CompTIA Network+ Training & Certification

CompTIA Network+ Training & Certification Near Washington, DC

Build a Career in Networking - A Strong Foundation for IT Beginners and Career Changers

If you are new to IT or ready to move beyond entry-level support into networking and systems work, CompTIA Network+ is the credential that validates you can do the job. It is the leading vendor-neutral networking certification for early-career professionals, recognized by employers across the DC metro area and required by the US Department of Defense for a range of technical roles.

At TrainACE, we deliver hands-on, instructor-led Network+ training in Greenbelt, MD and live-online, with official courseware, and our Price & Quality Guarantee included. Our instructors have helped career changers, military veterans, and A+ holders move into networking roles with the skills and credential to compete.

What to expect from this path

• Career-entry focus: Network+ is designed to qualify you for junior networking and systems support roles, not just teach you theory about how networks work.
• One exam to certification: Unlike A+, Network+ requires a single exam, one clear target to prepare for and pass.
• Hands-on training matters: The exam includes performance-based questions that test whether you can apply networking skills, not just recall terms from a study guide.

Enroll today, by selecting a class' date, to the right

What Is CompTIA Network+ Certification?

CompTIA Network+ is issued by CompTIA, the world's leading nonprofit IT certification organization. It validates the skills technicians and administrators need to establish, maintain, troubleshoot, and secure networks in any environment, across wired, wireless, and cloud-based infrastructure.

To earn the certification, you pass a single proctored exam (N10-009). The exam tests your ability to configure and manage networks, implement security hardening techniques, troubleshoot performance and availability issues, and understand cloud and virtual networking concepts.

What the certification validates in practice

• Network setup and connectivity: Deploying and connecting wired and wireless devices in real environments.
• Troubleshooting and availability: Diagnosing and resolving network performance issues before they become outages.
• Security fundamentals: Implementing the hardening techniques that protect network infrastructure.
• Cloud and virtualization basics: Understanding how modern networks extend into cloud and virtual environments.

What your TrainACE enrollment includes

• Hands-on lab work with real networking equipment. You configure switches, routers, and network services in a live lab environment rather than just studying diagrams, which directly prepares you for the exam's performance-based questions.
• Live instruction from certified, experienced educators. Every TrainACE instructor teaching Network+ holds active certification and has meaningful classroom experience explaining networking concepts clearly to students new to the field.
• Official CompTIA courseware and exam prep. Your study materials align directly with the current N10-009 exam objectives so your preparation stays focused and relevant.
• Flexible scheduling for working adults. You can choose a weekday format or weekend sessions depending on your current schedule.

Is CompTIA Network+ Right for Me?

Network+ is built for people who want to move into networking, systems administration, or network support roles and need a credential employers recognize. Many students come in from a help desk or end-user support background, or they have already earned CompTIA A+ and are ready to build toward more specialized technical work.

This course works best for people who want to understand how networks actually operate and are ready to move beyond basic desktop support into infrastructure-level work. If you are not sure whether you are ready, our advisors can give you a direct recommendation.

This class is a great fit if you

• Already hold CompTIA A+ and want to build logically into networking and systems work
• Work in IT support or help desk and want to move into a networking or junior admin role
• Are a military veteran transitioning to a civilian IT career and need a networking credential that satisfies DoD requirements
• Are switching careers from a non-IT background and want to enter the field at the networking level
• Want a strong foundational networking credential before pursuing Security+, Linux+, or systems administration training

Why professionals choose Network+ as their credential

• It is vendor-neutral: Network+ covers networking skills across all platforms and vendors, not just one manufacturer's products, which makes it applicable to a wider range of employer environments.
• It maps to real job roles: The exam is built around what junior network administrators and systems support staff actually do, not just textbook definitions.
• It satisfies DoD requirements: Network+ is approved by the US Department of Defense under Directive 8140, which makes it a hiring requirement in many federal and contractor roles across the DC market.

If you are not sure whether Network+ is the right next step or whether you need to build more foundation first, call us at (301) 220-2802. Our advisors will give you a direct recommendation based on your background and goals.

What Can You Do With CompTIA Network+ Certification?

