Build and fix hardware
Work with mobile devices and hardware, and troubleshoot hardware and network faults in a repeatable way.
Partners and press
Overview
Every IT career starts with a ticket. A+ tests whether you can close it.
A+ is CompTIA’s core IT support credential, recommended after 12 months of hands-on experience as an IT support specialist. It takes two exams of one version, in any order: Core 1 on hardware and networking, Core 2 on operating systems and security. Each exam allows up to 90 questions in 90 minutes, and CompTIA estimates retirement of V15 in 2028.
13Modules
90Questions
90Minutes
8Roles
What it tests
Learn all the way down.
Learn all the way down.
Perform when it matters.
Connect and virtualize
Configure networking, and explain virtualization and cloud computing as a support technician sees them.
Run and protect systems
Install and manage operating systems, apply security measures, and remove and prevent malware.
Fix software and work to procedure
Diagnose software and security problems, then document, communicate and recover the way a support team should.
Course outline
Take apart, set up and repair
Take apart, set up and repair
the machines people rely on.
We design this course ourselves. CompTIA runs the exam and issues the credential, and LUNARTECH is independent of CompTIA.
Start with the devices people carry. You learn how laptops are built and serviced, how mobile devices connect and sync, and which accessories and connection types you will be asked to support every week.
- Laptop hardware: displays, keyboards and batteries
- Replacing laptop parts safely
- Phones and tablets: components and form factors
- Mobile connectivity: cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC
- Accessories, docks and external displays
- Syncing and mobile device management basics
You build A service procedure for replacing a laptop battery and display, with photos or diagrams.
The inside of a desktop is where most hardware faults live. You identify and install the core components, match them to each other, and learn how power and cooling keep them within limits.
- Motherboard form factors and expansion slots
- Processor sockets, cores and cooling
- Memory types, speeds and compatibility
- Power supplies, connectors and wattage
- Firmware settings and updates
- Matching components to a build
You build A parts list and assembly plan for a workstation, with a compatibility check.
Storage and peripherals are what users notice first when they fail. You compare drive technologies and RAID levels, install common peripherals, and learn how printers work and why they jam, fade and stop responding.
- Hard drives, SSDs and NVMe
- RAID levels and what each protects against
- Optical, flash and removable media
- Input devices, displays and cameras
- Laser, inkjet, thermal and 3D printers
- Installing and maintaining printers
You build A storage recommendation for a small office, with a RAID choice and a maintenance schedule.
A support technician reads network settings all day. You learn how TCP and UDP ports work, the services that use them, and how IPv4 and IPv6 addresses are assigned, so a configuration screen makes sense.
- TCP, UDP and common port numbers
- Services: DNS, DHCP, mail, web and file transfer
- IPv4 addresses, subnet masks and gateways
- IPv6 basics
- Static and automatic addressing
- Reading and changing network settings
You build A reference sheet of ports, services and address settings for one office network.
Connect devices that talk to each other. You choose and install routers, switches, access points and cables, set up wireless safely, and configure a small office or home router from a blank state.
- Routers, switches and access points
- Copper and fiber cabling, connectors and tools
- Wi-Fi standards, channels and interference
- Configuring a small office router
- Network types: LAN, WAN, PAN and others
- Internet connection types
You build A configured small office network, with a diagram and a record of each setting.
Support staff now meet virtual desktops and cloud applications daily. You learn what virtual machines and containers are, how cloud models differ, and what changes for a technician when the system is not on the desk.
- Hypervisors and virtual machines
- Client-side virtualization for testing
- Cloud models and service types
- Cloud file storage and synchronization
- Virtual desktops and remote work setups
You build A virtual machine built from scratch, with a short note on what it can and cannot test.
Apply a method to faults you can touch. You work through power, display, memory, storage and network problems in order, using the symptoms, tools and replacements that settle a fault fastest.
- The troubleshooting process, step by step
- Power, boot and POST failures
- Display, memory and overheating faults
- Storage and RAID failures
- Wired and wireless connectivity problems
- Cable testers, loopback plugs and multimeters
- Printer and peripheral faults
You build A fault-finding flowchart for a computer that will not start, tested against three scenarios.
