How Long Are CompTIA Certifications Good For?

Are you wondering how long CompTIA certifications are valid for and when you need to renew them? In this guide, we’ll provide you with essential information to keep your hard-earned certifications up-to-date.

We’ll also dive into the simplest renewal option as well as explore the various other paths to maintain your certification.

How Often Do You Have to Renew CompTIA Certifications?

Do CompTIA certs expire? Yes, your CompTIA certifications do expire. They only remain valid for three years from the date you pass your exam.

Luckily, there are some fantastic ways to renew your CompTIA certification. To maintain your cert, you need to accumulate a specific number of Continuing Education Units (CEUs) over the three-year period after you pass.

Each one is different, so you’ll need to figure out how many CEUs are required to renew your certification:

You have two renewal options: single activity or multiple activities. The core difference between the single activity and the multiple activity renewal options lie in how many CEUs you receive credit for.

The single activity option can renew your certifications in a single shot. With multiple activities, you need to perform additional steps to achieve the minimum number of CEUs.

Let’s dive into your options and see how to renew CompTIA certifications:

Single Activity Renewal (Simplest Option)

The reason this is the simplest option is that you can renew your certifications in one day. Let’s review a few options allowed by CompTIA:

The CompTIA CertMaster CE is a self-paced e-learning course designed specifically to renew your A+, Network+, and Security+ certifications quickly.

With this option, you spend between $129 – $199 for an 8–10 hour refresher course.

Another very popular option that many certification holders choose is to earn a higher-level CompTIA certification. It’s a great way to expand your skillset while keeping your current certifications fresh.

If you choose this option, make sure to identify which certifications are the next step in your line of progression. That’s because not all of them will renew every lower-level cert.

If you want to broaden your horizons beyond CompTIA, consider earning a non-CompTIA IT industry certification.

By doing so, you’ll not only receive an industry certification from another certifying agency, but you also renew your current CompTIA cert! Before you decide to take another exam, make sure CompTIA has qualified the exam first.

This option is available to all of CompTIA’s cyber-related certifications, including the CASP+.

The last single activity option for you is to pass the latest release of your CompTIA exam, if one exists.

If you choose this option, you get the benefit of staying on top of the game by mastering the latest material. The benefit here is that since you’ve already studied for the exam, passing it should be a bit easier than studying for another exam.

However, if you fail, you lose your certification all together (not my favorite option).

As you can see, plenty of single activity options are available to choose from. CompTIA provides a side-by-side comparison to help you decide which one suits your goals best.

Exploring Multiple Renewal Paths for Your IT Certification

CompTIA also offers you the opportunity to gain CEUs through other renewal options, some of which are free.

Sometimes, CompTIA won’t qualify another CompTIA exam or certification from another organization as a single activity renewal; however, you might get partial CEU credit. Ensure that CompTIA recognizes your chosen certification for renewal purposes, whether it’s full or even partial credit.

Another way to renew your CompTIA certifications are by engaging in relevant training courses or pursuing higher education in IT or cyber security. This allows you to stay current with industry trends and best practices while also contributing towards your certification renewal.

CompTIA accepts training courses and college credits from accredited institutions, so make sure to verify if your chosen program qualifies.

Taking an active role in the IT and cyber community can also count towards your certification renewal. By attending conferences, webinars, and workshops, you can network with other professionals and gain insights into the latest developments in your field.

Be sure that the event you attend is pre-approved by CompTIA to receive Continuing Education Units (CEUs) towards your renewal.

If you have a flair for writing, share your knowledge and expertise through published works such as articles, white papers, blog posts, or even a book. CompTIA accepts these contributions as a valid method for renewal, provided they meet specific guidelines and relate to the certifications you hold.

Lastly, your hands-on work experience in the IT field can also contribute to your certification renewal. By demonstrating your continued application of skills and knowledge in the workplace, you can earn CEUs to maintain your cert. Be prepared to provide documentation of your work experience to CompTIA.

You can always visit CompTIA for the latest information on how to renew your CompTIA certification.

How to Renew Expired CompTIA Certification?

You’ve got three years from the date you earned or renewed your certifications to complete the Continuing Education (CE) Program requirements and remain certified.

Don’t worry, CompTIA gives you a 90-day grace period beyond your certification’s expiration date to pay any outstanding CE fees and/or submit CEUs.

Keep in mind, the 90-day grace period isn’t an extension to complete additional CE activities to earn more CEUs.

Only the CEUs you’ve earned during the three-year validity period count towards your renewal. There’s no extra time beyond the 90-day submission grace period, and no exceptions to this rule.

If you earn another CompTIA certification or complete the CertMaster CE within your grace period, it won’t renew your existing certification(s).