Comments  (125)

• BELINDA A. BETTS on Monday, March 11, 2013

  When do the CompTIA 200-601 Exam expire? Thank you! Belinda A. Betts (1-12-2010)

• John Rogers on Monday, March 11, 2013

  THis is a big mistake on the part of comptia, the main reason I was going to get their certs was because they were for life. Why bother now if they expire after 3 years. I might as well focus on vendor specific certs instead. Horrible idea guys and gals!

• Jim Martin on Monday, March 11, 2013

  I have had my A+ certification since 1998. I teach A+ and Network+ classes and stay current with all the hardware and Software. I would consider this being Grandfathered in to any new plans CompTIA has. Jim

• Historic changes for Comptia certs! « examR on Monday, March 11, 2013

  [...] through” period– meaning, certifications will have a “shelf life.”   An announcement can be found on their website along with more information [...]

• Matt Swanston on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Thanks for your feedback, John. This change in our policy brings CompTIA in line with the majority of other major providers of certifications for IT professionals, such as Cisco, Microsoft and Oracle; as well as industry organizations such as the Project Management Institute, Linux Professional Institute and the Information Systems Audit and Control Association. Another reason we implemented the change for these three certifications has to do with the requirements of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the international body that approves the procedures used by exam development organizations. The ISO endorsement is one of the reasons CompTIA certifications are universally recognized as being thorough and up-to-date. Given the rate of change in the IT industry, it is especially important for IT professionals to demonstrate that their knowledge and skills are current. Our program gives eligible certificate holders a range of ways to keep their CompTIA certifications current without having to take a new exam. We believe this achieves the best possible balance between respecting certificate holders’ time and keeping their CompTIA certifications relevant in the workplace.

• Cameron Matthieu on Monday, March 11, 2013

  I am going to have to agree with John to a limited point. Basic principals of networking and computer structure have not changed much since the inception of the "modern" PC (1980s era). Now, while I agree that a lifetime certificate lowers the value of the certification, having a finite shelf life presumes a certain level of technological advancement or software development which may or may not occur. Matt, your statement that ISO is the reason for this change cannot be true, simply because Microsoft themselves have changed their certification model from their original statement of 3 years to, "end of mainstream support". To this end, Windows XP is still under "mainstream support" and continues to be utilized by many companies, organizations, and individuals. The original release for Windows XP was back in 2001. That is a much longer support lifecycle than 3 years. Also, the re-certification requirements, with the exception of the refresher test, are not feasible to the vast majority of IT professionals. How many hard-working System Administrators have time to publish a book while working full time? CompTIA may be wise to look into a certification versioning model where after passing the initial exam, a free refresher test is required to maintain competency. I.e. CompTIA A+ 2010 Certified, CompTIA A+ 2011 Certified, etc. Otherwise, this simply comes across to me as a money sink. I would second John's comment that having a specific finite timeline actually makes the certification less attractive to IT professionals when compared to a vendor specific certifications.

• Rich Steger on Monday, March 11, 2013

  I worked my ### off and spent a lot on books, study materials, and that actual test fees, I was supposed to be certified for life - who was the "brainchild" that came up with this idea. I will no longer recommend CompTIA to anyone, might as well just go to Microsoft, at least that doesnt expire! I know CompTIA is supposed to be not-for-profit but I still think this is all about money!

• Leslie Chua on Monday, March 11, 2013

  U mean you guy can call for a change whenever u like? The reason why I took the comptia A+ and Network+ was due to the fact there ain't any expiry date. Now that there are expiry dates, I am letting go of the security certification which I intended to take in 3 month's time for something else which can command higher position and salaries. I still felt that changing the rules over night when alot of folks thought that the certifications are for life when they enrolled is quite misleading. Then now wat? my network+ which I took in 2007 will be expiring in 2 years time. I would take the CCNA instead and command higher respects.

• Alton on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Hey Matt, I hope they decide to give current certified members a discount. Honestly, I think if we get certified before our 3 years expiration, we should get a discount. Maybe if we renew our certification every year, the discount is more? I have no idea, but it sounds fair. It really sucks that we all have to renew our certification and pay the same amount we paid when we're already certified.

