CompTIA · 2026 Edition
A complete preparation guide written by CompTIA-certified engineers. Covers the exam format,all 4 blueprint domains, a week-by-week study plan, and proven tips for passing first time.
2–3 months
Prep time
Intermediate
Difficulty
95
Exam questions
710/1000
Pass mark
Exam code
PK0-005
Full name
CompTIA Project+
Vendor
CompTIA
Duration
90 minutes
Questions
95 items
Passing score
710/1000 (scaled)
Domains covered
4 blueprint domains
Recommended experience
1+ year of project management experience or exposure recommended; no formal prerequisites
Typical prep time
2–3 months
Project+ is CompTIA's vendor-neutral project management credential — less demanding than PMP but more rigorous than a short course certificate. It is a natural stepping stone for IT professionals who manage implementations and deployments.
Job roles this opens
Domain percentage weights are not currently available for this exam. The checklist below is still useful for planning your study.
Weeks 1–2
Project Management Concepts: frameworks, methodologies, roles
Tip: PK0-005 covers both predictive (waterfall) and agile/hybrid methodologies — a significant addition from PK0-004. Know the difference between Scrum, Kanban, SAFe, and waterfall at a conceptual level and when each is appropriate.
Weeks 3–4
Project Initiation and Planning: charter, WBS, scheduling, risk register, stakeholders
Tip: The Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is the foundation of scope management. Know that a WBS represents deliverables (not activities), that the lowest level is a work package, and that the WBS dictionary describes each element.
Weeks 5–6
Project Execution and Control: change management, quality, communication, earned value
Tip: Earned value management (EVM) metrics appear on Project+: know SPI (Schedule Performance Index = EV/PV), CPI (Cost Performance Index = EV/AC), CV (Cost Variance = EV-AC), and SV (Schedule Variance = EV-PV). A value below 1.0 for SPI or CPI means the project is behind/over budget.
Weeks 7–9
Closing and Post-Project: lessons learned, procurement closure, resource release
Tip: Project closure documents: acceptance sign-off, lessons learned log, archived project records, and released resources. Questions ask what must happen before a project can be formally closed.
The project lifecycle stages — Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring/Controlling, Closing — map to the PMBOK framework. Know which processes and documents belong to each phase.
Risk management terminology is tested: risk probability × impact = risk score, risk register, risk response strategies (avoid, transfer, mitigate, accept), and the difference between a risk (uncertain future event) and an issue (problem that has already occurred).
Critical Path Method (CPM): the critical path is the longest sequence of dependent tasks — any delay on the critical path delays the entire project. Tasks with float (slack) can be delayed without affecting the project end date.
Agile concepts that appear on PK0-005: sprint, backlog (product and sprint), velocity, retrospective, daily standup, Scrum master vs product owner roles, and Definition of Done. Know these terms and their relationships.
Stakeholder management is a recurring theme: know the difference between a stakeholder (anyone affected by the project) and a sponsor (the person with budget authority). Communication plans, RACI matrices, and stakeholder registers are all fair game.
Apply everything in this guide with adaptive practice questions, detailed answer explanations, and domain analytics.
Deep-dive explanations of the key topics tested on PK0-005 — with exam key points and common misconceptions.