The Washington, DC metro area is one of the strongest markets in the country for early-career networking talent. Federal agencies, defense contractors, managed service providers, and enterprise employers consistently hire for networking and systems support roles, and Network+ is frequently listed as a baseline requirement, not just a nice credential to have.

For candidates entering networking roles, the certification signals that you understand how to configure, maintain, troubleshoot, and secure networks in real-world environments, not just that you studied the subject informally.

Early-career roles this certification supports

• Junior Network Administrator
• NOC Technician (Network Operations Center)
• Systems Administrator
• Datacenter Support Technician
• Telecommunications Technician
• IT Support Manager
• Tier II Support Technician

Why this matters in the DC market

• Recognized by federal and contractor employers. Network+ is approved by the US DoD under Directive 8140, which means it is frequently a formal hiring or compliance requirement rather than an optional credential.
• Signals real-world readiness. The certification's emphasis on hands-on performance questions means employers can trust that certified candidates have applied their knowledge, not just memorized it.
• Creates clear forward momentum. Network+ is the foundation for Security+, Linux+, CySA+, and systems administration tracks, making it a strong investment in your longer-term career path.

Earning potential: Network and computer systems administrators earn a median annual salary of $95,360 in the US. Entry-level networking roles in the DC metro area typically start between $50,000 and $68,000 per year, with certified candidates generally competing more effectively for those openings than uncertified applicants.

DoD/Compliance note: CompTIA Network+ is approved by the US Department of Defense to meet Directive 8140 requirements. For candidates pursuing federal, military, or contractor networking roles in the DC region, this can make Network+ a required qualification rather than an optional one.

Do I Need Any Experience to Take This Class?

CompTIA recommends 9 to 12 months of experience in the IT networking field before attempting the Network+ exam, but there are no official mandatory prerequisites. Many TrainACE students come directly from an A+ background or from hands-on IT support experience rather than formal networking roles.

If you are completely new to IT and have not yet built any foundational knowledge of hardware, operating systems, or basic networking concepts, you may be better positioned to start with CompTIA A+ and build into Network+ from there. Our advisors can help you determine the right starting point honestly.

You do not need

• A college degree in networking or computer science
• Formal job experience as a network administrator or engineer
• Advanced knowledge of routing protocols or enterprise infrastructure before day one

What helps you succeed

• Familiarity with basic computer and operating system concepts (A+ level or equivalent)
• Some exposure to networking concepts, such as IP addresses, switches, or routers (even if informal)
• A willingness to review and reinforce material after class each day

How Is the Training Delivered?

Choose the format that fits how you learn best

In-person classroom in Greenbelt, MD

Attend class at TrainACE's Greenbelt training center with a live instructor, a small group of peers, and access to networking lab equipment. The in-person format is especially valuable for Network+ because hands-on practice with real switches, routers, and cabling gives you a clearer understanding of how everything connects in practice, and the exam tests those hands-on skills directly.

Live-online

Join the same instructor-led sessions remotely by video conference. You receive the same class content, live instruction, and access to virtual lab environments from your own location. This option works well for students who cannot commute, provided you have a reliable internet connection and the discipline to stay engaged through a full-day format.

Weekend and Evening sessions

If a full weekday commitment is not realistic given your work schedule, weekend sessions spread the material across multiple Saturdays or evening session twice a week could work. The pace is slower but the content is the same. Check with an advisor whether weekend scheduling is currently available for Network+.

Why Learn with TrainACE?

For a foundational networking certification, the quality of instruction shapes how well you understand the material - not just whether you pass the exam. Network+ covers a broad range of real-world topics across hardware, protocols, security, and troubleshooting, and students who train in a live, hands-on environment retain that knowledge more effectively than those who rely on self-paced video alone.

• Built for career changers and first-time networkers: Many Network+ students arrive with help desk experience or A+ behind them but limited hands-on networking practice. Our instructors know how to bridge that gap and make protocol and infrastructure concepts stick.
• CompTIA Platinum Partner: TrainACE holds CompTIA Platinum Partner status, the highest recognition tier CompTIA awards, which reflects the quality of our instruction, exam preparation, and student outcomes.
• Instructors with real credentials: Every TrainACE Network+ instructor holds active certification and has real classroom experience. See below for a concrete example of the standard we expect.
• Price & Quality Guarantee: If you fail your first exam attempt, you may retake the class for free.
• Small class sizes: Enrollment is capped so you get direct instructor attention when the material is new and the questions matter.
• Lifetime Career Support: After graduation, you retain access to TrainACE Skills Clinics, Study Groups, and Career Path Recommendations.

