01Start here
CompTIA A+
Build the foundation: computers, operating systems, support, troubleshooting, basic networking and security.
The clearest default for most beginners
Find my path ↘Free-first guidance for South African beginners
Your way into IT starts here.
You do not need experience, expensive equipment or a perfect start. You need a clear path, free resources and the belief that you can begin.
One clear way forward
- 01Choose your start
- 02Learn for free
- 03Practise the skill
- 04Show your work
Recommended sequenceA+→Network+→Security+
Understand systems, then connections, then protection.
Start here / 3 questions
Find your IT path.
Tell us where you are—not where you think you should be. Most newcomers will get A+ as their starting point because broad foundations keep more doors open.
Quick check-in1 / 3
Your experience
Where are you starting from?
There is no wrong answer. This only helps us suggest a sensible first step.
Nothing is saved. This check-in runs only in your browser and does not create an account.
The recommended sequence
Build in the right order.
Security is easier to understand when you know the systems and networks being protected. Certifications can structure learning, but they do not guarantee a job.
02Understand connection
CompTIA Network+
Learn how devices, services and networks communicate—and how to reason through connectivity problems.
Networking makes later security concepts clearer03Protect what you understand
CompTIA Security+
Develop a foundation in threats, controls, risk and the security principles used across modern IT.
A stronger step after systems and networksLater directions
Your foundation can lead in more than one direction. You do not need to choose a specialisation today.
- IT support
- Networking
- Cybersecurity
- Cloud
- Systems
Tech Academy independently recommends this sequence. It is not an official CompTIA programme. Exam fees, registration and certification are separate. Always confirm current objectives and policies with CompTIA.
Verified resource library
A small library you can actually use.
Free resources come first. Each selection has a clear purpose, current exam coverage and a destination checked on 1 August 2026.
Why these made the cut
Current exam code. Official provider page. Clear beginner value. Understandable access terms. Enough structure to move forward without turning this into an overwhelming directory.
01 / Your default start
A+ resource path
Start with the official scope, then use two free course indexes to work through hardware, operating systems, support and troubleshooting.
Official objectives · Free PDFCompTIAA+ Core 1 objectives220-1201
Pair this path with practical work →The controlling topic checklist. No account required.
External source · checked 1 Aug 2026 ↗Official objectives · Free PDFCompTIAA+ Core 2 objectives220-1202A+ requires both Core 1 and Core 2. No account required.
External source · checked 1 Aug 2026 ↗Structured video course · FreeProfessor MesserA+ Core 1 course index220-1201 · V15For beginners working through the current Core 1 objectives.
External source · checked 1 Aug 2026 ↗Structured video course · FreeProfessor MesserA+ Core 2 course index220-1202 · V15Continue here after Core 1 for operating systems, security and support.
External source · checked 1 Aug 2026 ↗02 / Build connected thinking
Network+ resource path
Use the exam scope as your checklist, a free course for explanation, and a separate beginner course for practical networking foundations.
Official objectives · Free PDFCompTIANetwork+ objectivesN10-009 · Version 4.0
Pair this path with practical work →The official scope for building your study checklist.
External source · checked 1 Aug 2026 ↗Structured video course · FreeProfessor MesserNetwork+ course indexN10-009For learners ready to study the current Network+ domains in sequence.
External source · checked 1 Aug 2026 ↗Hands-on foundation · FreeCisco Networking AcademyNetworking BasicsBeginner networking · not Network+ exam prepBuild foundational concepts and simple network practice before deeper exam study.
External source · checked 1 Aug 2026 ↗03 / Protect the foundation
Security+ resource path
Study security after systems and networks make sense. Keep the official objectives beside every third-party course.
Official objectives · Free PDFCompTIASecurity+ objectivesSY0-701 · Version 6.0
Pair this path with practical work →The official scope for threats, architecture, operations and governance.
External source · checked 1 Aug 2026 ↗Structured video course · FreeProfessor MesserSecurity+ course indexSY0-701A free explanation path for learners who already have networking foundations.
External source · checked 1 Aug 2026 ↗Structured alternative · Free learningAlisonSecurity+ certification prep courseSY0-701 · supplementaryFree to enrol, study and complete; registration is required and a certificate is optional and paid.
External source · checked 1 Aug 2026 ↗Explore / not an exam course
Stay curious beyond the checklist.
Creator-led videos can make IT feel real and help you discover what interests you. They are inspiration and topic exploration—not a replacement for official objectives or a complete certification course.
Creator-led exploration · Free videos
NetworkChuck
IT curiosity · networking · labsUseful for seeing what networking, Linux, cloud and security can look like in practice. Browse by topic; do not treat the channel as a complete certification course.
Open official channel ↗Creator-led exploration · Free videosDavid Bombal
Networking · Wireshark · practical explorationUseful for exploring networking demonstrations and adjacent security topics. Choose beginner videos deliberately and keep your official objectives as the study map.
Open official channel ↗Optional paid learning
Only if extra structure helps.
You do not need a paid course to begin. These are a small set of current alternatives, placed after the free library. Open the provider page to check today’s regional pricing, availability, trial and renewal terms before paying.
A+ Core 1 and Core 2 courses
A structured paid alternative for learners who want a longer guided course and practice material for both current A+ exams.