• David Marsh on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Well I now possess N+, Linux+, Server+, Security+ and am hoping to pass Project+ beta. I was going to take A+, now I don't think I will bother, I totally disagree with recertification, especially for entry level certs, it makes no sense at all. In fact I'm rather pissed I paid £200+ for 'lifetime certs' which now will dissappear in no time at all. Is someone with 5+ years experience really going to go backwards ? Is a certification going to be much use to them going forward ? Do we really want to be 'taxed' just to have an IT job ? Who designates comptia as the 'tax collector' ? I am continually pursuing professional development and have been for 15+ years now, I have enough government paperwork to file as it is without having to jump through hoops with cert vendors to keep certs I already have. Microsoft certifications do not expire after three years, they largely expire in line with end of life of related products. Neither do Oracle certs as far as I know. Cisco are the only cert vendors that have a hard recertification policy of three years. This smacks of profiteering to me. This just makes certifications even more worthless if they expire, my academic qualifications don't expire and the average employer knows what they are. Spectacular own goal CompTia, I urge you to reconsider.

• Paul Clark on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Having obtained A+ and N+ as an elective for my MCSA, my first question is how do Comptia now interact with Microsoft in regards to electives? I obtained A+ in 2007, and N+ in 2008, so does that mean the A+ was "refreshed" as I took a high level cert in 2008? Resulting in both expiring at the same time in 2011? I feel pretty let down after, like many, only really taking the certs as they were "for life" and entry level. I dont see the need to be renewing A+ and N+ when your no longer at entry level stage, which are 3 years, your surely not. I also urge you to reconsider.

• Paul Spears on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Looks like we've all been defrauded. If this weren't about money, then why not in the very least give free refresher tests? At least ISC(2) told me before sitting for the CISSP that I would need to keep my continuing education credits up. Very, very surprised that an organization with intelligent board members would dump on their base like this. Walks like a duck, talks like a duck, its a duck...so long CompTIA.

• Lucas Acha on Monday, March 11, 2013

  While I do agree with the decision by CompTIA to move to this new certification plan, I do have a couple of points to make. First and foremost, when I signed up to take the exams initially, it was explicitly understood by myself and my peers that our certifications are valid for life. I really understood this to be the reason why CompTIA creates new exam versions every so often. If an employer sees that I am A+ certified, they may want to ask when I was certified (which was in 2003), they may also consider if this is still valid for them by determining my activity since that time. So, now what you are telling me is that even though I've demonstrated the principle understanding of the technology at hand, I can no longer list it on my resume unless I take the current exam and then continue to renew in an annual program showing that I am active with the technology? Honestly, I would be happier with the understanding that any new certifications from a certain date onward would be affected by this. I would also be happy with the idea that I would then be asked to supply a date certified when listing my CompTIA certs. This seems reasonable to me, but telling me that they are lifetime and then changing the "laws" after the fact is something that I'm not comfortable with. I can promise you that CompTIA to me and to many of my peers is a stepping stone of certifications. These certifications are generally looked at as entry level, get your foot in the door type of certifications. With some of the higher level certifications that myself and many of my peers currently hold, it really would not be in our best interest to invest in our current A+, Network+ or Security+ certifications anymore. May I suggest that CompTIA continue a plan to carry out an expiration plan on any new certifications from July 1, 2010 onward and leave the past certifications alone. In addition to this plan, give use veterans a reason to continue to keep current with CompTIA by offering a mid-level certification for the A+, Network+ and Security+ which should have an expiration. You could be creative with the certification track name, like Security++ or Advanced Security+. This will really set apart the entry level from the mid-level people and give the mid-level people a reason to want to re-certify. I would also suggest that a mid-level exam include some kind of simulation to demonstrate a person's ability to use the information given. A professor at a local college teaches a Network+ course where the final project is much harder than the actual Network+ exam. the students are given a budget and a floor plan for 2 buildings. they are asked to determine where the network closest should go, what equipment to buy and where the cabling should be run. Something like this would not be unrealistic for a mid-level Network+ exam. Please consider the above. Thank you. Luke Acha

• Matthew B. on Monday, March 11, 2013

  You've shot yourselves in the foot and won't recover. I'm letting my certs lapse and I won't be back. I don't care if you change your policy. I'll be moving to Cisco, Microsoft, Novell, and other vendor-specific certs from now on. Why? Because when I get those I KNOW that one day they'll be out dated. Nobody's going to come along two years after I get them and surprise me with bad news. CompTia employees: Better start freshening up your resumes - you'll need them soon.