Every machine needs an operating system chosen, installed and kept current. You compare Windows, macOS, Linux and mobile systems, perform clean and upgrade installs, and manage partitions and file systems.
- Operating system types, editions and versions
- Installation methods: media, network and image
- Upgrades, in-place installs and migration
- Partitions, file systems and formatting
- macOS and Linux essentials for support
- Boot methods and recovery environments
You build An installation checklist for a new Windows workstation, followed on a test machine.
Windows tools answer most support questions if you know where to look. You use management consoles, the command line and settings to manage users, shares, networking and performance on a working machine.
- Task Manager, Event Viewer and Device Manager
- Disk management and storage tools
- Command line tools for files and networking
- Users, groups and permissions
- Shared folders and network drives
- System configuration, services and updates
- Linux and macOS commands you should recognize
You build A set of command line and console steps that collect a full system health report.
Support staff are the first defense. You apply physical and logical controls, harden workstations and small office networks, spot social engineering and learn how to destroy data that must not survive a disposal.
- Physical security and access controls
- Authentication, accounts and multi-factor sign-in
- Wireless security protocols and router hardening
- Social engineering and common threats
- Disk encryption and workstation hardening
- Mobile device security
- Data destruction and disposal
You build A hardening checklist for a workstation and a small office router, applied and verified.
Software faults hide behind the same few symptoms. You diagnose Windows failures, application crashes, mobile problems and malware infections, and remove threats in a sequence that stops them returning.
- Windows boot failures and recovery options
- Slow performance and application crashes
- Mobile operating system and app faults
- Recognizing malware symptoms
- Malware removal steps from quarantine to prevention
- Browser redirects, pop-ups and certificate warnings
- Unauthorized access and account compromise
You build A malware response procedure, tested step by step on an infected virtual machine.
Technical skill needs process around it. You document your work, follow change control, plan backups and recovery, work safely around equipment and communicate clearly with people who are frustrated.
- Tickets, asset records and documentation
- Change management for small changes
- Backup methods, schedules and recovery tests
- Electrical safety, ESD and environmental limits
- Prohibited content, licensing and privacy
- Communicating with difficult customers
- Remote access and basic scripting
You build A support playbook with ticket templates, a backup plan and a customer communication guide.
Hardware, networks, operating systems and security meet in one workday. You work a queue of mixed faults, document each fix and hand over an office that is better documented, safer and easier to support than before.
- Triaging a queue of mixed requests
- Diagnosing across hardware, network and software
- Applying fixes with change records
- Reviewing the office against a security checklist
- Writing the handover documentation
You build A completed set of tickets, fixes and handover notes for a simulated office.
Issued by
Certifying body · Independent of LUNARTECH
CompTIA
CompTIA publishes these vendor-neutral exams and runs the program itself. Exams are taken at Pearson VUE test centers or online, and most certifications last three years, renewed through its continuing education program. LUNARTECH is independent of CompTIA.
How you get there
Top-tier roles go to people who can do the work.
Top-tier roles go to people who can do the work.
Here’s how you get there.
Know where you start.
CompTIA recommends 12 months of hands-on experience in an IT support specialist job role.
Work through the course.
Thirteen modules, designed by LUNARTECH, at your own pace.
Sit it with CompTIA.
CompTIA runs the exam and issues the credential, so you register and book directly with them.
Support
Support at every stage.
Support at every stage.
You won’t be working through this alone.
Before you start
Try it first.
A 3-day free trial opens a selection of the content. Your card is only charged once it ends.
While you learn
Mentors within reach.
Stuck on a concept? Reach out to a mentor whenever you need help.
While you learn
One-on-one sessions.
On the yearly plan, one-on-one sessions give you dedicated support.
Any time
A team behind you.
Write to info@lunartech.ai at any point, from your trial onwards. If your employer is funding you, we’ll set it up with them directly.
All the way through
A schedule that fits around your life.
