Congratulations! You have been awarded a CompTIA certification. Congratulations! This is a testament to your hard work and dedication, and it validates your skills.
Next, you need to make sure that your certification is valid and current. Some certifications can be renewed for life, while others need to be renewed. Let’s take a look at which certifications need to be renewed, what options you have for maintaining them, and how to do it.
What certifications must be renewed?
These certifications are “Good for Life” and can be renewed if you have the Certified Technical Trainer (CTT+), Cloud Essentials (ITF+), Project+ or Server+ certifications.
This also applies to retired certifications, which can be found on the CompTIA website. Any certifications that were earned before Jan. 1, 2011 and not renewed since then are considered “Good for Life”.
However, many of the most sought-after CompTIA certifications require renewal.
These certifications must be renewed every three year if you have earned or renewed one or more of them after January 1, 2011.
Recertification is required for current certifications
A+
Network+
Security+
PenTest+
CySA+
CASP+
Cloud+
Linux+.
The three-year period for recertification is determined by the date the certification was last renewed or earned, not the calendar year. A certification that was earned on March 1, 2021 would need to be renewed prior to March 1, 2024.
If the certification is not renewed within the time frame (using one the methods outlined below), it expires. The certification would need to be re-acquired by passing the current version. Certifications that are expired cannot be renewed.
You can log in to Candidate Portal to find out more about the certifications you have.
Renew multiple CompTIA Certifications together
CompTIA recognizes that professionals may have more than one certification. Recertifying certifications can also recertify lower-level certifications.
Earning or renewing any one of the certifications listed below will renew both the certification itself as well as the additional listed certificates.
CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+), renews Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+), Security+, PenTest+ Security+, Network+, and A+
CySA+: Renewal PenTest+ Security+ Network+ and A+
PenTest+: Renew CySA+ Security+, Network+, and A+
Security+: Renew Network+ and A+
Network+: renews A+
Cloud+ (version CV0-002),: Renew A+ and Linux+
Linux+: renews A+
If you have the A+ and Network+ certifications and renew the Network+ certificate, your A+ certification will also be renewed. Your A+ and Network+ certificates are valid if you earn the PenTest+ certificate.
Another note: Server+ does not automatically renew other certifications. However, passing the exam to earn the Server+ certification gives enough Continuing Education Units for A+ and Network+ renewals. This document will discuss CEUs in greater detail.
Renewing with a Single Activity
There are four ways to renew your body with one activity. These are:
Passing the CompTIA Exam in its Latest Version
Earning a higher CompTIA certification
Earning a higher non-compTIA IT Industry certification
Completing the CompTIA CertMaster CE
Each method has its advantages and disadvantages. These can all be found on the CompTIA site here. But let’s take a closer look at each one:
Passing the latest release of your CompTIA exam
This is a quick way to renew your certification if you feel confident that you have all the knowledge required to pass the most recent version.
To renew by this method, you must have taken a revised exam to the latest version of the exam than the one you last took. Because the exams are updated