Technical support is one of the best on-ramps into a remote tech career, and the right IT support certifications can get you qualified with no degree and no experience.
Companies have hundreds of thousands of open help desk and IT support roles, many of them work-from-home, and you can qualify with no degree and no experience in a matter of months. The only real question is which certification to pursue, because the two most popular options work very differently and suit different goals.
This guide compares the heavy hitters for entry-level remote help desk work: the Google IT Support Certificate, the CompTIA A+ certification, and the affordable CompTIA training paths on Udemy.
We will pay special attention to the thing that actually builds job-ready skill, hands-on labs and virtual environments, and tell you which option gets you hired for remote support work fastest.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links for training programs and recommended gear. If you buy through one, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend things I believe are genuinely worth it.
Quick comparison: the best technical support certifications
| Program | Cost | Hands-on labs | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google IT Support Certificate (Coursera) | ~$49/month (~$150 to $300 total) | Yes, built-in cloud labs | Total beginners who want the best learning experience |
| CompTIA A+ (certification) | ~$250 per exam, two required (~$500+), plus training | Via separate CompTIA labs | The most widely recognized resume credential |
| CompTIA A+ Training on Udemy | ~$15 to $30 on sale | Practice exams, limited labs | Cheaply preparing for the A+ exams |
Here is the key insight before we go deeper: the Google certificate is the better learning experience, and CompTIA A+ is the better resume credential. Many of the smartest beginners do both. Let me break down each.
Google IT Support Certificate: best for beginners
What it is: A beginner program built by Google and delivered on Coursera that teaches IT support from scratch, with no prerequisites. It covers troubleshooting, networking, operating systems, system administration, and security.
LEARN MORE: Google IT Support certificate
The hands-on labs (this is its standout feature): Each course mixes short video lessons with practical labs that run in a Coursera-provided cloud sandbox, so you do not have to install anything on your own computer.
You actually fix simulated problems, like diagnosing a broken network connection, and an auto-grader checks that your fix worked. That experience matters because it gives you real troubleshooting stories to tell in interviews, which is what separates someone who watched videos from someone who can do the work.
Cost: About $49 a month, so finishing in three to six months runs roughly $150 to $300. Financial aid is available, and there is a free trial.
Remote roles it prepares you for: Help Desk Technician, IT Support Specialist, and Desktop Support Analyst, many of which are fully remote. Google reports strong positive-outcome rates for graduates, and its employer consortium (companies like AT&T, Walmart, Best Buy, and Bank of America) reviews graduates for openings.
The honest catch: This is a level-one support credential. It is excellent for landing your first help desk job, but it is not enough for mid-level IT roles on its own. It is also not a vendor-neutral exam, so some employers, especially in government, healthcare, and traditional enterprise, screen specifically for CompTIA A+ and may skip applicants without it. Know your target employers.
CompTIA A+: the industry-standard credential
What it is: The long-established, vendor-neutral gold standard for entry-level IT. Unlike the Google certificate, A+ is not a course you complete, it is a credential you earn by passing two separate proctored exams (Core 1 and Core 2). You can prepare however you like, then sit the exams.
Why it carries more weight: CompTIA A+ has roughly 89% employer recognition and appears in around 65% of IT support job listings. If you are targeting employers that list “A+ required,” this is the credential their applicant-tracking systems are screening for. It also tends to lead to higher starting salaries than the Google cert.
The hands-on labs: The exams themselves test practical skills, and CompTIA offers official virtual lab environments (CertMaster Labs) you can buy to practice in a simulated setting. Those labs are a separate purchase from the exam vouchers.
Cost: This is where it gets pricier. Each A+ exam voucher costs around $250, and you need to pass two, so budget roughly $500 in exam fees alone, plus whatever you spend on training. That training is where Udemy comes in (next section), which keeps the prep cost low.
The honest catch: A+ requires more self-directed study than the hand-held Google program, and the exam fees are a real expense. But for the broadest hiring recognition and higher pay, it is the stronger credential.
CompTIA A+ training on Udemy: the budget prep path
You do not have to pay for an expensive bootcamp to prepare for the A+ exams. Udemy has excellent, affordable A+ prep courses from well-known instructors that thousands of people have used to pass. The list prices look high, but Udemy runs near-constant sales that drop most courses to around $15 to $30, and you keep them for life.
These courses are primarily video instruction plus practice exams that mirror the real test, which is exactly what you need to prepare. They are lighter on full virtual lab environments than the Google program, so if you want deep hands-on practice, pair a Udemy course with CompTIA’s CertMaster Labs or set up a simple home lab with spare hardware. The winning budget formula: learn the material on Udemy, practice in labs, then buy your two exam vouchers when you are ready.
