IT, Cloud & Cybersecurity • Certification
CompTIA IT Fundamentals (ITF+)
Digital literacy for career starters
Researched and maintained by TestPrepPilot Editorial BoardCloud, IT & cybersecurity certifications desk · Figures last verified August 2026
The short version
What is the CompTIA IT Fundamentals (ITF+) and is it worth it?
ITF+ (FC0-U61) is an entry-level exam covering IT concepts, infrastructure, software development and security awareness.
- True beginner level
- Career exploration
- Renews every 3 years
What is it?
What exactly is the CompTIA IT Fundamentals (ITF+)?
Digital literacy for career starters
CompTIA IT Fundamentals (ITF+) introduces the essential IT concepts, terminology and basic skills for students and career changers deciding whether technology is the right path.
Before you book
Who is eligible to sit the CompTIA IT Fundamentals (ITF+)?
Who it is for: Students and career explorers
The test itself
What is the format of the CompTIA IT Fundamentals (ITF+)?
The CompTIA IT Fundamentals (ITF+) is administered by Pearson VUE and runs 60 minutes, contains 75 questions and requires 650 of 900 to pass.
| Administered by | Pearson VUE |
|---|---|
| Questions | 75 |
| Time limit | 60 minutes |
| Pass mark | 650 of 900 |
| Exam fee | $134 |
| Format | Multiple-choice |
Content outline
What topics are on the CompTIA IT Fundamentals (ITF+)?
The CompTIA IT Fundamentals (ITF+) is weighted across 4 domains; the largest are Infrastructure (22%), Security (20%), Software and development (18%).
Weightings come from the official exam outline. Study time is best allocated in roughly these proportions rather than evenly across domains.
- IT concepts and terminology 17%
- Infrastructure 22%
- Software and development 18%
- Security 20%
Money & time
How much does the CompTIA IT Fundamentals (ITF+) cost?
For the CompTIA IT Fundamentals (ITF+), the exam fee is $134; the all-in cost is typically $134+; most candidates spend 1 month preparing.
Cost breakdown
| Exam voucher | $134 |
|---|---|
| Typical total | $134+ |
Academic pricing available.
Timeline
- Study 2–4 weeks
- Sit FC0-U61 test day
Typical prep: 1 month
The path
How do you register for the CompTIA IT Fundamentals (ITF+)?
- 1
Create your accounts10 minutes
Set up a free CompTIA account and a Pearson VUE account. Your CompTIA account is where the certification and CEUs are tracked; Pearson VUE handles scheduling and delivery.
Use a consistent email so your exam result links to your CompTIA record.
- 2
Purchase an exam voucher1 day
Buy the XK0-006 voucher from the CompTIA store (standard $390 USD). Optionally choose an exam+retake bundle or add CertMaster training.
- Select Linux+ (XK0-006) in the CompTIA store
- Choose voucher only, exam+retake bundle, or bundle with training
- Save the voucher code from your CompTIA account
- 3
Schedule your exam15 minutes
Go to Pearson VUE, enter your voucher code, and book a date. Choose a nearby test center or online proctoring (OnVUE).
- Pick test center or OnVUE online
- Run the OnVUE system check if testing at home
- Confirm date, time, and time zone
- 4
Prepare your ID and environmentTest-day prep
Bring a government-issued photo ID to a center. For online testing, prepare a quiet private room, clear your desk, and have your webcam ready for the check-in scan.
Accepted ID rules follow Pearson VUE policy (typically passport or driver's license matching your account name).
- 5
Take the exam90 minutes
Complete up to 90 questions in 90 minutes, including multiple-choice and performance-based items. You see a pass/fail result on screen immediately after finishing.
- 6
Claim and maintain your certificationA few days
Your certification appears in CompTIA CertCentral. Log in to download the e-certificate and start tracking the 50 CEUs needed to renew within 3 years.
