CompTIA A+™ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, Twelfth Edition (Exams 220-1201 & 220-1202)

Product Overview

The CompTIA A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, Twelfth Edition covers everything you need to know to pass the CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202) exams, available now for preorder. Glen E. Clarke and Edward Tetz wrote this edition to the current objectives, with series editor Mike Meyers. It is built for aspiring IT support specialists, help desk technicians, and anyone starting a career in IT.

Total Seminars is the leading authority on CompTIA A+ certification and training. We have helped hundreds of thousands of people pass the CompTIA A+ exams, and now we can help you too.

• Covers both CompTIA A+ exams: Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202), across all nine official domains
• 29 chapters, from safety and professionalism to operational procedures
• Formats: eBook, softcover, or eBook + softcover combo
• Sample TotalTester practice tests: a 260-question sample question bank covering Core 1 and Core 2
• Sample video: more than one hour of video training
• Sample TotalSims: 20+ performance-based interactive simulations
• Additional online content: a curated collection of favorite PC tools and utilities
• eBook access: three years from the date you receive access, via the Total Seminars Training Hub

Certification Alignment

CompTIA A+ requires you to pass two separate exams. This book covers the official domains of both.

Core 1 (220-1201)

• Mobile Devices (13%) — hardware, accessories, connectivity, and mobile device management
• Networking (23%) — ports and protocols, wireless standards, hardware, and SOHO configuration
• Hardware (25%) — cables, RAM, storage, motherboards, CPUs, power, and printers
• Virtualization and Cloud Computing (11%) — hypervisors, virtual machines, and cloud models
• Hardware and Network Troubleshooting (28%) — diagnosing hardware, display, mobile, network, and printer faults

Core 2 (220-1202)

• Operating Systems (28%) — Windows, macOS, Linux, command line, and installation
• Security (28%) — malware, social engineering, authentication, and workstation hardening
• Software Troubleshooting (23%) — operating system, application, and malware removal scenarios
• Operational Procedures (21%) — safety, documentation, change management, and professionalism

Core 1 passes at 675 and Core 2 at 700, each on a scale of 100 to 900. Each exam has a maximum of 90 questions and runs 90 minutes.

Career Impact

A+ is the recognized starting point for a career in IT support, and most employers treat it as the entry credential.

• Prepares you for roles such as IT Support Specialist, Help Desk Technician, and Field Service Technician
• Also fits Desktop Support Analysts and Technical Support Specialists
• Maps to NICE and DoD 8140 work roles, which many government and contractor positions require
• Leads naturally to CompTIA Network+ and Security+ as your next certifications

The book doubles as an on-the-job reference once you are certified, so it keeps earning its place on your desk.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this book, you can do the following.

• Install and configure core hardware, including CPUs, RAM, motherboards, power supplies, and storage.
• Navigate and administer Windows, macOS, and Linux, including the command-line interface.
• Create and manage users, groups, and file permissions.
• Configure networking settings, troubleshoot connectivity, and set up SOHO networks.
• Explain virtualization, cloud computing, and AI concepts covered on the exam.
• Set up and secure mobile devices, printers, and multifunction devices.
• Apply endpoint security practices and follow standard operational procedures.
• Answer both multiple-choice and performance-based questions under exam conditions.

Prerequisites

There is no prerequisite certification for A+. CompTIA recommends about 12 months of hands-on experience in an IT support role, though that is a guideline rather than a requirement.

The book builds from foundational concepts, so beginners can follow it from the first chapter. To read the eBook and use the sample TotalTester and TotalSims content, you need a computer running Windows, macOS, Chrome OS, or Linux.

About the Experts

Glen E. Clarke, CCT, CCNA, MCITP, MCSE, MCSD, MCDBA, MCT, CEH, CHFI, CISSO, PenTest+, Security+, Network+, A+, is the founder and lead instructor at DC Advanced Technology Training (DCATT), an IT training company based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He has helped thousands of students achieve IT certification goals and advance their careers. Glen has authored many certification titles on topics such as A+, Network+, Security+, Cisco CCT and CCNA, including the CCT/CCNA Routing and Switching All-in-One Exam Guide and CompTIA Security+ Certification Study Guide from McGraw-Hill, and the CompTIA PenTest+ Certification For Dummies from Wiley.

Ed Tetz, A+, MCSE, MCT, graduated in 1990 from Saint Lawrence College in Cornwall, Ontario, with a degree in business administration. Since that time, he has spent his career delivering certified technical training for a Microsoft Training Center and working as a service delivery professional in both Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Ottawa, Ontario. Over his career, Ed has supported Apple Macintosh, IBM OS/2, Linux, Novell NetWare, and all Microsoft operating systems from MS-DOS to Windows Server 2016, as well as hardware from most of the major manufacturers. Ed currently works for Microsoft in Enterprise Service Delivery in Ottawa, Ontario, supporting enterprise and government customers. Ed has written several guides to MCSE and other certifications for Wiley.

