Table of Contents
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| Terms and Conditions for CompTIA Online and Offline Certification Exams |
What Are CompTIA's Exam Terms and Conditions, in Short?
CompTIA lets you take a certification exam two ways: online through Pearson VUE's OnVUE proctoring platform, or in person at an authorized Pearson VUE testing center. Both routes require you to agree to the CompTIA Candidate Agreement and Candidate Code of Ethics, show valid government ID that matches your registration name exactly, and complete the exam in a single sitting with no outside help. Online testing adds a private room and system check; offline testing adds two forms of ID and a bag free testing room. Break either rule set and CompTIA can void your score, ban you from future exams, or revoke certifications you already hold.
What Are CompTIA's Online (OnVUE) Exam Requirements?
CompTIA delivers most of its exams through Pearson VUE's OnVUE remote proctoring platform, which lets you test from home or office once your device, connection, and room clear a review. Meeting every requirement below before your appointment is what keeps a check-in from turning into a cancelled slot.
What Computer and Internet Setup Do You Need?
You need a device with a working webcam and a connection that can sustain live video and audio for the length of the exam. CompTIA's stated floor is 1 Mbps up and down, but OnVUE itself recommends at least 6 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload for a stable proctoring session, and a wired Ethernet connection is safer than Wi-Fi if your router is shared with other devices.
| Requirement | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Internet speed | 1 Mbps up/down | 6 Mbps down / 3 Mbps up, wired |
| Operating system | Windows 10 (64-bit) or macOS 10.15 | Latest Windows 11 or current macOS release |
| Browser | Latest Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge | Same, with cookies enabled for scheduling and the OnVUE download |
| Webcam | 640x480 at 10 fps | Higher resolution, positioned at eye level |
| Monitors | One screen only | External monitor allowed only if the laptop lid is closed and an external keyboard, mouse, and webcam are used |
Headsets and headphones, wired or Bluetooth, are not allowed once the exam starts; your computer's built in speaker and microphone must stay unmuted. Tablets generally do not qualify unless paired with a physical keyboard and a supported operating system. Run the OnVUE system test on the exact machine and network you plan to test on, ideally a personal computer rather than a work laptop, since corporate firewalls and endpoint protection routinely block the secure browser. Turn off any VPN or virtual machine before launching the test, and set Windows display scaling to 100 percent, since anything higher can distort how the exam content renders.
What Does Your Testing Space Need to Look Like?
- Find a private, enclosed room. Offices, libraries, classrooms, and bathrooms are not acceptable locations, and nobody else can enter or pass through the room while you test.
- Clear the desk completely. Books, notepads, sticky notes, pens, and extra monitors must be removed or powered off; whiteboards on the wall need to be wiped or covered.
- Check your lighting and camera angle. The proctor needs a clear view of your head, shoulders, and surroundings, so avoid sitting with a window or bright light source directly behind you.
- Keep your phone out of reach but nearby. A silenced phone can sit within sight in case the proctor needs to call you, but touching it for anything else can end your session immediately.
- Be ready for a room scan. Check-in asks you to photograph your desk, walls, and surrounding area from several angles; a space that fails this scan means the exam does not proceed and the fee is often forfeited.
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If the proctor genuinely needs to reach you, the call shows caller ID as "Pearson VUE" from 617-379-0635. Ignore any other number, and if you must silence your phone, tell the proctor through chat first so the room scan explanation matches what they see.
What ID Do You Need for an Online Exam?
OnVUE requires one original, unexpired, government-issued photo ID that exactly matches the name on your exam booking: a passport, driver's license, national ID card, or a permanent resident/green card. IDs that cannot legally be photographed or digitized, such as a U.S. Department of Defense Common Access Card, are not accepted for remote check-in. Candidates under 18 need a parent or guardian to show their own ID on webcam and verbally confirm the minor may test. Since ID rules are one of the most frequently updated policies on CompTIA's site, confirm the current list on the official CompTIA Candidate ID Policy before your appointment.
How Does the OnVUE Check-In and Scheduling Process Work?
Scheduling happens through your CompTIA account and the Pearson VUE site. Create the account with an email you actually check, since exam results and certification status arrive there. Before booking a slot, run the OnVUE system test and confirm the time zone saved in your Pearson VUE profile, since the appointment time you select is tied to that setting, not your current browser clock.
