Updated 21 October 2026· 1 CompTIA A+ course tracked · 616,709 total reviews · 6 min read
Short answer: The Dion Training Solutions CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) Full Course & Practice Exam holds a 4.6★ rating from over 616,000 students and was last updated in 11/2026 — making it one of the most reliable A+ courses currently available. However, rating alone isn't enough: the 11/2026 update date means the content covers current exam objectives, including cloud fundamentals, enhanced security, and modern hardware that older courses miss.
This guide rates the top A+ Core 1 courses by student reviews, checks update recency, and gives you a 7-step checklist to pass the exam on your first try.
Key takeaways- This course has 616,709+ reviews at 4.6★ — one of the largest review pools for any IT certification, giving statistically meaningful data.
- Last updated 11/2026 — current exam objectives (220-1201) include cloud, virtualization, and modern security fundamentals.
- Aim for 4.3–4.7★ with 1,000+ reviews for reliable ratings; below 100 reviews the average swings wildly.
- Practice exams are critical: this course includes practice tests, but supplement with additional PBQ (performance-based question) practice.
- Pair with A+ Core 2 (220-1202) for full certification; Core 1 covers hardware, networking, and mobile devices.
The 7 checks for CompTIA A+ Core 1 in 2026
- Update date first. A course last updated before mid-2024 will teach outdated exam objectives. 220-1201 was updated in 2025; prefer 2025–2026 content.
- Check exam version alignment. Ensure the course explicitly covers 220-1201 (not the older 220-1101). The 1201 adds cloud concepts, enhanced security, and modern mobile hardware coverage.
- Read the newest reviews. Sort reviews by newest and look for comments from the last three months — they flag syllabus changes, broken lab links, or updated hardware coverage.
- Inspect the curriculum vs exam objectives. Map each course section to the official CompTIA 220-1201 domains: Mobile Devices (13%), Networking (23%), Hardware (25%), Virtualization and Cloud (11%), Hardware and Network Troubleshooting (28%). Skipping any domain is a risk.
- Judge the instructor's track record. Dion Training Solutions has 3M+ total enrollments across A+ courses. Look for instructors with high overall review counts, not just this course.
- Check access and updates. Lifetime access, free update notifications, and offline/mobile support decide whether the course stays valuable after you pass the exam.
- Confirm the safety net. A 30-day money-back guarantee gives you a risk-free trial if the teaching style or content depth doesn't match your learning needs.
Short answer: Choose a course by checking, in order: the concrete outcome it promises (passing 220-1201), the last update date (must be 2025–2026), recent and specific reviews, the curriculum alignment with official exam objectives, the instructor's track record, the access and update terms, and the refund policy. A course that fails on freshness or refund is not worth your time.
This checklist helps you avoid stale or overhyped courses and commit only to training with a clear, verifiable outcome.
CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) Exam Objectives Overview
The 220-1201 exam domains (effective 2025) are:
| Domain | Percentage | Key Topics |
|---|
| Mobile Devices | 13% | Install and configure laptops, smartphones, tablets; connectivity, accessories, troubleshooting; mobile OS (iOS, Android, Windows 10/11); |
| Networking | 23% | Network types (LAN, WAN, Wi-Fi, SOHO), TCP/IP, networking devices (router, switch, access point), cables, ports, protocols, wireless standards (Wi-Fi 6E), cloud concepts (AWS, Azure basics). |
| Hardware | 25% | PC components (CPU, RAM, storage, PSU, motherboard), laptops/all-in-one disassembly, peripherals, mobile device components, storage types (SSD, NVMe), power supply standards. |
| Virtualization and Cloud Computing | 11% | Type-1 and Type-2 hypervisors, cloud service models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS), deployment models (public, private, hybrid), basic AWS/Azure/GCP concepts, virtual networks. |
| Hardware and Network Troubleshooting | 28% | Diagnose and resolve hardware failures, OS startup issues, network connectivity problems, mobile device issues, printer problems, use systematic troubleshooting methodology. |
Top CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) course compared
Current rating, review count and update date for the A+ course we track, checked on 21 October 2026:
What you'll learn: A+ Core 1 skill map
Here's the typical competency map from course completion to exam readiness for 220-1201:
By exam domain:
Mobile Devices (13%)
- Install and configure laptop hardware and components (screen, keyboard, battery, RAM)
- Configure mobile device network connectivity (Wi-Fi, cellular, Bluetooth, NFC)
- Troubleshoot common mobile device issues (boot loops, touchscreen unresponsive, battery drain)
- Understand mobile operating systems (iOS, Android, Windows 10/11 mobile features)
- Configure security settings (screen lock, Find My Device, encryption)
Networking (23%)
- Explain TCP/IP basics (IPv4 addressing, subnetting basics, default gateway, DNS)
- Install and configure wired/wireless small office/home office (SOHO) networks
- Configure wireless security (WPA2-Personal, WPA3, SSID, MAC filtering)
- Explain common port and protocol numbers (22 SSH, 80 HTTP, 443 HTTPS, 3389 RDP, 25 SMTP)
- Compare network types (LAN, WAN, PAN, MAN) and their typical use cases
- Basic cloud connectivity concepts (VPN, cloud network architecture)
Hardware (25%)