Paid course access · regional pricing and availability shown by UdemyExternal provider · checked 1 Aug 2026CompTIA Network+ Specialization
A multi-course paid option for learners who prefer a structured sequence with online labs across the current Network+ domains.
Subscription access · terms, trial eligibility and regional pricing shown by CourseraExternal provider · checked 1 Aug 2026CompTIA Security+ certification path
A paid subscription path combining current SY0-701 courses, labs and a practice exam for learners who want one guided environment.
Subscription access · trial terms and regional pricing shown by PluralsightExternal provider · checked 1 Aug 2026Independent curation
Tech Academy is not affiliated with or endorsed by CompTIA, Professor Messer, Cisco, Alison, Udemy, Dion Training, Coursera, Pluralsight, NetworkChuck, David Bombal or any platform considered for this library. External material belongs to its provider. Paid options are secondary and optional; regional prices and subscription terms can change.
Certification guide / official route
Study first. Book only when ready.
Learning a subject and booking a certification exam are separate steps. Tech Academy provides independent guidance; it does not sell vouchers, administer exams or access your CompTIA account.
Open Pearson VUE’s CompTIA page ↗Official external source · checked 1 Aug 2026Confirm the exam code
Download the current official objectives and make sure every course you use matches that exact code.
Learn and practise
Use explanations, safe labs and your own notes. The objectives define the scope; they are not a complete course by themselves.
Check the official rules
Review current identification, testing, rescheduling and candidate policies before spending money.
Book through the official route
From Pearson VUE’s CompTIA page, sign in to CompTIA Central and choose an available test-centre or online-proctored option.
Pearson VUE’s official CompTIA page directs candidates to CompTIA Central for scheduling, rescheduling or cancelling. Availability, price, identification rules and delivery options must be rechecked when you book.
Free practice studio / 4 tracks
Learn one concept at a time.
Begin with A+ Core 1, continue to Core 2, then explore Network+ and Security+ when you are ready. Every quiz and cue card runs in this page—no account, payment or saved learner profile.
Original study practice
Written by Tech Academy from broad public objective areas. No copied exam questions, provider material or exam dumps.
Honest result
These are not official CompTIA exams, pass predictions or readiness scores. Use the feedback to find concepts worth reviewing.
Private by default
Your answers stay in this browser session. Nothing is submitted, stored or attached to an account.
Start here / 220-1201
A+ Core 1 practice
Build confidence with devices, networking, hardware, virtualisation and practical fault-finding.
Open official objectives ↗Question 1 of 10Mobile devices
Choose the strongest answer. Feedback appears immediately.
Coverage is mapped at a high level to the current CompTIA A+ 220-1201 and 220-1202, Network+ N10-009 and Security+ SY0-701 objective domains checked on 1 August 2026. All instructional wording is original.
Practice before permission
Build skills you can show.
You do not need a job title to practise responsibly. Start with safe, legal exercises and keep evidence of what you learned.
Build a safe home lab
Use a virtual machine when your device allows it, or document a borrowed/shared device setup. Learn how operating systems are installed and configured.
Work a troubleshooting case
Write down the symptom, questions, tests, cause and fix. The method matters as much as getting the answer right.
Simulate a small network
Map devices, IP addresses and services with a free networking simulator or a careful paper design before using any hardware.
Try beginner security labs
Use reputable, legal training environments. Record what the control does and what evidence tells you it worked.
Build an evidence portfolio
Keep diagrams, lab notes, screenshots and short reflections. It is evidence of learning—not a claim of work experience.
A self-directed lab or portfolio is evidence of learning and practical effort. It is not employment history or a guarantee of employment.
What comes next
Turn a foundation into informed opportunity.
Technical foundations can travel. They may support opportunities in South Africa and internationally, while every role still has its own eligibility, experience and location requirements.
Opportunities / Preview
Relevant entry-level opportunities
Carefully selected listings from reliable sources will be added here. No scraped or fabricated live feed.
Coming in a future versionIT updates / Preview
Changes worth knowing about
Plain-language updates on certifications, tools and early-career IT—linked back to reliable sources.
Coming in a future versionCommunity / Coming soon
Learning is lighter when you are not doing it alone.
A future Tech Academy community will give beginners a place to ask grounded questions, share progress and learn with others. No platform or sign-up is connected yet.
The starting point / 01Limited resources.
A phone.
A decision to begin.
A phone.
A decision to begin.
No degree or diplomaApproximately 10 years in IT
Why Tech Academy exists
“You can start with what you have.”
The founder entered IT without a degree or diploma and began with limited resources, including learning with a phone. Tech Academy exists to replace early confusion with an honest first step.
The goal is not a shortcut or a promise of employment. It is free guidance, useful context and a stronger foundation for the work ahead.
Clear by design
Useful guidance.
Honest boundaries.
- A free-first learner starting point
- Independent guidance for IT foundations
- Practical ideas for learning and evidence
- Optional mentorship when personal help is useful
- An accredited college or training provider
- A qualification or certification issuer
- A CompTIA exam administrator or affiliate
- A guarantee of exam passes or employment
Optional personal help
Free resources come first.
If you need a human answer, choose email or WhatsApp to reach the founder. Mentorship is separate and optional—not a step you must take to use the free library.