The fine print
What are the retake and renewal rules for the CompTIA IT Fundamentals (ITF+)?
- Proctoring & delivery
- Delivered by Pearson VUE with two options: an in-person proctored test center, or online proctoring via OnVUE with a live remote proctor (requires webcam, stable internet, and a private room).
- Retake policy
- If you do not pass, you may retake XK0-006 after a 14-day waiting period. Each attempt requires a new exam voucher; there is no limit on the number of retakes. CompTIA's standard candidate agreement governs retake rules.
- Score reporting
- A pass/fail result is shown on screen immediately after the exam. A detailed score report by domain is available in your Pearson VUE account and mirrored in your CompTIA CertCentral record.
- Recertification
- Linux+ is valid for 3 years from the certification date. Renew by earning 50 Continuing Education (CE) credits and paying the CE fee through CompTIA CertCentral, by earning a higher-level CompTIA certification, or by passing the current XK0-006 exam again.
- Refunds & rescheduling
- Exam vouchers are generally non-refundable but may be transferable or have a defined expiry; optional CertMaster training may be refundable within a limited window per CompTIA's terms. Review voucher terms at purchase.
Context
Linux certifications compared
| Credential | Vendor | Level | Exam | Validity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CompTIA Linux+ | CompTIA | Vendor-neutral | Intermediate | 1 exam (XK0-006) | 3 years |
| LPIC-1 | Linux Professional Institute | Vendor-neutral | Entry | 2 exams (101 + 102) | 5 years |
| Red Hat RHCSA | Red Hat | Vendor-specific | Entry | 1 exam (performance lab) | 3 years |
What it pays
How much does this credential pay?
$61,550 median for computer support specialists (BLS, May 2024)
There is no Bureau of Labor Statistics occupation called "ITF+" — the CompTIA IT Fundamentals credential certifies entry-level IT literacy, and the wage question belongs to the role you perform with it. The closest official BLS occupation is Computer Support Specialists, SOC 15-1231, which had a May 2024 median wage of $61,550, with the lowest 10 percent under $37,670 and the highest 10 percent above $101,440. The fit is deliberate: ITF+ holders typically move into help-desk, IT support and entry-level technical roles, and BLS counted 614,800 computer support specialist jobs in 2024, projecting 6 percent growth from 2024 to 2034 with about 62,900 openings a year. The limitation to state plainly: the BLS median covers the whole occupation at all levels, and ITF+ is explicitly an entry-level literacy credential, so the realistic benchmark for a new holder sits at or below the median, climbing with experience and further certification. Read the number as the market for the support occupation, and note that ITF+ is usually a stepping stone — the A+ and beyond build directly on it, and the credential itself carries no wage premium in BLS data.
| Measure | Figure | Source / note |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage, computer support specialists | $61,550 | BLS OOH, SOC 15-1231, May 2024 |
| Lowest 10 percent | Under $37,670 | BLS OOH, SOC 15-1231, May 2024 |
| Highest 10 percent | Above $101,440 | BLS OOH, SOC 15-1231, May 2024 |
| Median, network administrators (senior track) | $96,900 | BLS OOH, SOC 15-1244, May 2024 |
Job growth.BLS projects 6 percent growth for computer support specialists from 2024 to 2034, about 62,900 openings per year.
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook - Computer Support Specialists
Your odds
What are the pass rates?
CompTIA publishes no pass rate — it publishes the passing score: 650 of 900, with a 75-question, 60-minute exam
CompTIA does not publish cohort pass rates for the ITF+ exam, and third-party surveys are not official data, so we do not treat them as authoritative. What CompTIA does publish is the format and the passing standard: the IT Fundamentals exam (FC0-U61) has 75 questions, a 60-minute time limit, and a passing score of 650 on the 100-900 scale. The exam is delivered at Pearson VUE centres or through online proctoring. Unlike CompTIA's professional-track certifications, ITF+ is a non-expiring credential — it does not require renewal or continuing education, because it is positioned as a literacy certificate rather than a career-track certification. The exam content follows the published exam objectives: IT concepts and terminology; infrastructure; applications and software; software development; database fundamentals; and security. The absence of a published pass rate is not an absence of standards: the 650 line is an accessible bar for a literacy exam, but the breadth of the objectives is real. The practical reading: target 80 percent-plus on practice and use CompTIA's official exam objectives and sample questions, the closest thing to the real item style.