Your own paceFrom anywhereAt any hour
After the last lesson
Stay in the network.
Your alumni network stays with you: ongoing support, opportunities and industry insight.
Career support
Career support, past the last lesson. Coaching, a sharper resume, real interview preparation and the people to know.
Career direction
Tailored coaching helps you decide where to aim and how to get there.
Strong portfolio
Hands-on projects become work you can show, not just claim.
Resume and profile
Personalized refinement, so what you send says what you can actually do.
Interview preparation
Preparation for the questions that decide it, so you walk in ready.
Network and search
Connections with industry leaders, and an alumni network that stays with you.
Reviews
Real stories from the community.
LUNARTECH Academy has been the most empowering learning experience of my life, giving me a clear, structured path from the absolute basics to building real-world AI systems with confidence.
Your page is fantastic. As a bachelor’s student in Data Science now accepted for a master’s at UConn, your work has been a real source of motivation.
The programme’s clear, bite-sized content and practical projects dramatically improved my speed from fuzzy idea to MVP and my ability to communicate AI value. I followed the system, and it works.
I really appreciate your teaching style and the way you break down complex topics. It has been incredibly helpful.
After years working mainly with R for econometrics, I found your Python machine learning course a refreshing and engaging way to learn Python.
As a Data Science graduate, I want to thank you for the effort you put into making videos to support growing data scientists.
I’ve been following your work since taking your machine learning course, and I’m impressed by your practical approach to applying AI.
Why choose us
Built around how you actually learn.
One standard behind every course, from the first lesson to long after the last.
Hands-on practice
Apply every idea to real problems, so it becomes something you have used, not only seen.
Industry-aligned curriculum
We keep courses current with the tools, techniques and skills the field asks for.
Flexible learning
Study at your own pace, from anywhere, at any hour.
Certificate of completion
Finish the course and earn a certificate that shows what you have learned.
Focus on your success
Personalized learning plans and support structures carry you through the hard parts.
Lifetime alumni network
Stay connected after you finish, with ongoing support, opportunities and industry insight.
Your certificate
It doesn’t raise its voice. Neither will you.
Finish a LUNARTECH course and its certificate is issued in your name, under our signature. CompTIA’s credential comes from CompTIA, when you pass its exam.
Certificate of completion
Your Name
A+ course
LUNARTECH RISE Academy
Pricing
This course comes with the membership.
This course comes with the membership.
So does everything else.
One membership opens every course, certification, workshop and masterclass in the Academy. Every plan starts with a 3-day free trial. You register and book the exam directly with CompTIA.
3 days free, then $29.97 a month. Your card is only charged once the trial ends.
Included in every plan
- Every course in the Academy
- Every certification course
- Workshops and masterclasses
- A certificate of completion
- A 3-day free trial
- Learning at your own pace
- The lifetime alumni network
- Upgrades at any time
In practice
Eight roles.
Eight roles.
One credential across them all.
No single job owns it. Here’s where each role leans hardest, and where its work ends up.
- 01Mobile devices
- 02Networking
- 03Hardware
- 04Virtualization
- 05Core 1 fixes
- 06Operating systems
- 07Core 2 security
- 08Software fixes
- 09Procedures
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Users report symptoms, not causes. Troubleshooting method is the skill both exams test.
Core 1 fixes, Software fixes, Procedures
IT support and help desks, Enterprise desktop teams
-
Most tickets are account, OS or malware problems. Core 2 covers all three.
Operating systems, Core 2 security, Software fixes
IT support and help desks, Schools and public sector
-
On site, the fault is often a cable or a part. Core 1 covers the hardware side.
Mobile devices, Hardware, Networking
Field service, Managed service providers
-
Fleets run on repeatable procedures. Backups and change control matter here.
Operating systems, Virtualization, Procedures
Enterprise desktop teams, Managed service providers
-
Imaging and patching keep every desktop the same. OS and software fixes cover the daily queue.