- Identify and compare CPU types (Intel Core, AMD Ryzen, features: hyperthreading, overclocking)
- Install and configure RAM types (DDR3, DDR4, DDR5, SO-DIMM form factors)
- Install and configure storage devices (SATA, NVMe SSD, HDD, external drives)
- Install power supplies and explain wattage, efficiency ratings (80+ Bronze/Gold/Platinum)
- Disassemble and reassemble laptops and all-in-one PCs
- Troubleshoot common hardware failures (no POST, overheating, component incompatibility)
Virtualization and Cloud Computing (11%)
- Explain the difference between type-1 (bare-metal) and type-2 (hosted) hypervisors (VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V, Oracle VirtualBox, KVM)
- Describe cloud service models: IaaS, PaaS, SaaS with examples
- Explain cloud deployment models: public, private, hybrid
- Basic AWS, Azure, GCP concepts (EC2, S3, basic account structure)
- Compare on-premises vs cloud resource pricing models
Hardware and Network Troubleshooting (28%)
- Follow the systematic CompTIA troubleshooting methodology (identify the problem, establish theory, test, implement solution, verify, document)
- Diagnose no-POST issues (power supply, RAM, GPU, motherboard)
- Resolve network connectivity issues (IP conflict, DNS failure, gateway unreachable)
- Fix common mobile device problems (sync issues, activation locks, carrier settings)
- Troubleshoot printer issues (driver conflicts, paper jams, network printer discovery)
- Use diagnostic tools (multimeter, POST card, event viewer, ipconfig/ifconfig, ping, nslookup)
Course deep-dive: Dion Training Solutions A+ Core 1
Here's what the tracked course offers, based on its published data:
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|
| Instructor | Dion Training Solutions • ATO for ITIL & PRINCE2 |
| Rating | 4.6★ from 616,709 students |
| Last updated | 11/2026 |
| Level | All Level |
| Duration | 26 hours of video |
| Sections | 29 sections |
| Lectures | 220 lectures |
| Students | 198,758 enrolled |
| Access | lifetime access (specified in course data) |
| Money-back | true (30-day refund window) |
| Certificate | true (provided on completion) |
| Price | $0 (appears to be a free/affiliate link based on course data) |
Pros
- Clear explanations that start from zero — suitable for complete beginners
- Hands-on exercises after every major topic (supports the 28% troubleshooting domain)
- Fresh 11/2026 content and lifetime access — current exam objectives covered
- 616K+ reviews provides statistically meaningful rating data
- Instructor (Jason Dion) has 3M+ total enrollments across A+ courses
Cons
- Pace accelerates in the middle sections — budget extra time for the Networking and Troubleshooting chapters
- Limited advanced, production-scale projects — course focuses on exam prep, not deep-dive lab work
- Long: budget several weeks to finish at 26 hours video + practice exams + lab hardware time
How to read a course page in 60 seconds
Open the course page and scan top to bottom:
- Rating and review count next to the title → look for 4.3–4.7★ with 1,000+ reviews. This course: 4.6★ from 616,709.
- Last updated date in the sidebar → must be 2025–2026 for 220-1201 objectives. This course: 11/2026.
- Curriculum section titles → map each section to the 5 exam domains above. Does it cover all 5?
- One preview video → 10 minutes of lecture tells you more than 100,000 reviews about teaching style and pace.
- Reviews sorted by newest → look for comments from the last three months about syllabus changes or updated hardware.
For a live example, compare this with other IT certification courses in our Python course reviews methodology.
CompTIA A+ Core 1 — common questions
Is CompTIA A+ still relevant in 2026?
Yes — CompTIA A+ remains the industry-standard entry-level certification for IT support, help desk, and field technician roles. The 220-1201 (Core 1) and 220-1202 (Core 2) exams were updated in 2025/2026 to include newer topics like cloud computing, virtualization, enhanced security fundamentals, and modern hardware (SSDs, USB4, Wi-Fi 6). Many employers still list A+ as a minimum requirement for junior IT roles, and it's a solid stepping point to Network+, Security+, and specialized tracks.
What's the difference between 220-1101/1102 and 220-1201/1202?
The 220-1201/1202 series (effective 2025) replaces the 220-1101/1102 series. Key differences: 220-1201 adds more on cloud concepts (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud), enhanced security topics (zero trust, basic cryptography), updated mobile device coverage (5G, eSIM, newer form factors), and revised hardware coverage (SSD standards, USB4, Wi-Fi 6E). If you started with 1101, sitting 1201 is recommended to get the most current content, but 1101 is still widely accepted by employers.
How many hours should I study for A+ Core 1?
Most learners need 80–120 hours of combined video instruction and hands-on practice. The Dion Training course alone is 26 hours of video, but adding practice exams, lab hardware (old PC for disassembly, Raspberry Pi for networking), and review time typically brings total study time to 3–4 months at 5–10 hours per week. Quality of practice questions matters more than pure hour count — aim for 85%+ on practice exams before scheduling.
A+ vs self-taught: which is better for getting an IT job?
A+ provides credential validation that many HR systems and recruiters filter by. Self-taught learners can build equivalent skills through home labs, free resources (CompTIA's own videos, YouTube), and volunteer/entry-level work. However, the certification opens more doors initially, especially for career-changers without a tech background. Many pros ultimately get both: certification + hands-on experience.
