New to IT and not sure which certification to pursue first? Compare popular starting points including CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, Linux+, Cloud+ and Cisco CCNA.
If you're thinking about earning an IT certification, deciding to get certified may actually be the easy part.
Figuring out which IT certification to get first is where things can get confusing.
CompTIA A+. Network+. Security+. Linux+. Cloud+. Cisco CCNA. Spend a few minutes researching IT certifications and suddenly you're staring at an alphabet soup of options, each pointing toward a different part of the technology industry.
If you're new to IT, here's the first thing to know: you do not need to earn every certification, and there isn't one certification that everyone needs to start with.
Your best first IT certification depends on what you already know, what interests you, and where you'd eventually like your career to go.
Someone who has never worked in technology may benefit from building a broad foundation first. Someone who already understands computers but wants to work in cybersecurity may be ready for a different starting point. And someone who knows they want to work with networks may choose a networking certification from the beginning.
So instead of giving you one universal answer, let's look at some of the most common starting points and figure out which one may make sense for you.
What Is the Best IT Certification for Beginners?
For someone completely new to information technology, CompTIA A+ is one of the most logical places to start.
But "beginner" can mean different things.
You may be new to IT professionally but have spent years building computers, troubleshooting your own technology, working with networks at home, or learning independently. Another person may be starting with very little technical experience at all.
That's why choosing your first IT certification should be based on your current knowledge and career goal, not simply which certification someone on the internet says you should get first.
A useful way to approach the decision is to ask yourself:
What part of IT do I want to understand better?
From there, your options become much easier to narrow down.
CompTIA A+: A Strong Starting Point If You're New to IT
If you're starting from the beginning and want a broad understanding of how modern IT works, CompTIA A+ is often a good first certification to consider.
A+ covers much more than fixing computers. The current certification includes two exams—Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202)—and addresses areas such as hardware, mobile devices, networking, operating systems, cybersecurity, cloud computing, virtualization, troubleshooting, and operational procedures.
That breadth is exactly what can make A+ useful for beginners.
Before specializing in cybersecurity, networking, cloud infrastructure, or another area, it helps to understand the technology those specialties are built around.
Who should consider A+ first?
A+ may make sense if you're:
Completely new to IT
Changing careers into technology
Interested in help desk or technical support
Looking to build broad IT fundamentals
Unsure which IT specialty you eventually want to pursue
Think of A+ as learning the language of IT before deciding which part of the conversation interests you most.
CompTIA Network+: If Networking Interests You
If you already have basic computer knowledge and find yourself wondering how devices actually communicate with each other, CompTIA Network+ may be a natural next step—or, for some learners, a reasonable first certification.
Network+ focuses on the technology that connects modern IT environments. The current N10-009 certification covers networking concepts, implementation, operations, security, and troubleshooting.
And networking knowledge travels well.
Cybersecurity professionals need to understand networks. Cloud professionals work with networks. System administrators troubleshoot networks. Even as automation and AI become more involved in infrastructure management, understanding what is happening underneath those tools remains valuable.
Who should consider Network+?
Network+ may be a good fit if you're interested in:
Networking fundamentals
Network administration
IT infrastructure
Technical support with a networking focus
Cybersecurity later in your career
Building a vendor-neutral networking foundation
If you eventually want to move into cybersecurity but don't yet understand IP addresses, ports, protocols, routing, switching, or network troubleshooting, learning networking first can make later security concepts much easier to understand.
CompTIA Security+: If Cybersecurity Is Your Goal
Cybersecurity attracts a lot of people entering IT—and for good reason. Organizations depend on professionals who understand how to protect systems, networks, identities, and data.
But one of the most common beginner questions is:
Should I get Security+ first?
The answer depends on what you already know.
CompTIA Security+ covers foundational cybersecurity concepts including threats, vulnerabilities, security architecture, security operations, identity and access management, risk, and cryptography.
If you already understand basic computers and networking, Security+ may be a reasonable first major cybersecurity certification.
If terms such as DNS, TCP/IP, ports, protocols, firewalls, operating systems, and access controls are completely unfamiliar, however, building your foundation through A+ and/or networking study first may make Security+ considerably easier to understand.