Mike Meyers, series editor, CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, MCP, is a bestselling author of CompTIA certification guides. His titles include eleven editions of the CompTIA A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, eight editions of the CompTIA Network+ Certification Exam Guide, and two editions of the CompTIA Security+ Certification Guide. Mike is a founder of Total Seminars, LLC, a major provider of PC and network repair seminars for thousands of organizations worldwide. He has written numerous other computer books and is a member of CompTIA.

Book Table of Contents

29 chapters covering every domain of both A+ exams, Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202).

CH 1 Safety and Professionalism
CH 2 Introduction to Computers and Operating Systems
CH 3 CPUs
CH 4 RAM
CH 5 BIOS and UEFI
CH 6 Motherboards
CH 7 Power Supplies
CH 8 Mass Storage Technologies
CH 9 Implementing Mass Storage
CH 10 Essential Peripherals
CH 11 Installing and Upgrading Operating Systems
CH 12 Working with Operating Systems
CH 13 Users, Groups, and Permissions
CH 14 Maintaining and Optimizing Operating Systems
CH 15 Working with Command-Line Interface
CH 16 Troubleshooting Systems
CH 17 Display Technologies
CH 18 Essentials of Networking
CH 19 TCP/IP Basics
CH 20 Operating System Networking and Network Troubleshooting
CH 21 Wireless Networking
CH 22 Internet and SOHO Networking
CH 23 Virtualization, Cloud Computing, and AI
CH 24 Portable Computers
CH 25 Mobile Devices
CH 26 Maintaining and Securing Mobile Devices
CH 27 Printers and Multifunction Devices
CH 28 Securing Computers
CH 29 Operational Procedures

Delivery Options

• eBook: study with a three-year subscription to your eBook copy. Access each chapter 24 hours a day, seven days a week, exclusively on the Total Seminars Training Hub. You save on study materials and shipping, and you get access to your other Training Hub materials alongside your reading.
• Softcover: the printed book, shipped to you. You’ll receive a separate shipping confirmation.
• eBook + softcover combo: both formats, so you can read online and mark up a physical copy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is included with this book?

You get the full CompTIA A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, Twelfth Edition in your chosen format. Your purchase also includes a 260-question sample TotalTester question bank covering Core 1 and Core 2, more than an hour of sample video training, 20+ sample TotalSims simulations, and a curated collection of favorite PC tools and utilities.

Which edition is this, and which exams does it cover?

This is the Twelfth Edition, written to the current 220-1201 (Core 1) and 220-1202 (Core 2) exam objectives.

Can I order this book before it is released?

Yes. The Twelfth Edition is available for preorder now, so you can lock in your copy and start studying as soon as it is ready.

Can I get this book in print?

Yes. Choose the softcover, or the combo if you want both the printed book and the eBook.

How long do I have access to the eBook?

Three years, through the Total Seminars Training Hub. Your three years start when you receive access, so presale orders don’t lose any time before the eBook is released.

Can I download the eBook?

No. You read it online at the Total Seminars Training Hub, where you can access each chapter 24 hours a day.

What devices can I use to read the eBook?

The eBook works on any device with a web browser — no special software required. The sample TotalTester and TotalSims content needs a computer running Windows, macOS, Chrome OS, or Linux.

Do I need to pass two exams to get A+ certified?

Yes. CompTIA A+ requires both Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202). Each exam has a maximum of 90 questions and lasts 90 minutes. Core 1 passes at 675 and Core 2 at 700.

Is this book aligned to the latest exam version?

Yes. The Twelfth Edition aligns to the current 220-1201 and 220-1202 objectives and covers all nine domains across the two exams.

Can I use this for classroom or multi-user training?

Single-user licenses cover individual use only, so they are not valid for classroom instruction. Please call 877-687-2768 for discounted multi-user pricing.

What happens after I purchase?

You’ll receive an order confirmation email immediately. Because this is a presale, your Total Seminars Training Hub login email for the eBook will be sent when the eBook is released. For the softcover or combo, you’ll also receive a shipping confirmation when your book goes out. If your order confirmation doesn’t arrive within 30 minutes, check your spam folder or contact support@totalsem.com.

Educators

Please call 877-687-2768 for discounted multi-user pricing. Single-user licenses are not valid for classroom use.

Order Process

• You’ll receive an email confirming your order.
• Presale eBook orders: your Total Seminars Training Hub login email will be sent when the eBook is released.
• eBook access: log in at hub.totalsem.com — works on any device with a web browser, no special software required.
• Softcover and combo orders: your physical book ships separately, and you’ll receive a shipping confirmation.
• eBook access duration: three years from the date you receive access.
• Questions? Contact support@totalsem.com.