. Rounding out the offering is a curated collection of Mike’s favorite PC tools and utilities.

Who Should Use This Book

There is no prerequisite certification for A+. CompTIA recommends about 12 months of hands-on experience in an IT support role, but that is a guideline rather than a requirement. If you are starting fresh, the book starts with you.

A+ prepares you for roles such as IT Support Specialist, Help Desk Technician, Field Service Technician, Desktop Support Analyst, and Technical Support Specialist. It also maps to NICE and DoD 8140 work roles, which many government and contractor positions recommend. Once you have it, Network+ and Security+ are the natural next certifications. The book does not retire when you pass, either. It doubles as an on-the-job reference that keeps earning its place on your desk.

Meet the Authors

Glen E. Clarke is the founder and lead instructor at DC Advanced Technology Training, an IT training company in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He holds certifications including A+, Network+, Security+, PenTest+, CCNA, and CEH, and he has written certification titles on A+, Network+, Security+, and Cisco CCT and CCNA.

Edward Tetz has spent his career delivering certified technical training and working in service delivery in Halifax and Ottawa. He currently works for Microsoft in Enterprise Service Delivery, supporting enterprise and government customers.

Mike Meyers, the series editor, is the bestselling author behind eleven previous editions of the A+ All-in-One Exam Guide and is a co-founder of Total Seminars, which has helped millions of people pass the CompTIA A+ exams.

Preorder Today

If A+ is on your calendar for the coming year, now is a good time to lock in your order for this bestselling exam guide. Pick the format that fits the way you study.

Preorder the CompTIA A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, Twelfth Edition, at totalsem.com and start your career in IT support.