N10-009 · Syllabus & Exam Outline 2026
CompTIA Network+ (N10-009)
In short
The CompTIA Network+ (N10-009) exam has up to 90 questions in 90 minutes and a fixed passing score of 720 out of 900. It covers networking concepts, implementation, operations, security, and troubleshooting. It costs $399. Free practice questions and a full study plan are below.
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- Questions
- Maximum of 90
- Time limit
- 90 minutes
- Passing score
- 720 on a scale of 100-900
- Cost
- $399 USD
- Format
- Multiple-choice · Performance-based
- Delivery
- Computer-based testing (in-person at Pearson VUE testing centers or online via OnVUE)
- Prep time
- ~82 hours
Exam overview
The CompTIA Network+ (N10-009) certification validates your ability to securely establish, maintain, and troubleshoot essential network infrastructure. Whether you are dealing with on-premises hardware, hybrid cloud setups, or complex enterprise environments, this exam ensures you possess the foundational knowledge required for a modern IT networking career. It assesses your proficiency across physical and virtual technologies, routing protocols, and disaster recovery concepts. Preparing for the N10-009 demands a balanced approach to theoretical concepts and hands-on skills. Candidates will face a mix of traditional multiple-choice queries and performance-based questions (PBQs) that simulate real-world networking scenarios. Earning this certification demonstrates to employers that you can independently monitor performance, secure enterprise environments, and mitigate advanced networking threats. To make studying more manageable, Only Ever maps every domain on this syllabus to concise, 15-minute study topics. This structured approach allows you to master complex subjects—from OSI model layers to IPv6 addressing and Zero Trust architecture—without feeling overwhelmed.
Exam domains & weighting
Each domain's share of the exam — study deepest where the weight is highest. Open one for how to study it and its objectives.
How to study this domain
Focus heavily on the OSI reference model, as it underpins nearly all network communication. Memorize the primary ports and protocols, and practice converting IP addresses and calculating subnets. It is highly beneficial to set up a small virtual lab to observe different traffic types and experiment with IPv4/IPv6 addressing schemes.
Key objectives
- OSI Reference Model
- Network Appliances and Applications
- Cloud Concepts and Connectivity Options
- Networking Ports and Protocols
- IP Types and Network Traffic
- Wireless and Wired Transmission Media
- Transceivers and Connector Types
- Network Topologies and Architectures
- IPv4 Addressing and Subnetting
- Evolving Network Use Cases
- Infrastructure as Code and IPv6
Readiness self-check
Tick off everything you can confidently explain. Anything left unchecked is your study list — tap “Review” to jump straight into that domain.
Quick reference
Common Network Ports
Essential protocol port numbers to memorize for the N10-009 exam.
FTP
20/21
File Transfer Protocol
SSH
22
Secure Shell
Telnet
23
Unencrypted remote management
SMTP
25
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
DNS
53
Domain Name System
DHCP
67/68
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
HTTP
80
Hypertext Transfer Protocol
HTTPS
443
Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure
RDP
3389
Remote Desktop Protocol
Essential Networking Acronyms
A curated selection of common acronyms found in the N10-009 exam objectives.
- APIPA
- Automatic Private Internet Protocol Addressing
- BGP
- Border Gateway Protocol
- CIDR
- Classless Inter-domain Routing
- OSPF
- Open Shortest Path First
- PoE
- Power over Ethernet
- SLAAC
- Stateless Address Autoconfiguration
- STP
- Shielded Twisted Pair / Spanning Tree Protocol
- VLAN
- Virtual Local Area Network
IPv4 Address Classes
Legacy classful IP addressing boundaries often tested.
Class A
1.0.0.0 to 127.255.255.255
Subnet mask: 255.0.0.0
Class B
128.0.0.0 to 191.255.255.255
Subnet mask: 255.255.0.0
Class C
192.0.0.0 to 223.255.255.255
Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
Class D
224.0.0.0 to 239.255.255.255
Reserved for Multicasting
Class E
240.0.0.0 to 255.255.255.255
Reserved for experimental use
Frequently asked questions
Good to know
- Recommended Experience: CompTIA suggests candidates possess 9-12 months of hands-on experience in an IT networking field.
- The exam incorporates Performance-Based Questions (PBQs) which test practical, simulated application of networking concepts rather than multiple-choice theory.
- The official objective document stresses that provided lists are non-exhaustive; related technologies and standards not explicitly listed may still appear on the exam.
Reading isn’t remembering.
CompTIA Network+ (N10-009) covers protocols, topologies, services, security, operations, and troubleshooting across many layers of networking, which makes it easy to memorize isolated facts without building a coherent mental model.
Only Ever turns the official CompTIA Network+ (N10-009) objectives into focused 15-minute study sessions so you can build durable networking understanding across the N10-009 syllabus without drifting off-spec.