The Caliber of Instructor You Can Expect

All TrainACE instructors hold active certifications in the subjects they teach and have a minimum of three years of classroom experience. That standard matters especially for Network+, where the material spans a wide range of topics and students often need concepts explained in practical, real-world terms rather than abstract theory.

To make that standard concrete, here is one example from our Network+ team: Wilhemina (Willie) Rias-Martin.

Willie brings seven years of experience as an IT Department Chair and instructor at Brightwood College, where she built and led the institution's IT training program. Prior to teaching, she worked as a Systems Administrator at TESST College of Technology and as an IT Support Analyst at KHEC IT Technical Services - which means she has taught networking concepts from a position of real-world practice, not just academic familiarity. She is an HP and Dell Certified Service Technician and specializes in the CompTIA foundational track, including both A+ and Network+.

Selected certifications

• CompTIA A+
• CompTIA Network+
• HP Certified Service Technician
• Dell Certified Service Technician
• Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP)

Willie is one example of the standard behind every TrainACE class: technically current, classroom-tested, and able to teach the material at the depth and pace students actually need.

"Took the A+ & Network bootcamp back in 2018. Solid teacher and TrainAce gives you the opportunity for hands on work which is vital especially if you are new to the field. A few years later and I am still using the TrainAce books to brush up on information and practice the walkthroughs and labs."

"The experience at TrainACE was phenomenal from the classes to conversing with office personnel. As a rehabilitation counselor, I came to TrainACE hoping to change my career path and I did just that!. I took the combined A+/Network+ course with an awesome professor Mr.O. His teaching methods, instructions, and labs were easy to follow and understand for technical and non-technical persons. As a result, I passed and received my A+ and Network + certifications and was able to change my career path. Thanks TrainACE"

CompTIA Network+ Exam Details

CompTIA Network+ requires passing a single proctored exam.

Exam N10-009

• Number of questions: Maximum of 90
• Time limit: 90 minutes
• Passing score: 720 out of 900
• Format: Multiple choice and performance-based questions

Performance-based questions require you to complete tasks in a simulated environment, such as configuring a switch, assigning IP addresses, or diagnosing a connectivity issue. That is one reason TrainACE builds hands-on lab time into the course rather than relying on lecture and slides alone. The exam is testing whether you can do the work, not just describe it.

What You'll Learn in This CompTIA Network+ Class

The Network+ course covers the full range of N10-009 exam objectives in a structured sequence, organized so that each concept builds on the last. You move from how networks are physically built and addressed, through how services and security operate on top of that foundation, to how professionals manage, monitor, and troubleshoot real-world network environments.

Module 1: Network Fundamentals and Physical Infrastructure

• Network topologies including bus, star, ring, mesh, and hybrid designs
• Cabling types and standards - copper, fiber, and connectors used in real installations
• Physical layer troubleshooting and cable testing tools
• Data center physical layouts and structured cabling practices

Module 2: Switching, Routing, and Network Addressing

• Switch configuration including VLANs, trunking, and port settings
• IPv4 and IPv6 addressing, subnetting, and CIDR notation
• Routing concepts including static routes, dynamic routing protocols, and default gateways
• Advanced switching topics including spanning tree, link aggregation, and QoS

Module 3: Network Services and Application Protocols

• Core network services including DHCP, DNS, NTP, and NAT configuration
• Application layer protocols including HTTP/S, FTP, SMTP, and SNMP
• Understanding how client-server communication works in enterprise environments
• Network documentation standards and the importance of accurate network diagrams

Module 4: Network Management and Monitoring

• Performance monitoring tools and baselines for identifying network anomalies
• SNMP, syslog, and NetFlow for traffic analysis and event logging
• Change management practices and network documentation maintenance
• Troubleshooting methodology applied to real network performance and availability scenarios