• Paul Spears on Monday, March 11, 2013

  I see a Class Action suit in CompTIA's future.

• Alan on Monday, March 11, 2013

  I think that this is more like a money making scheme rather than some ISO requirements. Does your 3 yr berkley computer science degree expires the moment u graduate from the college? Comptia certs are basically entry level certification focusing on general networking and PC fundamentals which is basically the same even back in the 80's. Subnetting methods do not change over time, IP addresses still consist of the same number of bits. I can easily tell you that 99% of folks took comptia certifications due to the fact that it does have expiry dates. I am one of those folks, orginally intended to take another comptia certification in 1 month's time but I've decided to give it a miss. I probably will not consider taking anymore certifications from comptia ever in my life again. And also will not consider recertifying my existing comptia certifications when it expires in 3 years time. Because I do not see the point in doing so for an entry level certification. And the cost of a comptia network+ exam is much higher than the Cisco ICND1/ICND2. And cisco's certification are much more highly regard than the network+. I can bet my last dollar that comptia will probably make a couple of bucks from a few rare folks that really go for the re-certification but you are gonna lose alot of new potential customers that will not even consider comptia certifications because they are in fact (lower in terms of recognition comparing to vendor specfic certifications). Now your have effectively took away you only advantage which makes people consider taking comptia's certification which is the non-expiry clause. I do agree that the economy downturn is taking a toll on all industries but that is a poor marketing strategy to get more profits.

• John Rogers on Monday, March 11, 2013

  @ Matt Swanston QUOTE"This change in our policy brings CompTIA in line with the majority of other major providers of certifications for IT professionals, such as Cisco, Microsoft and Oracle" I thought CompTIA was supposed to be VENDOR NEUTRAL?!?!? You guys had better change your mind on this new policy or else nobody is going to go for these certs anymore which will hurt all of us folks who worked our tails off and emptied our wallets to get these.

• Paul Spears on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Matthew B., I couldn't agree with you more. I spent $1000+ on A+, Net+, and Sec+ in summer of 2009, now they're telling me they expire Dec. 31st, 2011....not even 3 years! In an earlier post on this subject, I had mentioned a possible solution being free vouchers for bridge exams...I've changed my mind, I still wouldn't pursue them. To me, this is all about greed (in a recession at that) and as a result being sold a bill of goods only to have the company you paid change the rules after the fact. CompTIA should grandfather everyone in who was certed prior to an official mass mailing to their base on this subject which has yet to happen. A squirlly little article on their site hardly suffices as a mass mailing. I only went to their site yesteday to see how I could order their new rigid plastic cards that a friend of mine just received. Once I saw those were $15 ea. I decided agaist it and that's when I noticed this silly article. BTW, my certs still say "Expiration: NEVER" in my acct. Take heed CompTIA, your base will drop like flies if you uphold this decision...hmmm, maybe you're just testing the waters with this sheepish site posting?

• Dave B. on Monday, March 11, 2013

  I paid for and passed my A+ and Network+ with the assurance that they were lifetime certifications. Since CompTia has decided after the fact to change that, it is only fair that they issue us prorated refunds. What a scam. How naive do you think we are?

• Conor on Monday, March 11, 2013

  I earned the A+ in 2005 and N+ in 2006. So that means I will have to sit the 2 current A+ exams and a bridge exam for the N+ before I am eligible to even join the renewal programme. It seems unfair that those whose qualifications allow them to join the renewal programme, can keep their qualified status by providing evidence of continued learning, but those of us with earlier exam certifications who have evidence of continued learning cannot, they must take the current exams. I came to the site today to check on the current Security+ exam numbers to book a test. But now I will have to consider other options. It should be noted that although I receive the daily Comptia Smartbrief, I can find no mention of this major change, obviously not important news when it costing us money. As my current MCSA 2003 will not be retired according to microsoft, recertifying for the A+ and N+ will simply be a waste of time. May I ask Comptia exactly how many of the qualifactions they offer are ISO accredited, and are they going to require recertification in the future. Why is this appearing on the site before you have officially notified your comptia certified professionals. This appears to be a wonderful way to force up to a million of your own certified professionals to pay again.