On exam day, log in and use the "Check-in to start exam" link from your confirmation email, or find the exam under "Open Online Exams" in your account. The proctor verifies your ID, reviews photos of your face, ID, and room, and may message you through chat for clarification before granting access. Log in a few minutes early; check-in time is not part of your exam duration, so a slow room scan will not cost you testing minutes, but it can delay your start.
What Rules Apply During an Online CompTIA Exam?
Once the exam window opens, you agree to the CompTIA Candidate Agreement and the Candidate Code of Ethics, which together ban cheating, content sharing, and submitting false information. You stay on camera for the full session, cannot leave the webcam's view without permission, and cannot use physical notes; a digital whiteboard inside the exam software is the only scratchpad allowed. Reading questions aloud on a loop, switching networks mid-test, or running other applications in the background can all get flagged as violations.
Exams run as a single uninterrupted session with no scheduled breaks. If you need an unscheduled break for a personal reason, the exam timer keeps running while you are away from the camera, so it costs you time either way. Candidates who need extended time or built-in breaks for a documented condition must arrange that in advance through the accommodations process below, not mid-exam.
What Happens If You Break OnVUE's Rules?
Declining the Candidate Agreement forfeits your exam fee outright. Picking up your phone for anything other than a proctor call typically ends the session on the spot. Code of Ethics violations, such as sharing exam content, using unauthorized materials, or having a second person in the room, can lead to denial or revocation of certifications and a block on future CompTIA registrations. CompTIA also runs data forensics across exam results, looking for statistical patterns consistent with content theft or coordinated cheating; a flagged score can be invalidated after the fact even if the session itself looked clean, and repeat or serious violations can end in legal action.
What Question Types and Timing Should You Expect (2026)?
CompTIA exams mix several question formats: single and multiple response multiple choice, performance based questions (PBQs) that simulate a real troubleshooting or configuration task, drag and drop items, and on some exams, fill in the blank or exhibit based questions. PBQs typically appear early in the exam and carry more weight per question than standard multiple choice items, so budgeting extra time for them at the start of the session is a sound strategy rather than saving them for last.
| Certification | Exam Code(s) | Max Questions | Duration | Question Types |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A+ (current series) | 220-1201 & 220-1202 | 90 per exam | 90 minutes per exam | Multiple choice, performance based, drag and drop |
| Network+ | N10-009 | 90 | 90 minutes | Multiple choice, performance based |
| Security+ | SY0-701 | 90 | 90 minutes | Multiple choice, performance based, drag and drop |
| SecurityX | CAS-005 | 90 | 165 minutes | Multiple choice, performance based |
CompTIA A+ requires passing both Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202) to earn the certification; check the objective breakdowns and current passing scores on the official CompTIA A+ certification page before scheduling, since domain weighting is revised with each exam series. Exams are offered in English, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, French, and Thai depending on the certification, though OnVUE proctors themselves communicate only in English, so a working level of conversational English helps regardless of which language you choose for the question content.
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For a full domain-by-domain walkthrough of what is different between the retired 1100 series and the current 1200 series objectives, see our CompTIA A+ 1200 series exam objectives comparison.
What Are the Rules for Offline CompTIA Exams at a Testing Center?
If your connection, workspace, or personal preference makes remote proctoring impractical, you can sit the same exam in person at an authorized Pearson VUE center. The exam content, timing, and question types match the online version; what changes is the ID requirement and the room rules.
What Can You Bring Into the Testing Room?
Nothing personal goes into the testing room. Bags, phones, smartwatches, notes, and any prep material stay outside, sometimes in a locker the center provides; call ahead if secure storage matters to you. The center supplies an erasable noteboard and marker at your workstation, and that is the only writing surface you get.
What ID Do You Need for an In-Person Exam?
Testing centers require two original, unexpired forms of ID, not photocopies. The primary ID must be government issued with your name, a recognizable photo, and your signature: a passport, driver's license, military ID, or national identification card. The secondary ID needs at minimum your name and signature, or your name and photo; a permanent resident card or a local language ID issued by the testing country both qualify. Both names must match your registration exactly, and both documents must be issued by the country where you are testing. If you lack a qualifying primary ID from that country, an international passport from your country of citizenship plus a secondary ID is the fallback.
What Happens at Check-In and During the Exam?
- Arrive 15 minutes early. Late arrivals risk losing their slot entirely, since centers run tight appointment schedules.