Operating systems, Software fixes
Enterprise desktop teams, IT support and help desks
-
Cabling, Wi-Fi and addressing explain most connection faults. Core 1 covers the basics you will check first.
Networking, Core 1 fixes
Managed service providers, IT support and help desks
-
Malware and bad configs show up on endpoints first. Core 2 security gives you the first triage steps.
Core 2 security, Procedures
IT support and help desks, Managed service providers
-
Virtual machines are still operating systems to fix. Virtualization and OS skills ground cloud support.
Virtualization, Operating systems
Managed service providers, IT support and help desks
- IT support and help desks
- Enterprise desktop teams
- Field service
- Managed service providers
- Schools and public sector
IT Support Specialist
Users report symptoms, not causes. Troubleshooting method is the skill both exams test.
Over 10,000 students trust LUNARTECH
LUNARTECH gives you the skills
to learn, build, create and lead.
Engineers
Understand systems all the way down. Build the ones others rely on.
Scientists
Understand what the data says. Build models that hold up.
Researchers
Understand the papers. Build on them, and take the work further.
The field
Anyone can use AI.
Anyone can use AI.
Few can engineer it. This is where that starts.
+340%growth in open roles requiring AI skills
Roles and pay
~35,000 open roles right now
Open roles: Built In, Greenhouse, LinkedIn.
Typical salaries: Glassdoor, Levels.fyi, Payscale, Indeed, Ravio, JobRise, U.S. BLS. Military: 2026 U.S. basic pay, drone officers with aviation incentive pay.
Updated November 2026.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
Need help? These answers cover most of what people ask before they start.
No. CompTIA issues it. LUNARTECH is independent of CompTIA, and its names and marks belong to it. When you finish a course of ours, you earn a LUNARTECH certificate of completion for that course.
No. We design this course ourselves, around what the exam covers. CompTIA has no part in it, and you still register and book the exam directly with CompTIA.
90 questions, 90 minutes, test center or online, in English, German, Japanese. The passing score is 675 (Core 1), 700 (Core 2) of 900.
CompTIA recommends 12 months of hands-on experience in an IT support specialist job role.
3 years. Earn 20 CEUs and pay CE fees, or renew a higher CompTIA certification.
We last reviewed it on 5 November 2026, from CompTIA’s own pages. Details change, so check the official page before you book.
Our 3-day free trial gives you access to a selection of content in the bootcamps, courses and materials, so you can experience the value of our content first-hand. This includes comprehensive learning materials and interactive sessions. You won’t be charged during this period, though we require your credit card details at the start to ensure a seamless transition should you choose to continue.
Yes, entering your credit card details is a necessary step to begin your free trial. The process is entirely secure, and we ask for it to provide a seamless transition to a paid subscription if you decide to continue beyond the trial. You will only be charged after the trial period ends, with full access to our content based on the plan you choose.
After your 3-day free trial you gain access to the full breadth of our content, depending on the subscription plan you choose. We offer free trials for our monthly, bi-annual and annual plans, and each plan provides a different scope of access and benefits.
If your employer has agreed to fund your learning, in part or in full, please contact us at info@lunartech.ai. We’ll work with you and your employer to set up everything needed for your subscription.
Yes. Our support remains strong both during your free trial and after you subscribe. Reach the team at info@lunartech.ai with any question, whether you’re onboarding, navigating your trial, or need help as a member. Subscribers to the yearly plan also receive dedicated support in one-on-one sessions.
You can upgrade your plan at any time during your subscription. Downgrading is not available for bi-annual or annual plans, but you can cancel and then choose a new plan that suits you better. For bi-annual and annual plans we also offer payment in instalments; please reach out to learn more.
The course
Build the skills behind A+.
Prove you can support users, devices and networks. Start with a free trial, or enroll in a plan and work through the course at your own pace. CompTIA runs the exam and issues the credential.
LUNARTECH is independent of the vendors and certifying bodies listed here. Their names, exam titles and marks belong to them, exams are run by them, and credentials are issued by them. Reviewed 5 November 2026. Catalogues change often, so confirm the details on the official page before you book.