• Paul Spears on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Dave B...good idea on the prorated refunds but even if they gave us full refunds on the test fees there's still the small matter of the cost of our study material and, the most precious commodity of all, our time. I can't believe the absurdity of all this...if not retracted, its sure to go legal...everybody keep your receipts as it won't be long you'll see one of those legal ads on TV..."Were you recently deceived by CompTIA? If so, call the number on your screen for a cash settlement." Ah, there's a Press Release abt this on CompTIA's site dated Jan. 11th, 2010 which says to contact Steve Ostrowski (Director of Corporate Communications, at 630-678-8468 or sostrowski@comptia.org.

• Mark Johnson on Monday, March 11, 2013

  You've forgotten where your bread is buttered... I can understand the need for a certification that expires, but what genius had the idea to not grandfather in all the people that took the test having faith that CompTia would stand by it's word that the certification would never expire? Fire that guy. You've become more credible to the international standards organization at the expense of losing credibility with your customer base. I remember the sense of pride I felt when I got my A+. Like many, it was my first cert and there was a great sense of pride that no matter what I was a certified A+ Technician and nobody could ever take that away. It sounds silly, but I was young and it had a positive effect on my self image. I landed my first job a week later - not because I was certified, but because I was confident in the interview. Until today, I still carried my A+ card in my wallet to remind me of that feeling. Now, I feel like I have been betrayed by an old friend. I cannot put into words just how bad this decision is, but I'm sure your accounting department will soon be able to put it into numbers.

• Paul Spears on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Mark Johnson: Yours is the best post..couldn't have said it better!

• Linda C on Monday, March 11, 2013

  This is poor policy for Comptia. The way this is designed is poor. You really need to reconsider this change. Expectations and prior policies is that these certifications were for life. These are supposed to be entry-level certifications. A building foundation for someone getting into the IT field. I see the number of currently certified Comptia IT people going WAY DOWN. Experienced IT people will let these certifications expire and not bother with going back and retaking exams and paying for them the SECOND TIME. Not only is money the issue, but time. Now there is an annual maintenance cost!!!! Experienced people will work and spend money on intermediate and advanced certifications and not Comptia certifications. So, in best case scenarios for Comptia. A person will get an A+, Net+ or Security+ certification. Maintain active certification for maybe the 3 years. And then move on to other things as they get more experienced and BUSY with their more advanced positions. They may even earn more advanced certifications and spend their time maintaining those certifications. There will be no time to go back and keep renewing the entry-level certifications. So, for these IT professionals in this scenario, your certifications numbers will drop again. So, this alone seems to make most IT people's Comptia certifications only good for 3 years. There may be some extra debate among new people going into IT about whether it is even worth the cost. These are supposed to be entry-level certifications. These certifications were supposed to be for life. How is this going to affect other certifications where the A+, Net+ or Security+ were used for electives for other certifications or requirements for other certifications? How is this going to help the young highschool student or the young college student? There are lots of programs ran at highschools pushing the A+ and Net+ certifications. I could see if someone advertises they are an A+ business or educational facility that it would be beneficial for these groups to keep their certifications current. But, I would hope that the business itself saw the need to keep its employees current. Have you thought about a layered approach to your certification program? A+-level 1, level 2, etc.... Or about just A+(2005) or A+(2009) and leave it at that. Let employeers decide if they want someone that is recently certified. Or someone with a track record showing professional growth. Linda

• Leslie Chua on Monday, March 11, 2013

  I think we should all file a class action suit against comptia. Asking for refunds, I will gladly ship back my useless certificates back to them.

• Ian on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Consider my N+ and S+ exams canceled in favor of vendor specific exams. My heartfelt thanks goes out to your Marketing and Accounts departments. Well done CompTIA, well done indeed.

