Network+ for Veterans: Is It Worth It and How to Fund It
You held a comms or IT job in uniform. You ran the network so other people could do theirs. Now you are reading civilian job postings and half of them say the same thing. "CompTIA Network+ or equivalent."
You have the equivalent. You just cannot prove it on paper yet. So the question is simple. Is the cert worth your time and money, and if it is, how do you get it paid for without burning your own cash or your GI Bill?
By the end of this you will know two things. Whether Network+ is the right first move for your situation. And the exact funding path to use so it costs you close to nothing. This one stays at the "worth it and funded" level. Turning the cert into actual interviews is its own topic for another day.
Is CompTIA Network+ Worth It for Veterans?
Short answer. For a lot of transitioning comms and IT folks, yes. But not for everyone, and not always first.
Network+ is a mid-level, vendor-neutral cert. It proves you understand how networks are built, run, and fixed. Cabling, switches, routers, IP addressing, wireless, and basic troubleshooting. CompTIA maps it to three DoD 8140 and NICE work roles: technical support specialist, network operations specialist, and system administrator. The current exam is N10-009.
Here is why it matters for you specifically. A hiring manager who never served has no idea what a 25U or an IT2 did all day. That MOS code needs translation before it means anything to them. A recognized cert does that translation instantly. "Network+" tells a civilian recruiter you can run their gear on day one, in a language they already trust.
"A recognized cert gives a civilian a reason to believe you before they ever meet you. It turns "trust me" into "here is proof," written in a language the hiring side already speaks."
I built BMR after my own messy transition, and I have watched veterans use this exact play for almost two years. The pattern holds. A junior IT background plus one recognized cert opens the door that raw military experience keeps shut.
What Does Network+ Actually Get You?
Network+ is an entry-to-mid ticket, not a golden one. It is aimed at real first jobs in tech. Be honest about which jobs those are.
These are the roles Network+ lines up with:
- Help desk and desktop support: the classic first IT job. You fix tickets, reset access, and solve connectivity problems all day.
- Network operations center (NOC) technician: you watch the network, catch outages, and escalate. Shift work fits a lot of vets well.
- Network technician or junior network administrator: hands-on with switches, routers, and cabling. This is the sweet spot for 25-series and network rating folks.
- Field service and IT support technician: you roll to sites, stand up gear, and troubleshoot in person.
The government tracks these under titles like computer support specialist and network and computer systems administrator in the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook. These are real, steady civilian jobs with clear pay ladders above them.
Notice what Network+ does not do. It will not make you a senior cloud architect or a security lead overnight. It is a foot in the door, not a shortcut to the top. That is fine. The first civilian IT job is the hardest one to land. Once you have a year of help desk or NOC work on your resume, the next move gets much easier. Network+ is how you get that first year started.
It also travels well. The cert is vendor-neutral, so it is not tied to one company's gear. Whether an employer runs Cisco, Juniper, or something else, the fundamentals you prove with Network+ still apply. That makes it a safe first bet when you are not sure which shop you will land in.
If your MOS already touched this work, the cert is mostly proving what you did. Army 25B Information Technology Specialists and 25U Signal Support Systems Specialists already run this gear. Same for Navy Information Systems Technicians and Marine 0631 Network Administrators. For you, Network+ is a stamp, not a stretch.
Key Takeaway
Network+ is a first-real-job cert. It gets you into help desk, NOC, and network tech roles. It is proof of skills you likely already have, written in a language civilian recruiters trust.
Where Does Network+ Sit vs Security+ and Cloud Certs?
This is where a lot of vets waste money. They stack certs in the wrong order or grab one that does not match the job they want.
Think of it as a ladder. A+ is the ground floor, all-around IT support basics. Network+ is the next rung, focused on networks. Security+ sits next to Network+ and covers the security side. Cloud certs like AWS come after you have footing.
- •You want help desk, NOC, or network tech roles
- •Your job ran networks, radios, or comms gear
- •You want a broad IT base before you specialize
- •You are aiming straight at cybersecurity roles
- •Federal or contractor jobs list it as required
- •You held a cyber or intel MOS already
If your target job says "cybersecurity" or is a cleared contractor role, chase Security+ first. It is the cert that shows up on federal IT and DoD 8140 requirements the most. Our Security+ guide for veterans and the DoD 8140 breakdown walk through that path.
But if you want to run and fix networks, Network+ is the sharper match. It also pairs well with Security+ later. Many vets get both. The real mistake is jumping to cloud certs before you can explain a subnet. If cloud is your endgame, read our guide to picking a first cloud cert after you have a networking base.
Who Should Get Network+ and Who Should Skip It?
Not every veteran needs this cert. Spending GI Bill time or study hours on the wrong one is a real cost. Use this to decide.
1 Get it: comms and IT backgrounds
2 Get it: career changers into IT
3 Maybe skip: cyber and cleared targets
4 Skip: you are already a senior network engineer
One more honest note. A cert alone does not get you hired. It gets you looked at. If your background is thin on real network work, pair Network+ with a home lab or a small project so you have something to talk about in the interview.