You don't necessarily have to earn every certification before Security+. Knowledge matters more than collecting prerequisites that don't formally exist.
Who should consider Security+?
Security+ may make sense if you:
Want to begin building cybersecurity skills
Already understand basic IT concepts
Have some networking knowledge
Work in IT and want to transition toward security
Want a foundation before pursuing more specialized cybersecurity certifications
Security+ can also provide a base for later study toward certifications such as CompTIA CySA+, PenTest+, SecurityX, or CISSP, depending on your experience and career direction.
Network+ vs. CCNA: Which Should a Beginner Choose?
This is another common question, and the difference is important.
CompTIA Network+ takes a vendor-neutral approach to networking.
Cisco CCNA goes deeper into networking while working with Cisco technologies and covers network fundamentals, network access, IP connectivity, IP services, security fundamentals, automation, and programmability. Cisco currently lists no formal prerequisite for the CCNA exam.
So which should you choose?
If you're relatively new to networking and want to understand the concepts without centering your study on one vendor, Network+ can provide a strong foundation.
If you already know that networking is the direction you want to pursue—or you have enough foundational knowledge to tackle a more technical networking curriculum—CCNA may make sense earlier in your certification path.
You also don't have to think of Network+ and CCNA as competitors. The knowledge developed while studying Network+ can make more advanced networking concepts easier to approach.
One important CCNA update for 2026–2027
If you're considering CCNA right now, there is an upcoming exam change worth knowing about.
Cisco says the current 200-301 CCNA v1.1 exam will remain available through February 2, 2027, with CCNA v2.0 launching February 3, 2027. Cisco says the refresh will put additional emphasis on practical assessment, troubleshooting, security, and AI while retaining the networking foundation of the current certification.
If you're already preparing for the current exam, Cisco's own guidance is to continue rather than stop studying simply because a refresh is coming.
CompTIA Linux+: If You Want to Understand Linux and Systems
Linux isn't always the first certification beginners hear about, but it becomes difficult to spend much time around servers, cloud computing, cybersecurity, containers, and modern infrastructure without encountering it.
CompTIA Linux+ focuses on practical Linux skills, including system management, security, scripting, containers, troubleshooting, and administration.
Linux+ probably isn't the universal answer to "What IT certification should I get first?" But for someone who already knows the basics and is particularly interested in Linux administration, systems, cloud environments, cybersecurity, or infrastructure, it can be an excellent direction.
Linux+ may make sense if you're interested in:
Linux system administration
Servers and infrastructure
Cloud technology
Cybersecurity
DevOps-related environments
Building stronger command-line skills
If your long-term goal involves technical infrastructure, Linux is a skill worth understanding.
CompTIA Cloud+: If You're Interested in Cloud Infrastructure
"Cloud" can sound like its own isolated area of IT, but cloud computing pulls together many of the fundamentals we've already discussed: networking, security, systems, storage, virtualization, troubleshooting, and operations.
That's one reason CompTIA Cloud+ may make more sense after you've developed some foundational IT knowledge rather than as the very first certification for someone starting from zero.
Cloud+ takes a vendor-neutral approach to cloud infrastructure and operations, which can be useful if you want to understand cloud concepts before—or alongside—specializing in a particular cloud platform.
Cloud+ may be worth considering if you:
Already have some IT fundamentals
Want to move toward cloud administration or infrastructure
Work with virtualized environments
Are interested in cloud security
Want vendor-neutral cloud knowledge
For a complete beginner, A+ or networking fundamentals may be the better first step. For someone already working in IT, Cloud+ could fit much earlier in the path.
A+ vs. Network+ vs. Security+: Which Should You Get First?
If you're choosing among the three certifications people often encounter at the beginning of an IT journey, here's a simple way to think about it:
Choose A+ if:
You're new to IT and want a broad technical foundation.
Choose Network+ if:
You understand basic computing and want to learn how networks and infrastructure work.
Choose Security+ if:
You already have foundational IT/networking knowledge and want to begin focusing on cybersecurity.
