How long are certifications valid?

NetworkingStudent

Hello, everyone
Does anyone know how long certifications last? I hear a lot of my instructors, members on this board, and other IT professionals say that Comp Tia certifications are for life. However, Comp Tia produces updates every few years, which makes sense since technology is constantly changing. Anyone have any info on the time frame that Microsoft, Cisco, and Comp Tia certifications are valid? Also, is there a rule of thumb as to when recertify?

Forsaken_GA

Each vendor has their own rules for certification and recertification, and their lifetimes. CompTIA is for life, Cisco is 2 or 3 years, depending on what you're taking.

Best thing to do would be to either hit the vendors web site, these questions should be clear answered, or figure out what certs you want, and ask in the forums for that set, you should get an answer.

Slowhand

The vendors update their exams, some make you re-cert and others don't. Your instructor is right about CompTIA, they update their exam content but don't change the title of their exams because once you're certified, you're certified for life. Microsoft's older certs, such as the MCSE and MCSD, never expire but the newer generation of MCITP and MCDP certifications are valid as long as mainstream support for the products they test you on is provided. Cisco makes you re-certify every three years for all certs but the CCIE, which is renewed every two years. Other vendors have different requirements, ones you should be able to find out from their websites and training material.

Paperclip

Microsoft's older certs, such as the MCSE and MCSD, never expire but the newer generation of MCITP and MCDP certifications are valid as long as mainstream support for the products they test you on is provided.

This. If anyone wants to hire me in ten years to support their NT4 or 2000 domain, I should be good to go!