Effective January 1, 2011, all new CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Security+ and CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP) certifications will be valid for three years from the date the candidate is certified. The certification must be renewed within three years in order for the individual to remain certified.
These certifications can be maintained by passing the most current CompTIA exam prior to the three-year expiration date or enrolling in CompTIA's Continuing Education (CE) Program. This initiative allows participants to keep skills and certifications current through a variety of activities that show an understanding of relevant industry knowledge.
Individuals certified in CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+ or CompTIA Security+ on or before Dec. 31, 2010, are considered certified for life. However, these certified professionals can enroll in the CE program to demonstrate to employers that their knowledge is current and relevant.
Individuals who enroll in the CE program earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for these activities that count toward maintaining certification. Qualifying activities include teaching on relevant industry topics, attending industry conferences and events, joining in a CompTIA exam development workshop, and publishing articles or white papers on industry topics.
Earning some higher-level certifications will grant full credit toward certification renewal. Find out which certifications qualify:
Program Details
Individuals who hold multiple CompTIA certifications only need to pay the annual fees and earn CEUs for their highest level certification.
| | CEUs required for renewal | Annual CE fee | Total CE fee (3-year period) |
| CompTIA A+ | 20 | $25 | $75 |
| CompTIA Network+ | 30 | $49 | $147 |
| CompTIA Security+ | 50 | $49 | $147 |
| CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP) | 75 | $49 | $147 |
For more details on CE program requirements, download the CompTIA Continuing Education Program FAQs. Department of Defense IA workforce members can click here for additional CE program information.
To submit continuing education activities, login to CompTIA CareerID. You can use the optional submittal form to submit your activities.
For further questions, please visit the CompTIA Customer Support Center.