- Complete identity verification. Expect a photograph, both ID checks, and at some centers a palm vein scan; staff may ask you to turn out your pockets and show your waistband.
- Sign the Candidate Rules Agreement. This is the same agreement OnVUE candidates accept digitally, just on paper at the center.
- Take your seat with the noteboard. The room is monitored and sessions may be recorded, same as online testing.
- Raise your hand for anything. Need an unscheduled break or hit a technical snag, a hand raise brings the proctor over; the exam clock keeps running during any break you take.
What Accommodations and Minor-Candidate Policies Exist?
CompTIA provides reasonable accommodations, extended time, a separate room, or scheduled breaks, for candidates with a documented disability. Requests go through Pearson VUE's Reasonable Adjustments Request System before you book the exam, with supporting documentation from a qualified professional explaining how the condition affects standard testing conditions. Accommodations cannot be bolted onto an appointment that is already scheduled, so this step has to come first.
Candidates under 17 face extra verification. For OnVUE, a parent or guardian shows their own ID on webcam and verbally consents to the minor testing. For an in-person exam where the student only has one form of ID, such as a school card, a parent or guardian must accompany them, present their own ID, and sign alongside the minor on the center's log-in sheet. This authorization is required at every testing event, not just the first one, and minors requesting accommodations still need a completed Guardian Consent Form.
What Is CompTIA's Exam Retake Policy in 2026?
Fail your first attempt at a CompTIA exam and you can rebook immediately with no waiting period. Fail a second time, meaning you are heading into a third attempt, and CompTIA requires a 14 calendar day wait from your last attempt date; that same 14 day rule applies to every attempt after that. Passing an exam generally closes the door on retaking that exact exam code without written consent from CompTIA, and testing in violation of the retake policy can invalidate a score or trigger a suspension from the certification program. Full price applies to every attempt, since CompTIA does not offer free or discounted retakes. Review the current Candidate Testing Policies before a retake, since waiting periods and pricing are occasionally revised.
What Happens After You Pass, and How Do You Renew?
Pass your exam and the score appears on screen immediately after the closing survey. A congratulatory email follows with access to your digital certificate through CompTIA's CertMetrics platform; a printed certificate is available on request, with its own processing and shipping timeline. From there, if you are weighing what a passing score actually leads to on the job market, our breakdown of jobs you can get after CompTIA A+ and the companion guide to salaries after CompTIA A+ certification both walk through realistic entry points.
CompTIA certifications stay valid for three years from the pass date. Renewal runs through CompTIA CertMaster CE, an eLearning path built for continuing education; by earning a higher level certification, which renews the lower one automatically; through approved Continuing Education Units from training or documented work experience; or by simply retaking the current exam version. A 90 day grace period follows expiration, and missing that window means retaking the full exam from scratch.
For the complete renewal walkthrough, including CEU activity categories and CertMaster CE pricing, read our CompTIA Certification Renewal Process: A Comprehensive Analysis.
If you are only starting your A+ path and want the full roadmap before booking an exam date, our CompTIA A+ complete beginners guide covers study order, budget options, and which exam to sit first. And if cybersecurity is the longer term goal past A+, the 2026 cybersecurity roadmap maps out what typically comes next.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ID do I need for a CompTIA exam?
Online OnVUE exams need one original, unexpired, government-issued photo ID matching your registration name. In-person exams at a Pearson VUE center need two forms: a primary photo ID and a secondary ID with at least your name and signature.
What internet speed do I need for an OnVUE exam?
CompTIA lists 1 Mbps up and down as the floor, but OnVUE recommends at least 6 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload on a wired connection for a stable proctoring session.
Can I use AI tools during a CompTIA exam?
No. CompTIA bans any AI assistant, chatbot, or automated lookup tool during the exam, including one running quietly in the background on another device.
How long do I have to wait to retake a failed CompTIA exam?
No wait after a first failure. After a second failure, and every attempt after that, CompTIA requires a 14 calendar day wait from your last attempt.
What happens if I use my phone during an OnVUE exam?
Touching your phone for anything other than a proctor call typically ends the exam session immediately and can count as a policy violation against your candidate record.
Do I get breaks during a CompTIA exam?
No scheduled breaks exist for standard CompTIA exams online or offline. An unscheduled break is possible, but the exam timer keeps running while you are away.
How long is a CompTIA certification valid before I need to renew it?
Three years from your pass date, with a 90 day grace period after expiration before you would need to retake the full exam.