Read this before quoting the number.CompTIA publishes the passing score and format but no pass rate; any percentage circulating online is a third-party estimate.
Your schedule
How long should I study for it?
30-60 hours over 3-5 weeks of focused study
The ITF+ exam (FC0-U61) is a 75-question, 60-minute exam with a 650/900 passing score, built on the published exam objectives: IT concepts and terminology; infrastructure; applications and software; software development; database fundamentals; and security. The exam is a literacy test — it validates that you understand how computers, networks, software, databases and security work at a foundational level — and it has no prerequisites, making it the natural starting point for career-changers. A defensible plan runs 30 to 60 hours over 3 to 5 weeks. Weeks 1-2 cover IT concepts and infrastructure: hardware components, operating systems, networking basics and troubleshooting fundamentals. Week 3 covers applications, software and software development concepts. Week 4 covers database fundamentals and security basics. Week 5 adds practice-question drilling and a timed simulation at the real 60-minute format. The plan is short because the scope is foundational, and the exam rewards broad familiarity more than depth; a beginner with consistent study passes comfortably, and the same material forms the first phase of A+ preparation.
- Weeks 1-225
Concepts and infrastructure
- Hardware components and their roles
- Operating systems and networking basics
- Troubleshooting fundamentals
- Week 310
Software and development
- Applications and software concepts
- Software development lifecycle basics
- Licensing and installation
- Week 410
Databases and security
- Database fundamentals and structures
- Security concepts and best practices
- Threats and protection basics
- Week 510
Drill and simulate
- Practice-question drilling in volume
- One timed 60-minute simulation
- Review weak objectives
Adjusting the pace
Complete beginner.Stretch to 6 weeks and add 1 week of computer-literacy orientation before the objectives.
A+-bound.ITF+ material is the first phase of A+; study it with that depth in mind to avoid rework.
How to study
How do I prepare most effectively?
The ITF+ exam rewards broad familiarity across six objective areas, so the dominant strategy is coverage: work every objective group rather than going deep on favourite topics, because the exam draws from all six. Second, use the free official exam objectives as the scope map and audit every study resource against them; for a literacy exam, scope discipline matters more than depth. Third, learn by doing at a low level: explore an operating system, break and fix a simple network configuration, and write a tiny script, because the exam items test applied understanding of how things work. Fourth, use CompTIA's official CertMaster practice or sample questions, the closest thing to the real item style, and hold yourself to 80 percent-plus on practice. Fifth, take at least one timed simulation; 75 questions in 60 minutes is 48 seconds per item, and the pacing is the most common beginner failure mode. Finally, remember ITF+ does not expire — but treat it as the first step of a path, since employers hire on the professional-track credentials that follow it.
Cover all six objective areas
The exam draws from every group; broad coverage beats deep dives.
Audit against the official objectives
The free objectives are the scope map for a literacy exam.
Learn by doing
Explore an OS, fix a network issue, write a small script.
Hold to 80%+ on practice
48 seconds per item; practise the pace.
Treat it as the first step
ITF+ does not expire, but employers hire on the A+ and beyond.
What to buy
Which study resources are worth paying for?
