CompTIA CE...how does it really work?

TheCudder

I've read multiple times all of the FAQ's on their sites and searched the web as well. But how does this non-sense really work? Yes I can recite what you need to do and what's required (CEU's & $25-$49 per year). But how do you get the required training, how do you submit it? Has anyone actually done anything yet with CE? You can only submt 3 CEU's per year from work experience. Well that's only 9 CEU's of the 50 require to keep your Security+ current. The whole CE thing seems really poorly thought out & executed.

eansdad

If you take a hire exam it will renew the lower levels ie have A+ from 2010 and take Net+ or better in 2013 the A+ will be renewed to 2013. When you pay the fee you will have access on their website to add CEs.

the_hutch

Renewal of entry level certs...smfh ...
Must be nice to be CompTIA. The Dept of Defense is literally throwing hundreds of thousands of dollars at the company every year, just so they can verify that DOD employees are watching occasional webinars or taking 2-3 CBTs. Meanwhile, everyone working internally for the DOD is getting downsized.

bobloblaw

Ditto. Why even bother renewing? I think CompTIA certs are great entry level, but that's it. You should have something else by the time they require renewal.

About7Narwhal

I would have to agree. There really is no reason to renew the entry level certs unless they are required for work (then the company should be paying for the re-certification materials). I won't renew mine specifically, but the Net + will carry it through. After they expire you can still list them on a resume as expired. By the time 3 years has passed, you would hopefully have something better to show off anyway.

DoubleNNs

I'm pretty sure getting a higher level cert from another vender renews the CompTIA as well, ex CCNA renewing Net+.

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

About7Narwhal

Gaining certifications provides continuing education units:

CompTIA CE FAQ wrote:

What types of activities are eligible for continuing education units?
Among activities that will qualify for continuing education units are passing the most current exam for your 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, white papers, blog posts or books on relevant topics; obtaining other industry certifications; or completing industry-related college courses from degree-granting institutions. Please refer to the section entitled “CompTIA Continuing Education Qualified Activities” for a detailed list of qualified activities and categories.

webgeek

DoubleNNs wrote: »

I'm pretty sure getting a higher level cert from another vender renews the CompTIA as well, ex CCNA renewing Net+.

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

You are correct but CompTIA goes off the highest cert you have with them. CASP > Storage+ > Security+ > Network+ > A+

Depending which one you have. For example since CASP is the highest cert and you pass the CCNA, unless I believe it is CCNA security, it will not count towards renewal of the CASP. Since you have Security+ you can do CompTIA Storage+ or CASP for renewal.

Here is the link that will show you depending on which cert you have which cert will renew it

CE Program: Renewing Through Other Certifications

TheCudder

I'm a DoD contractor and also an IT Specialist in the Army Reserves. Both positions require Security + and I'm not planning to obtain any other CompTIA certs. CCNA or MCSA are my next goal.

eansdad

The following will renew a CASP:

Certification Body Certification
CheckPoint CCMA
CCMSE
Cisco CCIE Security
CCNA Security
GIAC GSE
IBM Certified Advanced Solutions Expert Security Software Solutions and Services v1
Certified Advanced Solutions Expert Social Business v1
ISACA CRISC
ISC(2) CISSP
CSSLP
ISSAP
ISSEP
ISSMP
Red Hat RHCA

daceto

I too wonder about the CE credits. So many of the things you can use to give the required credits appear to not make much sense. They mention writing a blog post. They dont mention where and what constitutes an acceptable site. If I have a tech blog I run does that count, even if my readership may be 1-3 people at most? They say you can listen to a podcast but then things get murky when you try and submit it and they ask for information you may not be able to acquire.

I just think there needs to be a better way.

TheMontu

yea it's bull ****, its required for my work and i just passed security+..I'll probably end up taking the CASP just to renew the Security+ and then I don't know what I'll do after that..but then again hopefully I wont need it 6 years from now.

webgeek

TheMontu wrote: »

yea it's bull ****, its required for my work and i just passed security+..I'll probably end up taking the CASP just to renew the Security+ and then I don't know what I'll do after that.

If you only need Security+, all you have to do is pass one cert every 3 years to renew it...just pick one from the list. CASP has less certs that will auto renew it. Remember CompTIA CE program goes off your highest level cert you have with them.

ptilsen

The CE program is irrelevant. By the time your Security+ expires, you've had three years to get the CISSP. Once you have the CISSP, your CompTIA certifications are most likely wasted space on your resume.

If you're not going down a security path, then replace CISSP with CCNP, MCSE, etc. I don't even have my higher-level certs, and I may well take them off my resume when I next job search. A+ and Net+ just don't mean anything three years later. You should easily have enough experience and demonstrable knowledge that they aren't required. Sec+ maybe still has a place, perhaps, for those who don't get higher-level security certs, but if you're not doing that you might as well let it expire.

I see very, very little chance people are going to sit on Sec+ for three years, not take something to renew it and still be in a position where it matters if it's expired.

TheMontu

webgeek wrote: »

If you only need Security+, all you have to do is pass one cert every 3 years to renew it...just pick one from the list. CASP has less certs that will auto renew it. Remember CompTIA CE program goes off your highest level cert you have with them.

ah I forgot MCSA was on the list..I'll probably be doing that.

daceto

I'm also not convinced that if you do let it expire that it's immediately invalid. I mean it still proves you know enough to pass the exam. Just because things change doesn't mean the core of the topic isn't relevant. I would likely still include it on a resume unless I had something better. I'm not sure how much an employer cares. They may not even know the CompTIA stuff expires.