• Leslie Chua on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Now the issue is not about paying money for the exams. It is about integrity issues. I don't not mind donating to comptia if necessary but do honor your words which says "expiry "never"

• Tom Jenkins on Monday, March 11, 2013

  While I don't understand the change of these entry level certs to a renewal type of cert, I am assuming that this was done in regards to the DoD 8570 and a way to guarantee Comptia a piece of the gov't pie. to be a computer tech in DoD teh requirements are A+, Network+, Security+. Thats about $500 for every Tech every three years. $$$$$$$ http://www.giac.org/8570/ What they should do, is at least provide study materials and 1 free voucher for every cert that they just switched. This makes the most sense(and saves us a lot of cents) and will keep most happy for the next couple of years. Put a deadline of all certs eligible before February 28th

• Jihad Estrada on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Afternoon All, I AM 100% in agreement with the previous posters, this sounds like a total money scheme, and it's beginning to sound more like "Commy-TIA"

• carl on Monday, March 11, 2013

  For sure this is not what I expected. A very bad decision from your part COMPTIA; we all hope you correct this because your phones won't stop ringing and you won't have enough people to read the complaints!!

• Carman on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Well thanks comptia what a letdown, i just got my cert in October 2009 and it says on all my documentation that its a cert for life and Does not expire. The life time part was the main selling point at the school i am going to. If there is a class action lawsuit in Canada i will be on the list.

• Martin D on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Frankly, like many of you, I am just stunned that they can even do this. The entire cost of my A+, Net+ and Sec+ in terms of both time and money were paid by me alone. The exams and the study materials added up to quite a bit. Now you want me to go through that again? And again? Like others that have posted here I was proud to pass my exams and knowing that they were for life made it feel that I had done something worthwhile. Now I don't even want to think of my certs. In a job climate that we are faced with now you see many people taking lower paid/entry level jobs just to stay employed. Where does that leave the people who have just passed CompTIA's exams? Out in the cold, that's where. If you cannot count on this cert as we all thought we could, I believe that CompTIA will be cutting their own throat and they will see the results of that in their bottom line.

• Mike on Monday, March 11, 2013

  I completely agree with the above posters. I was considering taking the N+ to complement my A+, and now it just seems pointless. I'd rather send my A+ certification back to CompTIA. We're all better off going with vendor-specific certifications. I understand things in IT change, and recertification may be necessary for very specific areas, but not for entry-level certifications. This is without a question money-motivated. The fact that CompTIA doesn't offer free recertifications or bridge exams as part of the new program is all the proof. If I wasn't so apathetic at this point, I'd consider stretching this post out to 1,000 words to get some credits...

• Jeff on Monday, March 11, 2013

  I have some problems with this. We are talking about non-vendor unique certifications that cover generic networking and security principles. While the vendor unique implementations of these principles may change as time goes on the generic principles remain the same. So why is Comp Tia hung up what is true and cutting edge? I would also be curious to know why Comp Tia chose to put a shelf life on only the three Comp Tia certifications being required by Department of Defense Instruction 8570 for Department of Defense employees. I detect a cash cow here. Another problem I have with this is I purchased a product with no expiration date. Can I get a refund now that Comp Tia is no longer honoring their part of this business transaction? Overall this simply does not pass the common sense test. A high school diploma does not expire. A college degree does not expire. Nobody tells you your degree is good for a limited amount of time and that you must retest for it or meet some other criteria in order to keep it valid. Certifications without expiration are what attracted customers to Comp Tia. It appears Comp Tia has sold out. This looks like a total scam to me. I wish Comp Tia luck for the future.

• Jeff on Monday, March 11, 2013

  They are telling me my certifications have an expiration date after I obtained them with the promise there was no expiration. The term "bait and switch" comes to mind.

• Kevin Smith on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Well, this seals the deal for me, I won't be getting ANY CompTIA certs. I had planned on taking the Network+ and Security+, but won't now. I barely have time to invest in the initial studying and exam, I'm definitely not going to have the time to keep up with them after that. I wanted them because they were good for life and would add some polish to my resume. I think I'll stick with going for the CCNA instead now. I'm sure there are others in my shoes as well. This policy has not only pissed off your current customer base, it's preventing you from acquiring new customers. Bang up job!

