Network+ Exam Cost in 2026: Fee, Retakes and Renewal

The CompTIA Network+ (N10-009) exam costs $369 USD at retail. A retake costs the full price again, with no waiting period before your second attempt. Training, practice tests and renewal are separate. Your own total depends on how you study, but a lean budget stays close to the exam fee.

How much does the Network+ exam cost?

CompTIA lists the retail price of the Network+ N10-009 exam at $369 USD. CompTIA's own article, Is CompTIA Network+ worth it?, states the cost as $369 USD. What you buy is a voucher, a code redeemed to schedule the exam with Pearson VUE, either at a testing center or, where offered, online. Prices change and regional pricing and taxes can differ, so check the CompTIA Store at checkout, which is the only figure that counts.

The Network+ certification page describes the exam: a maximum of 90 questions, a mix of multiple choice and performance-based items, 90 minutes, and a passing score of 720 on a scale of 100 to 900. The exam series code is N10-009 and the page notes that the exam's retirement is usually three years after launch, estimated for 2027. If you plan to study over many months, check where the exam is in its lifecycle before you commit. For the objectives themselves, see the N10-009 exam guide.

What does the exam fee include?

The fee covers one attempt and, if you pass, the certification. It does not include training, practice exams or a free retake. CompTIA sells official learning products separately, and many candidates study with third-party books, video courses and practice tests instead. As a result, the price you actually pay for getting certified is usually higher than $369, and it varies widely between candidates.

How much does a Network+ retake cost?

A retake costs the exam price again. CompTIA's certification retake policy states that candidates must pay the exam price each time they attempt the exam, and that CompTIA does not offer any free re-tests or discounts on retakes.

The waiting rules are generous compared with some vendors. The policy says CompTIA does not require any waiting period between the first and second attempt, and that from the third attempt onward you must wait at least fourteen calendar days from your last attempt. Once you have passed, you cannot take the same exam code again without prior consent from CompTIA.

That no-wait second attempt is a trap as much as a benefit. It makes an impulsive retake easy, and an impulsive retake without new study is how candidates spend $738 instead of $369. If you fail, read your score report, fix the weakest areas and test yourself with the N10-009 practice questions before booking again. Our guide on how to pass Network+ on the first try covers that process.

Are there bundles, vouchers or discounts?

CompTIA's Network+ page describes three bundles that combine CertMaster learning products with an exam voucher that includes Retake Assurance: Practice and Exam, Learn and Exam, and Complete. It says that bundling the CertMaster products with an exam voucher plus Retake Assurance saves money compared with buying separately. The page does not list bundle prices or the detailed Retake Assurance terms, so we cannot give you numbers. Open the product page for the current price and read the retake conditions before paying, including any time limits and what counts as a qualifying attempt.

CompTIA's Network+ page also names the CertMaster products themselves: Perform, Learn, Practice and Labs. Their individual prices are not shown on that page, so check the CompTIA Store directly.

On discounts, the picture is limited. CompTIA says it offers several ways to reduce the cost, and notes that some sponsored programs offer training and certification free or at low cost, typically for groups such as unemployed workers, veterans and displaced workers, and those programs often exclude people who already hold an entry-level IT job. We have not verified a standing student or educator price for Network+ and do not state one here. If you are a student, ask your institution, because many colleges and bootcamps include vouchers in course fees.

Be careful with unofficial voucher sellers. Resellers and discount codes appear for sale at different prices, but a voucher that cannot be redeemed is money lost. If you want the lowest legitimate price, check your employer, school or a workforce program first, then CompTIA's own store.

What does it cost to renew Network+?

CompTIA certifications run on a three-year cycle and are renewed through the Continuing Education (CE) program rather than by default retesting. According to CompTIA's CE renewal fees page, the Network+ CE fee is $150 for the three-year period when you renew by uploading continuing education units (CEUs). The same page says you pay no CE fee if you renew by:

• taking the newest version of your CompTIA exam,
• earning a higher-level CompTIA certification that fully renews Network+, or
• completing a CertMaster CE course (which carries its own purchase price).

CompTIA also notes that CE fees are not waived if the higher-level certification does not fully renew the lower one. The CEU requirement and qualifying activities are set by CompTIA, so use its CE assessment tools to see what applies to you; we do not quote the required number here. A realistic way to think about it is that renewal can be free if your career naturally takes you to a higher CompTIA certification, around $150 if you document CEUs, and the price of CertMaster CE or a new exam if you go that way.

How much should you budget for studying?

Below are three scenarios. The $369 exam fee is the firm number; the study-material figures are illustrative planning estimates, not quoted prices. Replace them with real quotes. The CertSharp price is the other firm figure: 30 Network+ questions free with no signup, and the full bank for a one-time $11.99.

Time is the largest cost. Plan for steady study over several weeks, with hands-on practice for the performance-based items. The N10-009 study plan lays out a week-by-week schedule, and the Network+ cheat sheet is a quick reference for ports, protocols and subnetting while you study.

What is the total cost of getting Network+ certified?

These are planning ranges built from the one firm number (the exam fee) plus assumptions. The low column assumes free materials, a first-time pass and a free renewal path; the high column assumes paid training, one retake and a paid renewal.

Network+ vs CCNA: which costs less?

Cisco lists the CCNA 200-301 exam at $300 USD, or payable with Cisco Learning Credits, which makes it about $69 cheaper per attempt than Network+ at $369. Both are US list prices and can change. For the full CCNA breakdown, see CCNA exam cost.

Price should not decide this. The cheaper exam is not necessarily the better choice if it does not match the job you want. The Network+ vs CCNA guide walks through when to take each, and when stacking both makes sense. If you are choosing between spending $369 or $300 plus extra study time on the harder exam, consider where you want to be in two years rather than the $69 gap.

Is the Network+ cost worth it?

At $369 the exam is a moderate expense for an entry-level IT credential. It pays back when it moves you into a role you could not otherwise reach, such as help desk, support specialist or a junior networking position, or when it satisfies a requirement for a job, a contract or a training program. It pays back less when you already have a job that does not value it. Our Is Network+ worth it? guide gives a scoring rubric to test this for your situation.

The most cost-effective Network+ candidate is someone with a concrete target: a role, an employer or a program that names the certification. If you cannot name one, spend a few hours reading local job postings before you pay.

How can you keep the cost down?

1. Test before you book. Practice until you score well above the pass line several times. A retake costs another $369.
2. Ask who pays. Employers, schools and workforce programs sometimes cover vouchers.
3. Compare bundles carefully. A bundle with Retake Assurance can be worth it if you expect to need a second attempt, but only if you read the terms and the price.
4. Plan renewal in advance. A higher-level CompTIA certification or CertMaster CE can avoid the $150 CE fee.
5. Use free resources first. Official exam objectives and free practice questions show you what to focus on before you spend on courses.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• CompTIA: Network+ certification page
• CompTIA: Is CompTIA Network+ worth it? (exam cost)
• CompTIA: certification retake policy
• CompTIA: Continuing Education renewal fees
• Cisco: CCNA (200-301) exam page

Last updated October 24, 2026. Exam fees and policies can change; confirm on CompTIA's site before booking. Study-cost figures in the tables are planning estimates, not quotes.