ITF+ prep is inexpensive because the entry tier has rich low-cost resources. CompTIA's official exam objectives are free; the CompTIA IT Fundamentals Study Guide costs roughly $50-$70; and CertMaster Learn + Practice for ITF+ runs around $150-$250. Third-party providers sell ITF+ courses and question banks at $30-$150, and there is a deep pool of free YouTube courses and practice-question sites because the exam is popular with beginners. A realistic total budget is $100 to $400 including the exam fee (about $134). Prices below are list prices as of mid-2026 and change frequently; we rank nothing by commission.
| Resource | Price | Format | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| CompTIA exam objectives | Free | Official PDF | The authoritative scope; audit every resource against it |
| ITF+ Study Guide | $50-$70 | Printed or digital book | Structured self-study of the objectives |
| CertMaster Learn + Practice | $150-$250 | Online learning + practice | The official learning path |
| Third-party courses | $30-$150 | Video courses and quizzes | Low-cost structured instruction |
| Free YouTube + quiz sites | $0 | Videos and practice items | Supplementary volume for beginners |
List prices as of mid-2026, subject to change; the FC0-U61 exam fee is about $134; no commission or affiliate ranking is implied.
Avoid these
What mistakes do candidates most often make?
The most common ITF+ mistake is treating it as trivially easy and skipping study, then failing on the breadth of the objectives — the exam draws from all six areas, and beginners under-prepare the database and security groups. The fix is full coverage. The second mistake is memorising definitions instead of understanding how things work; the exam items apply concepts to described situations. Third, candidates misjudge the pace — 75 questions in 60 minutes is 48 seconds per item, and beginners who have never timed themselves run out of minutes. Fourth, some candidates over-invest in expensive courses for a literacy exam, when the free objectives plus a study guide and practice questions are sufficient. Finally, treating ITF+ as the end of the path is the quiet mistake: the credential does not expire, but the professional-track certifications (A+ and beyond) are what employers hire on, so plan the next step while the momentum is fresh.
✕Skipping study as "too easy"
✓The exam draws from all six objective areas; cover them all.
✕Memorising definitions
✓The items apply concepts to described situations; learn how things work.
✕Misjudging the pace
✓75 questions in 60 minutes; run a timed simulation.
✕Over-investing in courses
✓Free objectives plus a guide and practice questions suffice.
✕Treating ITF+ as the finish
✓Employers hire on the A+ and beyond; plan the next step.
What you'll face
What question types will I see?
The ITF+ exam (FC0-U61) is a 75-question multiple-choice exam in 60 minutes. The items test foundational understanding across six objective areas — IT concepts and terminology, infrastructure, applications and software, software development, database fundamentals, and security — with many items presenting a described situation and asking for the correct concept, component or practice. The exam rewards broad applied familiarity more than depth. Samples below are editor-written illustrations of the published exam objectives, not live exam items; they show the foundational, applied style of the real items.
Terminology, components and how things work across the six areas.
Described situations with the correct concept, component or practice.
Try these
Q1Which component is primarily responsible for temporarily storing data and instructions that the CPU is actively using?
Answer:A
RAM holds data and instructions the CPU is actively using — volatile, fast storage. The hard disk provides persistent storage, the power supply delivers electricity, and the network card handles connectivity.
Q2A user wants to prevent unauthorised access to a laptop if it is lost. Which practice is most effective?
Answer:A
Full-disk encryption makes the data unreadable without the passphrase, protecting it if the device is lost. A screensaver, a padded case or a second OS do not protect the data from access.
Q3Which of the following is an example of a relational database structure?
Answer:A
Relational databases organise data into tables linked by keys — the defining structure of the relational model. A CSV text file, an image or a web page are not relational database structures.
Samples are editor-written illustrations of the published exam objectives, not live exam items.
The big day
What should I expect on exam day?
The ITF+ exam is a 75-question, 60-minute computer-based exam at a Pearson VUE centre or through online proctoring. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID matching your registration name and your appointment confirmation; personal items go in the locker. Arrive 30 minutes early; late arrivals forfeit the appointment and the fee. Pace at about 48 seconds per item, flag uncertain items for review, and finish with time to spare. You receive your score on screen immediately, with the official result following; CompTIA reports your scaled score against the 650 line. If you fail, CompTIA allows retakes after a waiting period. On a pass, the ITF+ certification does not expire — it requires no renewal or continuing education, which is unusual among CompTIA credentials. The afterwards matters: the credential is a foundation, so plan the next step (typically the A+ for support roles) while the material is fresh, and add the certificate to your professional profile.