• S. Williams on Monday, March 11, 2013

  I just received my A+ and Network+ in 09. I was so proud of myself because how I took the time and really study for these exams. Plus these certs was suppose to be good for life. Now I have to update them every 3 years. Not! Who have time to keep taking the same certs over and over again. I see if you have a next level. The only thing change is the cert number. Then the certs are very expensive at that. If they were a little reasonable then it wouldn't be a problem. Plus the certs are now smaller. My A+ is bigger than my Network+. You have a nerve to cutback on paper LOL. I am trying to go forward not backwards. Thanks but no thanks. I am currently certified for now. But not after 3 years. Thanks alot ConTIA

• Mike on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Is this even legal? I hope someone when the appropiate resources sues CompTIA. The contract with CompTIA is that the certifications would be lifetime. There is no point to re-certify entry-level exams. This was obviously done as a money-maker because the reasons CompTia have given are bad on a common sense level. Technology for entry-level exams has hardly changed since the 80's, if a company wants their employees to keep up-to-date on all CompTia objectives as they progress, they would already require them to. I intended to get 1 more CompTIA certification before moving on to Microsoft and Cisco, but since this has happened I am just going to skip CompTIA's.

• Shelby on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Like many of the others posting, I'm pissed! Those of us who already hold the certs should be grandfathered in, plan and simple!

• Jack on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Now the issue is not about expiry date of the certs. People will gladly accept it if they were told from the start that the certs will expired in 3 years time so they can analyse and make a proper decision on whether to take the certification or choose on something else. Currently people are unhappy because comptia did not honor their words. It is as good as hindering people from making a proper decision for themselves.

• Bill Gates on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Wake up CompTIA! you had better practice some damage control and scrap this idea before it is too late! Look at all the negative comments and angry people, we cant all be wrong! This is just the tip of the iceberg, we are the first people who just happened to notice this dirty little change, wait until all the rest of the certified people in the world discover what has happened, they will be just as upset. WE FEEL BETRAYED! This needs to make mainstream news, I wonder if the Associated Press would be interested in this story...

• Cisco on Monday, March 11, 2013

  This will be Comptia biggest mistake. Why even bother with Comptia now when Cisco certificates are way more valuable!!!!!!!

• Tan Yumei on Monday, March 11, 2013

  I upset I felt me maybe Comptia can compensate for the time and effort it take .

• Michael B on Monday, March 11, 2013

  I would of thought that legal action will be coming CompTIA's way. CompTIA have just in a sense bankrupted themselves as nobody with 3 years experience is going to go back and resit an entry level exam. CompTIA exams are good at bulking out your CV/resumes and are a good starting point for an IT career but not if you have to resit them. Microsoft and Cisco must be jumping for joy as everyone is going to bypass CompTIA and go straight for their certs. The numbers taking the exams is going drop off and possibly mean the end of CompTIA due to greed. I think CompTIA and other certs should possibly introduce the need where you have to put the year you passed the exam such as certified A+ 2004 to allow employers to know how relevant your certs are but this is just suicide for CompTIA. I for one won't be removing my certs from my CV nor telling employers they are expired as I took them under the understanding they were good for life.

• Lucas Acha on Monday, March 11, 2013

  I've already spoken my part about all this above, I am in agreement that it is wrong to go back on an understanding that the certs are lifetime for the people who have already taken and passed these exams. This is a deprivation of character for CompTIA that will harm them more than any lawsuit will. That, the lawsuit idea, is where I differ from the majority of my peers. I am not in favor of a lawsuit, I think that the integrity of CompTIA will have been tarnished enough from all this (assuming they don't listen to us) that they will self implode anyway. You know, it's interesting that when I was studying for the Project+, my book talked about moral and ethical business practices in organizations. So, is this what all of us aspiring Project+ candidates should look to as an example of moral and ethical business practices? Again, I'm not in favor of a lawsuit, the world has become far too "lawsuit happy", I do think that there is already enough momentum in the IT community against this that CompTIA will have to at least take notice and hopefully right their wrongdoing. Just to summarize my first post: 1. Grandfather clause - All past certs =l life time 2. Create an incentive for mid-level and higher to take CompTIA exams 3. Mid level exams should hold an expiration

• Thomas on Monday, March 11, 2013

  I reflects the ambition level from Comptia more then the wishes of the certification holders. The funny thing is what happens with all this feedback. Nothing, but a few soothing words.

