A+ Core 1 or Core 2 first: three ways to choose your order
You can take A+ Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202) in either order, as long as both come from V15. Start with Core 1 if you enjoy hardware, Core 2 if you support Windows users or want the strongest help desk start, or follow your course. Plan both inside one study period.
The order matters less than the gap between the two exams.
The one rule
CompTIA does not set an order. It does require that both cores come from the same version. Today that means V15: Core 1 is 220-1201 and Core 2 is 220-1202. Material labelled 220-1101 or 220-1102 is for the retired version and will not combine with V15.
What each core feels like
| Item | Core 1 (220-1201) | Core 2 (220-1202) |
|---|---|---|
| Covers | Mobile devices, networking, hardware, virtualisation and cloud, hardware and network troubleshooting | Operating systems, security, software troubleshooting, operational procedures |
| Leans towards | Remembering: ports, cables, components | Doing: Windows tools, procedures |
| Biggest domain | Hardware and network troubleshooting, 28% | Operating systems and security, 28% each |
Core 1 has more to memorise. Core 2 has more to do. Neither is easier. They are different kinds of work.
Follow what you enjoy
If you like taking machines apart, start with Core 1. Early success keeps you studying. If you are more comfortable in Windows, start with Core 2 for the same reason.
Follow the job
If you already support Windows users, start with Core 2. If you want the strongest start for a help desk job, Core 2 first is the case to make, because operating systems and security are daily work there.
An example with three people
Take three candidates. One repairs laptops at weekends and starts with Core 1. One already resets Windows passwords for colleagues and starts with Core 2. A third is on a course that teaches Core 1 first and follows it. All three are right, because each chose a reason they can state in one sentence.
Follow your course
Some courses teach Core 1 first, some Core 2. If your course dictates the order, follow it. Switching halfway wastes the structure you paid for.
Keep the gap short
Whichever you choose, plan both exams inside one study period of a few months. A long pause costs momentum. It also carries a version risk over time, because CompTIA usually retires a version about three years after launch. V15 launched in March 2025, so a one-year pause today is unlikely to hit that, but a longer one could leave the second core on a changed list. Take a candidate who passes Core 1, enjoys the relief and stops for a year: the first pass has faded by the time she restarts.
Pay for one date at a time
Hold off on the second voucher until the first date is booked. A voucher held for months is money you cannot use for a retake, and vouchers carry an expiry date.
Put it in your record
Write the order, the exact exam codes and the target month for each core in your decision record. Book each exam only when your practice results for that core are stable.
Questions readers ask
Can I take A+ Core 2 before Core 1?
Can I combine a V14 core with a V15 core?
Should I buy both vouchers at once?
This article is independent and is not endorsed by CompTIA. Facts change: confirm them on the official page before you act.