CompTIA A+ vs Google IT Support: which is better?
They are not interchangeable, and the right answer depends on your situation.
- Choose Google IT Support first if you are a true beginner who wants the best, most structured learning experience, built-in labs, a low monthly cost, and the fastest, lowest-risk way to land a first help desk job, especially at one of Google’s consortium employers.
- Choose CompTIA A+ if you are targeting employers that specifically require it, want the broadest recognition and higher starting pay, or want a vendor-neutral foundation to build a longer IT career on.
And here is the move a lot of successful people make: do both, in order. Complete the Google IT Support Certificate to learn the skills and get the hands-on practice, then prepare for and pass CompTIA A+ to get the resume credential. The total cost lands around $750, and it gives you the strongest combination of real skill and employer recognition for entry-level remote support work.
If you want a broader look at how these two platforms compare for any skill, see our guide on Coursera vs Udemy for remote job skills.
Which IT Support Certifications are Best for Remote Help Desk Jobs?
For purely remote, first-line help desk roles, the Google IT Support Certificate is often the most efficient starting point. Its labs map directly to the day-to-day work, its consortium employers hire remotely, and it is the cheaper, faster credential to earn. If your dream employers list A+ as a requirement, layer that on. Either way, remote help desk work is very real and very accessible to beginners.
What equipment do you need for a remote help desk job?
Remote support roles have light gear requirements, but a few things make you more hireable and more effective. Most of these are one-time, affordable purchases.
- A reliable headset with a clear mic. You will be on calls and chats all day, so audio quality matters. This is the single most important purchase. See a solid remote-work headset
- A second monitor. Support work means juggling a ticket system, a knowledge base, and a remote session at once. A second screen is a genuine productivity upgrade. Budget second monitor option
- A decent webcam. Many remote roles expect you on camera for team meetings and interviews. Reliable 1080p webcam
- Stable, fast internet. Non-negotiable for remote support. A wired connection beats Wi-Fi when possible.
You do not need an expensive setup to start. A good headset, a second monitor, and reliable internet cover the essentials.
How much do remote help desk and IT support jobs pay?
Entry-level help desk technician roles generally pay in the range of roughly $48,000 to $70,000, and IT support specialists average around $56,000 and up.
Google IT Support certificate graduates report average starting pay in the $52,000 to $65,000 range, while CompTIA A+ holders often start a bit higher, in the mid-$50,000s to high-$80,000s depending on role and location.
Pay climbs meaningfully as you specialize into networking, cloud, or cybersecurity, which is why support is such a strong career entry point rather than a dead end.
Can you get a remote IT support job with no experience?
Yes. This is one of the most beginner-accessible tech fields, and demand is high, with hundreds of thousands of open support roles. The path is straightforward: earn a credential (Google IT Support is the easiest start), do the hands-on labs so you can actually troubleshoot, build a simple home lab or portfolio of practice problems, and apply widely. Remote help desk roles in particular are abundant and routinely hire entry-level candidates.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Google IT Support Certificate enough to get a job?
For entry-level, first-line help desk and IT support roles, yes, it is frequently enough, especially with the hands-on labs and the employer consortium behind it. For employers that specifically require CompTIA A+, you will want to add that credential.
Do I need CompTIA A+ for a help desk job?
Not always. Many help desk jobs hire Google IT Support graduates or candidates with demonstrable skills. But A+ appears in a large share of listings and is required outright by some employers, so it widens your options and tends to pay more.
How much does CompTIA A+ cost?
The certification requires two exams at roughly $250 each, so around $500 in exam fees, plus training. Using affordable Udemy courses for prep keeps the total cost down compared to bootcamps.
Which has better hands-on labs?
The Google IT Support Certificate includes built-in cloud labs as part of the program, which is its biggest strength for beginners. For CompTIA A+, hands-on practice comes from CompTIA’s separate CertMaster Labs or your own home lab, since Udemy prep courses focus more on video and practice exams.
How long does it take to get certified?
The Google IT Support Certificate takes most people three to six months part-time. CompTIA A+ prep timelines vary by how much you study, but many beginners are exam-ready in two to four months. Doing both in sequence is a realistic six-to-nine-month plan.
Disclaimer: Course prices, exam fees, and salary figures are based on publicly available information as of 2026 and can change, so confirm current pricing on the official Coursera, CompTIA, and Udemy pages before purchasing. Salary ranges vary by role, location, employer, and experience and are not guarantees of income or employment. This article is educational and not financial or career advice. It contains affiliate links, and I may earn a commission if you purchase through them at no additional cost to you.
Ready to start? Begin with the Google IT Support Certificate on Coursera for the best beginner learning experience and built-in labs, then add CompTIA A+ prep on Udemy when you are ready for the industry-standard credential.