• Ed on Monday, March 11, 2013

  CompTIA can come up with any kind of justification/story they want to, but the fact remains that they lied. I currently have the A+ certification and just passed the Network+ exam in Nov 09 and the fact remains that these certifications were "advertised" as good for life certifications requiring no renewal. CompTIA has no integrity as far as I am concerned. Forget my plans for Security+ since I will being going elsewhere for my certifications. A lie is a lie. Ed

• Jack on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Integrity is very important when doing business. Would you like to deal with someone with no integrity? Just imagine that they can change it from life time to 3 years. It does not guarantee that they might not do it again when you did the renewal when your cert expires. Eg. From 3 years renewal to 1 1/2 years renewal. Nobody including new students will ever trust comptia again.

• Lynn Flack on Monday, March 11, 2013

  I am also feeling very cheated on this. I just passed my A+ 5 months ago and the Net+ 4 months ago thinking that these would be good forever. Now, just 5 months later, I would actually have to take the bridge exam for the A+ to be considered current because I took the 601 and 602? My A+ will expire on December 31, 2011 otherwise? That means my original A+ certification which was to be vaild for life, is only valid for 2 years and 4 months. Nice! Plus, all of the continuing education stuff is clear as mud. If I have A+, Net+ and Security+ and I enroll in the continuing education program, do I now not have to worry about the A+ renewal and simply concentrate on the Security+ renewal? Are the A+ and Net+ automatically renewed if I meet the Security+ renewal requirements? Also, if I have the 601 and 602 versions of the A+, but a current version of the Net+ and Security+, can I join the continuing education program or do I have to get the A+ up to date before I can join? Lastly, how can the average person get the opportunity to teach or get a book published? Also, how funny/strange is it that writing and getting a book published on Security+ would only get you 20 of the 50 credits needed to recertify?

• Jack on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Lynn, They thought that we are professional writers like charles dickens who writes for a living. Just be glad that they did not ask you to run for presidential election before u are being awarded 30 credits.

• Robin on Monday, March 11, 2013

  I am really surprised at how many people are upset with this decision by CompTIA. Almost every other vendor out there has a similar policy of some sort. Many of you state that you don't think entry-level certifications need this. Some even said that you have progressed beyond entry level and should not have to recertify. I say: If you don't think you need to recertify, don't. Let your certification expire and rely on those higher-level certifications from other vendors. But personally, I feel an expiration date adds value. Is someone who received their A+ certification in 1995 really qualified to work on computers? While most may have kept their knowledge current, there are some out there who haven't. But recertifying, individuals ensure that others understand that their skills are current. And upgrading to the newest version of the certification isn't all that hard with CompTIA's beta program - they tend to give those already certified a free voucher if you apply. (I recently upgraded my Server+ certification for free using a beta voucher from CompTIA.) Come on, folks. Stop whining! CompTIA is trying to add value to their most popular certifications. This is a good thing!

• John on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Comptia has miscalculated their place in the market, plan and simple. Their niche is people trying to start off in the field. Why only give their existing customers only two years to get current?

• Dale on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Oh dear indeed, obtained my A+ back in 2003, which quickly helped me get my first IT job, I've been steadily progressing up the ladder ever since and have many other certifications to my name. So you want me to recertify my lifetime cert by the end of next year. Dont think I'll waste my time thanks. Your exams have always been one of the most expensive and poorly written exams to take and I've left that level of knowledge way behind years ago. I'll just strike it off my CV thanks and then as others do the same the impact of any CompTIA exam will slowly demise.

• Shelby on Monday, March 11, 2013

  I just listened to the audio response from Terry Erdle what a crock! http://blog.comptia.org/ He says that people will find that the CEU procedure be easy, but there is no info about it! Come on!