Module 5: Network Security

• Core security concepts including the CIA triad, access controls, and least privilege
• Common network attacks including DoS, DDoS, spoofing, VLAN hopping, and man-in-the-middle
• Network hardening techniques including ACLs, port security, and 802.1X
• Firewalls, IDS/IPS, and unified threat management appliances
• Network security design including DMZs, network segmentation, and defense in depth

Module 6: Wireless, Remote Access, and Cloud Networking

• Wireless standards, frequencies, channels, and enterprise Wi-Fi deployment concepts
• Wireless security protocols including WPA2, WPA3, and common wireless attack types
• Remote access methods including VPNs, tunneling protocols, and secure remote connectivity
• Cloud networking concepts including IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, and hybrid cloud architecture
• Virtualization basics and how virtual networking integrates with physical infrastructure

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the CompTIA Network+ training?

TrainACE's Network+ course runs for five days of instructor-led training. The standard weekday format runs Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 5pm. Weekend and evening sessions may also be available for students who cannot step away from work during the week. Ask an advisor to confirm current availability.

Do I need CompTIA A+ before taking Network+?

There are no formal prerequisites for the Network+ exam. However, CompTIA recommends 9 to 12 months of experience in the IT networking field, and students who already hold A+ or have help desk or support experience typically find the material more approachable. If you are completely new to IT, our advisors can help you decide whether starting with A+ first is the better path for your situation.

What happens if I fail the exam?

TrainACE's Price & Quality Guarantee allows you to retake the class if you need more preparation or fail the exam the first time. You will also receive personalized remediation guidance to help you identify the areas to focus on before your second attempt.

What is TrainACE's pass rate?

We do not publish a pass rate figure, and you should be cautious of any training provider that does. CompTIA exams are taken independently at third-party testing centers, so providers cannot accurately track student outcomes at scale. What we can stand behind is the quality of the instruction, the hands-on nature of the course, and the fact that we pay for your first retake if you do not pass the first time.

How quickly can I get a job after getting certified?

That depends on your effort, background, and job search activity. Many TrainACE Network+ graduates who actively pursue junior networking and systems roles land their first position within two to four months of passing the exam. The certification gives your resume the credential filter it needs to get to the interview stage, and TrainACE's Lifetime Career Support helps you stay on track after class ends.

Do I need special equipment or software?

No. In-person students use TrainACE's lab workstations and networking equipment. If you attend live-online, you will need a reliable internet connection and a computer capable of running the required video conferencing and virtual lab tools.

What should I study next after Network+?

For most students, CompTIA Security+ is the most common next step, especially for those heading toward cybersecurity or needing to meet DoD compliance requirements. Students who want to focus on infrastructure and systems administration often pursue CompTIA Linux+ or Server+ next. TrainACE offers all of these paths and can help you decide which direction makes the most sense.

Where Does CompTIA Network+ Take You Next?

Network+ gives you the foundation. From there, most TrainACE students continue in one of these directions depending on the kind of IT career they are building.

• CompTIA Security+
  The most common next move for Network+ graduates, Security+ builds on the network security foundation introduced in Network+ and prepares you for cybersecurity roles while also satisfying a higher tier of DoD 8140.03M requirements.
• CompTIA Linux+
  A strong next step for students heading into systems administration or DevOps-adjacent roles, Linux+ validates the skills needed to configure, manage, and secure Linux systems in enterprise environments.
• CompTIA A+ & Network+ Combo Package
  If you have not yet earned your A+ credential and want to complete both foundational certifications in a single enrollment, our combined package lets you build the full foundational track more efficiently.

Ready to Take the First Step?

Your networking career can start sooner than you think. Whether you are building on your A+ credential, transitioning from the military, or entering IT for the first time with your sights on networking and systems work, TrainACE gives you the hands-on training, the recognized credential, and the ongoing support to move forward with confidence.

Select a class date from the schedule below, or call us at (301) 220-2802 to talk with an advisor. You will get a clear, honest answer about whether Network+ is the right next move for you - and if so, the best format and timing to get started.

Got Questions?

For more information about your specific needs, call us at (301) 220-2802 or complete the form below:

Class Schedule