I don't know about the others, but CompTIA certs (like A+ and Network+) don't, in themselves, require work hours. The content you learn in preparation for the exam(s) is equivalent to what you might have learned by working a certain amount of time in an entry level job, but that work time is not required in order to get the certification.
So for example, you could work 9-12 months in an entry-level IT support job, or you can take a class or do self-study in preparation for the A+ exams, and either way you'll learn about the same level of content (although, in my experience, if you worked that year and then want to sit for the exams, you still need to study for the exams because working doesn't give you quite the same breadth of exposure). So CompTIA asserts that someone who has passed both A+ exams has about the same level of expertise as someone who has worked a year in an entry-level IT support position, even if the person only spent 2 or 3 months studying really hard.
And yes, the exams can be very pricey. However, some schools include an exam voucher when you pay for their exam prep class.