That doesn't mean everyone needs to follow:
A+ → Network+ → Security+
For many beginners, that's a very logical progression because each stage can build on knowledge from the previous one. But it isn't a rule.
Someone with years of informal computer experience might not need to start at exactly the same point as someone opening a command prompt for the first time.
The goal isn't to collect certifications in a predetermined order.
The goal is to build the knowledge you need for where you want to go.
Do You Need Experience Before Getting an IT Certification?
Not necessarily.
Some certifications are designed to validate advanced professional experience, while others are much more accessible to people beginning their IT education.
For the certifications we've discussed here, studying can itself be part of the process of building your foundation.
But there is an important distinction:
Passing an exam and being comfortable doing the work are not always the same thing.
That's why hands-on practice matters.
Configure something. Break it. Fix it. Build a lab. Work through troubleshooting scenarios. Practice commands. Explore an operating system you haven't used before. Learn why an answer is correct instead of simply memorizing that it is correct.
Cisco itself emphasizes hands-on lab experience when discussing preparation for CCNA, including for people starting their networking careers.
Certification gives your learning structure and a measurable goal. Practical experience helps turn that knowledge into a skill.
The two work best together.
What If You Don't Know Which IT Career You Want Yet?
That's completely normal.
You don't need to decide on your entire career before taking your first IT course.
In fact, learning the fundamentals can help you discover what you actually enjoy.
You might start with A+ and realize that networking is the part that interests you most. Network+ could make you curious about network security. Security+ might introduce you to defensive cybersecurity and eventually lead toward CySA+.
Or you might discover that you love Linux, cloud infrastructure, troubleshooting, or systems administration.
Your first certification isn't a lifetime commitment.
It's a starting point.
A Simple IT Certification Path for Beginners
If you're looking for a general roadmap rather than a rigid set of rules, one possible path looks like this:
Starting from scratch:
CompTIA A+
Interested in networking/infrastructure:
CompTIA Network+ → Cisco CCNA
Interested in cybersecurity:
A+ and/or networking fundamentals → CompTIA Security+ → CySA+ or PenTest+ → more advanced security certifications as your experience grows
Interested in Linux/systems:
IT fundamentals → CompTIA Linux+
Interested in cloud:
IT and networking fundamentals → CompTIA Cloud+ → vendor-specific cloud certifications as appropriate for the technologies you work with
Notice the word fundamentals keeps appearing.
That's intentional.
Technology changes quickly. Tools change. Platforms change. AI is changing how technical work gets done. But understanding how computers, operating systems, networks, security, and infrastructure actually work gives you something new tools can't replace: context.
Your First IT Certification Doesn't Have to Be Your Last
One of the easiest mistakes to make when starting an IT career is trying to map out the next ten years before you've taken the first step.
You don't need to.
Choose a certification that makes sense for what you know today and what you want to learn next.
If you're brand new, that may be A+.
If networking catches your attention, it may be Network+ or CCNA.
If you've already built a technical foundation and cybersecurity is where you want to go, Security+ may be the right next move.
If systems, Linux, or cloud infrastructure interests you, your path may look completely different.
There isn't one perfect IT certification path.
There is, however, a path that makes sense for you.
Start Your IT Certification Path With CBT Campus
CBT Campus has been helping people prepare for professional IT certifications since 1991.
We offer certification training for CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, Linux+, Cloud+, CySA+, SecurityX, Cisco CCNA, CISSP, and more, with training options designed for different learning styles and schedules.
Depending on the course, options include live virtual instructor-led training, accelerated certification bootcamps, e-learning, and on-demand instructor-led training.
And beginning in October 2026, CBT Campus is expanding its flexible training options with on-demand instructor-led courses for CompTIA A+, Network+, and Security+. Students receive three months of access, with additional access available for purchase if more time is needed.
Not sure where you should start?
Fill out the form below to connect with a CBT Campus Training Advisor. Tell us where you are now and what you'd like to do next, and we can help you explore the certification and training options that fit your goals.
Prefer to speak with someone directly? Call CBT Campus at 1-877-872-4646