Oakbrook Terrace, Ill., January 11, 2010 – CompTIA, the leading provider of vendor neutral skills certifications for the world’s information technology (IT) workforce, announced today it will offer CompTIA certified professionals a range of ways to keep their certifications current without necessarily having to take a new exam.
The new certification renewal program will be open to individuals certified in the most current versions of CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+ and CompTIA Security+ certifications. Candidates who qualify for the program will be able to earn continuing education credits to maintain their active certifications.
“Employers want their IT staffs to continually enhance and expand their skills to keep pace with the fast-changing IT environment,” said Todd Thibodeaux, president and chief executive officer, CompTIA. “Our new certification renewal and continuing education program is a way to help them demonstrate that their knowledge and skills are current.”
Among activities that will qualify for continuing education credits are passing a “bridge” exam or the most current exam for their CompTIA certification; teaching, lecturing or presenting on relevant industry topics; participating in non-degree courses or computer-based training; attending relevant industry conferences and events; participating in a CompTIA exam development workshop; publishing articles, whitepapers, blogs or books on relevant topics; obtaining other industry certifications; or completing industry-related college courses from degree-granting institutions.
The certification renewal program is expected to launch in mid-2010.
The continuing education component announced today is in conjunction with a change in policy for CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+ or CompTIA Security+ certifications. Effective this month, CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+ or CompTIA Security+ certifications are now valid for three years from the date the candidate is certified.
The change brings the CompTIA certifications in line with the practice of other major providers of certifications for IT professionals, such as Cisco, Microsoft and Oracle.
The renewal policy also is required for these three certifications to maintain their accreditation and compliance with internationally accepted standards for assessing personnel certification programs (ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024). CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+ and CompTIA Security+ certifications earned the ISO 17024 accreditation from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in 2008. ISO requires that individuals have a way to renew the currency of their certification on a regular basis. In CompTIA’s case, renewal will occur every three years.
The new certification renewal policy is applicable to all individuals who hold CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+ or CompTIA Security+ certifications, regardless of the date they were certified. Other CompTIA certifications are not affected at this time.
Beginning this month, a “Valid Through” date appears on all certificates and certificate holder ID cards for individuals who earn CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+ or CompTIA Security+. The date is three years from the date of certification.
Individuals certified previously in CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network + or CompTIA Security+ are directed to http://www.comptia.org/certifications/listed/renewal.aspx for detailed information on their certification renewal dates and the certification renewal program.