Bring
- Valid government-issued photo ID matching your registration name
- Appointment confirmation
Leave at home
- Phone, smartwatch and all electronics
- Notes and study materials
- Personal bags beyond what the centre allows
How the day runs
Rules in the room
- No personal electronics in the testing room
- 60 minutes for 75 questions; the clock does not pause
- Retake rules and waiting periods apply after a fail
Afterwards.On a pass, your ITF+ does not expire and needs no renewal. On a fail, retake after additional study. Use the credential as the foundation for the A+ and the professional track.
Reference
What are the key facts about the CompTIA IT Fundamentals (ITF+)?
CompTIA IT Fundamentals (ITF+) is a certification credential; awarded by CompTIA; the exam fee is $134; typical preparation is 1 month; holders typically earn n/a.
| Credential | CompTIA IT Fundamentals (ITF+) |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | ITF+ |
| Type | Certification |
| Profession | IT, Cloud & Cybersecurity |
| Specialty | CompTIA |
| Awarded by | CompTIA |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Typical prep time | 1 month |
| All-in cost | $134+ |
| Typical salary range | n/a |
| Exam code | FC0-U61 |
| Scope | National / Multi-state |
| Also known as | FC0-U61 |
Real questions
Frequently asked questions about the CompTIA IT Fundamentals (ITF+)
Should I take ITF+ or A+?
Take ITF+ if you are brand new and deciding on a tech career; move to A+ once you are committed to support work.
Does it expire?
Yes, after three years via CE credits.
How do I register for comptia-it-fundamentals?
You register and schedule comptia-it-fundamentals through Pearson VUE. Pick a test-centre appointment or online proctoring, then sit the exam on your booked date.
What is the comptia-it-fundamentals exam format?
The exam is delivered as Multiple-choice, with about 75 items, in 60 minutes. The published pass mark is 650 of 900.
How long is the comptia-it-fundamentals certification valid?
Most CompTIA certifications are valid for three years and renewed via Continuing Education (CE) credits, a higher cert, or a single renew-by-exam.
How much does comptia-it-fundamentals cost?
The exam fee is $134. Optional study materials and retakes are priced separately.
Who issues the Linux+ certification?
CompTIA (the Computing Technology Industry Association), a vendor-neutral certifying body. The exam is delivered through Pearson VUE and the credential is ANSI-accredited to ISO/IEC 17024.
How do I renew a CompTIA certification?
Through CompTIA CertCentral: accumulate the required Continuing Education (CE) credits (50 for Linux+) and pay the CE fee, earn a higher CompTIA cert, or retake the current exam. Most CompTIA certs follow the 3-year renewal cycle.
Are CompTIA exam vouchers refundable?
Vouchers are typically non-refundable but may be transferable and carry an expiry date. Optional training products may have a limited refund window. Always review the terms shown at purchase in the CompTIA store.
In short
Is the CompTIA IT Fundamentals (ITF+) worth it?
- ITF+ is the starting point for tech careers.
- It covers concepts, infrastructure and security basics.
- It renews every three years.
Same awarding body
What other credentials does CompTIA award?
Worth comparing
How does the CompTIA IT Fundamentals (ITF+) compare with similar credentials?
Trust
Where does this information come from?
Everything above is taken from the awarding body's own published material. Fees, question counts and domain weights are revised regularly — check the official page before you pay.
- CompTIA Awarding body
- Official CompTIA IT Fundamentals (ITF+) exam page Exam page
- CompTIA certification programme Programme rules
Research confidence: high · Last reviewed 2026-08