October 23, 2026
CompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1202) now includes an objective on artificial intelligence. Objective 4.10 asks candidates to "explain basic concepts related to artificial intelligence (AI)," a topic the previous Core 2 exam, 220-1102, did not cover. Here is what the objective includes, how it connects to the rest of the exam and what it means for your first IT support role in BC.
What Changed Between 220-1102 and 220-1202?
AI is the clearest new topic, and security now carries more weight. CompTIA launched the A+ V15 exams, 220-1201 and 220-1202, on March 25, 2025, with retirement estimated for 2028. Comparing the 220-1102 objectives with the 220-1202 objectives shows how Core 2 shifted:
| Core 2 Domain | 220-1102 | 220-1202 |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Systems | 31% | 28% |
| Security | 25% | 28% |
| Software Troubleshooting | 22% | 23% |
| Operational Procedures | 22% | 21% |
| Artificial intelligence | Not included | Objective 4.10, in Operational Procedures |
In practice, operating systems and security now carry equal weight, and AI sits in Operational Procedures, the domain about how technicians work, alongside documentation, policy and communication.
What Does Objective 4.10 Cover?
Objective 4.10 covers four areas: application integration, policy, limitations, and private versus public AI. Here is each one in exam terms and in everyday help desk terms.
| 4.10 Area | Exam Terms | What It Looks Like at the Help Desk |
|---|---|---|
| Application integration | Application integration | A user asks whether they can turn on the AI assistant inside an email or office app they already use |
| Policy | Appropriate use, plagiarism | A staff member wants to paste a client report into an AI tool, or hand in AI-written text as their own |
| Limitations | Bias, hallucinations, accuracy | An AI chatbot gives a confident fix for a setting that does not exist in that software version |
| Private vs. public | Data security, data source, data privacy | Someone asks why the company's approved AI tool is allowed but a free public one is not |
Two details are worth knowing before you study. First, 4.10 begins with "Explain," while six of the 10 Operational Procedures objectives begin with "Given a scenario." Our read: expect to define and compare these concepts rather than work through a full troubleshooting case. Second, CompTIA states that its bulleted examples "are not exhaustive," so learn the ideas behind the terms, not just the terms.
Why the AI Objective Connects to the Rest of Core 2
Objective 4.10 overlaps with several older Core 2 objectives, so studying it on its own misses the point. These links come straight from the 220-1202 objectives:
| AI Concept (4.10) | Related Objective | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Data privacy | 4.6: regulated data, including PII, healthcare data and credit card payment information | Pasting a ticket with a client's personal details into a public AI tool can expose regulated data |
| Appropriate use | 4.6: acceptable use policy (AUP) | Workplace rules for AI tools often sit inside the AUP |
| Accuracy | 4.8: script risks such as "unintentionally introducing malware" and "inadvertently changing system settings" | An AI-written .ps1 or .bat script carries the same risks as any script you have not tested |
| Hallucinations | 4.1: "clear, concise written communication" in ticket notes | An AI-drafted resolution note still needs checking before it becomes the record |
| Data security | 4.7: "appropriately handle customers' confidential and private materials" | Client files stay confidential whether a person or an AI tool reads them |
This means the AI objective works more like a lens over the whole domain than a standalone topic. The habit it tests, checking before you trust, applies to scripts, tickets and client data alike. For a hands-on example of that habit, see our guide to using AI to troubleshoot PC hardware.
How Canada's Federal AI Guidance Lines Up With the Exam
The Government of Canada's Guide on the use of generative artificial intelligence, last modified August 12, 2026, covers the same risks the exam names. It is written for federal public servants, but it shows the kind of policy IT support staff may need to explain:
- Hallucinations: The guide warns that AI content can appear "credible and reasonable" and says not to consider generated content "as authoritative."
- Bias: It notes that AI tools "can produce content that is discriminatory or not representative."
- Privacy: It states that "public servants must not input personal information into publicly available online generative AI tools."
- Plagiarism and copyright: It advises checking whether outputs are "identical or substantially similar to copyright-protected material."
In practice, the exam's private versus public distinction is already a written rule in the federal public service.
Why This Matters in BC IT Support Work
AI questions are reaching IT support because more Canadian businesses plan to use it:
- Adoption plans: In Statistics Canada's Canadian Survey on Business Conditions, third quarter of 2026 (collected July 2 to August 6, 2026), 25.2% of businesses said they plan to use AI over the next 12 months, up from 14.5% a year earlier.
- Hesitation: Of businesses with no plans to use AI, 10.8% cited privacy or security concerns.
- Labour data: Job Bank rates the outlook for computer network and web technicians (NOC 22220) in BC as Moderate for 2025 to 2027 (updated December 10, 2025) and notes that employment may be affected by digital transformation, including "artificial intelligence (for example virtual agents)."
Our read: businesses adopting AI need staff who can explain the rules, and those holding back worry about exactly what 4.10 covers. Either way, the questions tend to reach IT support first.
Quick Readiness Check: Objective 4.10
You are ready for this objective if you can do the following without notes:
- Define a hallucination and name one way to catch it.
- Explain how bias can enter AI output through its data source.
- Describe the difference between a public AI tool and one your organization manages.
- Name two types of regulated data that should never go into a public AI tool.
- Explain why AI-written text can raise plagiarism concerns.
How CDI College Builds AI Skills Into IT Support Training
CDI College's IT support and network administration training in BC is a 56-week, 1,120-hour diploma program that helps students prepare for the CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+ and Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification exams. Its AI coverage lines up closely with objective 4.10:
| 4.10 Area | Where It Appears in the Program |
|---|---|
| Limitations and ethics | Student Success Strategies (20 hours) introduces AI applications, limitations and ethical, social and moral implications |
| Data privacy | IT Fundamentals (60 hours) covers common generative AI tools, basic prompt engineering, and AI-related ethical and privacy considerations |
| Accuracy | Managing and Maintaining PCs: A+ Part 1 (80 hours) has students judge AI solutions for "validity, accuracy and adequacy" |
| Data security and appropriate use | Managing and Maintaining PCs: A+ Part 2 with AI Help Desk (80 hours), designed to align to the 220-1202 objectives, teaches secure, responsible use of generative AI to handle and resolve help desk tickets |
| Policy | The 200-hour practicum includes using AI "in accordance with organizational policies and security requirements" |
Help desk analyst and technical support specialist are among the career titles listed for the program. For the longer path, see our guide to becoming a network systems administrator in BC, and for exam order, our overview of network administrator certifications in Canada.
Final Thoughts
CompTIA A+ 220-1202 now expects new technicians to understand what AI can and cannot do, and how to handle data around it. The objective itself is short, but the habit behind it reaches across scripts, tickets and client privacy, which is where it starts to matter on the job.
Request more information about CDI College's Network Systems Administrator with AI program, admission requirements, financial options and start dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Score Do You Need to Pass CompTIA A+ 220-1202?
You need 700 on a scale of 100 to 900 to pass 220-1202. The exam has a maximum of 90 questions in 90 minutes. Core 1 (220-1201) has a passing score of 675.
Do You Have to Pass Both CompTIA A+ Exams?
Yes. You earn CompTIA A+ by passing both Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202). CompTIA requires both exams to come from the same version, with no mixing.
How Long Does CompTIA A+ Certification Last?
CompTIA A+ is valid for three years from the date you pass. You can renew it with 20 continuing education units, a CertMaster CE course, a higher-level certification or the latest A+ exam.
