thinQmaster Virtual testing partner Adaptive practice exams that find your weak spots and drill them. Every answer explained. From $69
Enroll

thinQmaster

Find your exam

Five questions free, before you decide.

Step 1 · choose a vendor

In one of our camps? Your practice exams come with the tuition — they are on your study page already.

CompTIA · IT Support · Entry

CompTIA Tech+ exam guide

Exam FC0-U71 (also FC0-U71-CE)

CompTIA Tech+ (FC0-U71) replaced IT Fundamentals (ITF+) as CompTIA's entry-level certification. It proves you understand core IT concepts: hardware and infrastructure, software and applications, basic programming, databases and security. It is a low-cost way to confirm interest in IT and prepare for A+.

Questions70
Time limit60 minutes
Passing score650 (100-900 scale)
Exam fee$129 USD
Valid forSee official page
DeliveryPearson VUE test center or online proctored (OnVUE)

Format: Multiple choice. Fee note: Voucher with retake about $179.

Who it's for

Students, career changers and non-technical staff (sales, support, operations) who need a verified baseline of IT knowledge before pursuing A+ or another entry-level path.

What the exam covers

Tech Concepts and Terminology13%
Infrastructure24%
Applications and Software18%
Software Development Concepts13%
Data and Database Fundamentals13%
Security19%

Eligibility & prerequisites

Required: None

Recommended: No prior experience necessary.

Keeping it active

The standard FC0-U71 certification does not expire and has no CE fee. The FC0-U71-CE version is valid 5 years and is renewed by passing the latest version of the exam.

Skills & careers

Skills it validates

  • Identifying computer components and peripherals
  • Basic networking and internet connectivity concepts
  • Installing and managing applications and operating systems
  • Programming logic, pseudocode and data types
  • Database concepts, querying and data structures
  • Security basics: authentication, encryption, backups and safe browsing

Job roles

IT Support TraineeHelp Desk InternTechnical Sales AssociateIT Operations AssistantJunior Data Entry or Records Technician

Where it fits in your path

Take before

No prerequisite certification needed.

You are here

CompTIA Tech+

Planning a degree too? See how this cert earns college credit in the College Credit Navigator.

Build my study plan

  1. Week 1: Read the FC0-U71 objectives and review the Infrastructure domain (24%): hardware, storage, networking and cloud basics.
  2. Week 2: Applications and software plus software development concepts: OS types, file systems, programming logic and flowcharts.
  3. Week 3: Data and database fundamentals and Security (19%): tables, queries, encryption, authentication, backup and best practices.
  4. Week 4: Take two timed practice tests under 60 minutes, review every missed objective, then schedule the exam.

Make it yours: pick your exam date and weekly hours. We'll split your time by domain weight and give you a printable plan.

Exam-day tips

  • You have about 51 seconds per question; do not overthink single-answer recall items.
  • Infrastructure and Security together are 43% of the exam, so spend the most time there.
  • Know unit conversions (bits vs bytes, KB to TB) and processing speed comparisons; they are common quick points.
  • Be able to read simple pseudocode and identify loops, branches and variables.
  • Memorize basic database terms (primary key, foreign key, schema, query) and the differences between relational and non-relational data.

Key terms for this exam

All 252 terms Study with thinQcards™

Commonly confused on this exam

Frequently asked questions

How much does CompTIA Tech+ cost?

The exam voucher is $129 USD at CompTIA's 2026 US retail price, or about $179 with a retake included.

Is Tech+ the same as ITF+?

Tech+ (FC0-U71) replaced IT Fundamentals+ (FC0-U61) and adds more on software development, data and security.

Does CompTIA Tech+ expire?

The standard FC0-U71 certification does not expire. The CE version (FC0-U71-CE) is valid for 5 years.

Is Tech+ worth it or should I go straight to A+?

If you already have hands-on IT experience, skip to A+. Tech+ is worth it if you are new to IT or need a credential for a non-technical role.

How hard is the Tech+ exam?

It is an entry-level, multiple-choice exam with a 650 passing score. Most candidates prepare in 2 to 4 weeks.

Official page: www.comptia.org. Reviewed November 2026. Vendors change fees and objectives, so confirm with the vendor before you book. Spot something out of date? Tell us.