How Do You Get Network+ Funded?
This is the part that saves you real money. The exam voucher runs a few hundred dollars, and training can add more. Check the current voucher price on CompTIA's store before you plan. You should almost never pay that yourself. You have earned funding paths that cover it.
Funding rules and caps change often, and they differ by branch and status. So use this as a map, then confirm the current numbers with your education or transition office before you commit.
Ways to Fund Network+
Credentialing Assistance (still serving)
Army CA, Air Force CA, and similar programs pay for the exam and training while you are on active duty.
COOL (still serving)
Your branch COOL site maps your job to approved credentials and routes the funding.
GI Bill test reimbursement (veterans)
The GI Bill pays you back for approved licensing and certification test fees, even if you fail.
MyCAA (military spouses)
Eligible spouses can use MyCAA toward IT certs and training.
If You Are Still Serving: COOL and Credentialing Assistance
This is the best deal, and too many people miss it. While you are on active duty, Credentialing Assistance and the DoD COOL program can cover the exam and the training that leads to it. Each branch runs its own COOL site that matches your job to approved credentials.
Get this started before you separate. Once you are out, this specific door closes. Our COOL program guide by branch shows you where to start. Ask your education center for the current cap and rules, because those numbers move.
If You Are a Veteran: GI Bill Test Reimbursement
Already separated? The GI Bill will pay you back for approved licensing and certification test fees. Per the VA, this covers up to $2,000 per test, and it pays even if you do not pass. You file VA Form 22-0803 to get reimbursed.
The cert has to be on the VA-approved list, and Network+ is a common one. This only uses a small slice of your entitlement, so it is a smart way to spend it. For the full picture on stacking cert funding, see our guide to using the GI Bill for certifications.
If You Are a Military Spouse: MyCAA
BMR is free for military spouses, and so is a lot of cert funding you may not know about. Eligible spouses can put MyCAA toward IT certs and the training around them. If you are weighing MyCAA against a transferred GI Bill, our MyCAA vs GI Bill breakdown helps you pick which to use first.
Don't Forget the Veteran Discount and SkillBridge Time
Even when funding covers it, know that CompTIA runs a discount for the military community. Our CompTIA veteran discount walkthrough shows how to claim it. And if you are in a SkillBridge internship, that structured time is a great window to study and test before your final out date.
How Do You Put Network+ on Your Resume?
Getting the cert is step one. Placing it right is step two. Do not bury it. A recruiter scans a resume in about six seconds, so the cert has to be easy to spot.
Put your certs near the top, right under your summary or in a short skills band. Write the full name and the exam version so it reads as current. "CompTIA Network+ (N10-009)" beats a vague "networking cert."
"Completed various IT training and certifications during military service." (Listed at the very bottom, no names.)
"Certifications: CompTIA Network+ (N10-009), CompTIA A+." (In a dedicated band near the top, named clearly.)
Then match your bullets to the job posting. If the posting says "Network+ or equivalent," your resume should show both the cert and the hands-on work behind it. That is where translating your MOS matters most. For the deeper resume playbook, read our IT veterans resume guide.
BMR's resume builder handles the military-to-civilian translation and the ATS formatting for you. Paste the job posting, and it tailors your resume to that exact role, cert and all. The core tools are free for veterans and military spouses.
What to Do Next
So let's land it. If you want help desk, NOC, or network tech work, Network+ is worth it, and you almost certainly should not pay for it yourself. The move is simple.
Confirm it fits your target job
Pull three real job postings you want. If they list Network+ or equivalent, you have your answer.
Lock in your funding path
Still serving, use COOL or CA. Veteran, use GI Bill test reimbursement. Spouse, check MyCAA. Ask your education office for current caps.
Study, test, then update your resume
Once you pass, put the cert near the top with the exam version and tailor your resume to the roles you want.
Not sure Network+ is the right first cert for your field? Our roundup of the best certifications for veterans by career field and the guide to cybersecurity jobs without a degree can help you aim. Pick the cert that matches the job, get it funded, and let your resume do the talking.
Frequently Asked Questions
QIs CompTIA Network+ worth it for veterans?
QShould I get Network+ or Security+ first?
QHow much does the CompTIA Network+ exam cost?
QCan I use my GI Bill to pay for Network+?
QCan I get Network+ funded for free while still serving?
QWhat jobs can I get with Network+?
QDo military spouses have funding for Network+?
About the Author
Brad Tachi is the CEO and founder of Best Military Resume and a 2025 Military Friendly Vetrepreneur of the Year award recipient for overseas excellence. A former U.S. Navy Diver with over 20 years of combined military, private sector, and federal government experience, Brad brings unparalleled expertise to help veterans and military service members successfully transition to rewarding civilian careers. Having personally navigated the military-to-civilian transition, Brad deeply understands the challenges veterans face and specializes in translating military experience into compelling resumes that capture the attention of civilian employers. Through Best Military Resume, Brad has helped thousands of service members land their dream jobs by providing expert resume writing, career coaching, and job search strategies tailored specifically for the veteran community.
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