• Jack on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Robin, The problem now is not about recertifying. We will have no issues if comptia were to let us know in advance and not changing it when ever you like. Are you happy when U purchased a rolex from ebay and received a seiko in your post box? We are not whining like what you described. We are just feeling being cheated.

• Jack on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Robin, Going by your theory, we will need to be recertify every 6 months you know why? Because taiwanese motherboard manufacturers like asus, gigabyte and cpu manufacturers like intel and amd are pumping out new products every quarter. So new sockets and new DDR memory are being used, even sata harddisk are being changed even now and then. So recertifying every 3 months will be a better idea going by your theory. It does not matter for someone working in the industry since being certified. You certainly do not need to recertify to make sure that you recognised new types of connecters, memory slots or cpu sockets.

• Michael on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Robin, the simple fact is they advertised and gave lifetime certifications and have now gone back on their word. Period. If they want to add value by making certs expire they could certainly do so by offering a new set of certifications that meet that criteria. It is highly unlikely somebody who graduated from college a decade ago could sit down today and pass the same exams they took, but do you see universities pulling a stunt like this? No. There is no excuse, and the high level of outraged posts to the few who agree is proof positive.

• Jeff on Monday, March 11, 2013

  I encourage everybody to listen to the podcast with Terry Erdle. This is without a doubt the most sorry attempt at damage control I have ever witnessed. This was a carefully choreographed interview. It was very similar to listening to a politician. There was much rambling on but nothing of any significance was said. I heard several inaccuracies concerning federal government requirements. I know these statements are inaccurate because I have worked with the federal government for over 20 years. He failed to address the concerns. In particular he failed justify why a professional with years of experience should certify every three years for entry level certifications. He seriously overestimates the value of the CompTia certification. He also failed to justify not honoring those certifications that were already issued with no expiration. I read the continuing education plan he was boasting about. This is nothing but crap. It is carefully crafted so that the easiest way to keep your certification is to pay them for another test. I could keep going on about this but I think the point is made. The bottom line is this move appears to be about nothing more than chasing dollars and he fails to convince otherwise. There is simply no way CompTia is right about this and all of their customers are wrong. This company has lost all integrity with me and I will never conduct business with them again.

• Jack on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Propanganda out. http://www.comptia.org/media/CompTIA_certification_discussion.mp3 Guess the decision is fixed. So now what we can do is to boycott comptia. I will not take any comptia certs non recertify and will inform all my peers never to take any comptia programs. Guess comptia will be gone soon. Unit is strength.

• Jack on Monday, March 11, 2013

  ISO certified is just craps. ISO status can be get easily by paying maintenance fees. Alot of small firms in my country are also ISO certified and their operations are still craps.

• Robin on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Jack, you are still receiving the same product. The warranty has just changed. And retailers do that all the time. So we are NOT being cheated. We just have to understand that in today's world, granting someone a certification indefinitely is unreasonable. What I really think is funny is that Microsoft experienced a similar backlash when they decided to change their certification structure. But now, no one really mentions it anymore. It is just accepted. I have a feeling that this is what will happen in CompTIA's situation as well. Oh, and they did notify you in advance. Your old certification isn't expiring TODAY! Current certification holders will have approximately 3 years to recertify. Michael, Lifetime certifications are not given by any other major vendor that I know of. I have always felt like even the most entry-level certifications should require recertification. How else can we ensure that individuals are competent?

• Leslie on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Damage control in operation. Expect to see a action class suit against comptia soon. There are 800000 people certified with A+ certifications. And alot of them still do not know that their certs are expiring soon. They will scream their head off once they know about this.

• Lucas Acha on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Robin, The issue is not one of certification value, it is one of company integrity. I have been A+ certified for 7 years with the understanding that the title was a lifetime certification. I think we all agree that CompTIA should purse steps to increase the value of their certifications, but not at the expense of their integrity! I have highlighted my own solutions that I believe would work. Look, we all know that it looks bad if a candidate for a job has an A+ but doesn't know anything about PCIe for example. The problem is, that anyone can put down that they have any old certification on a resume, it is up to the employer to determine if that candidate really has the ability to the job. Again, the issue about going back and telling people that they are no longer certified is ridiculous. The excuse about the government is ridiculous as well. If the employer wants someone to be certified with the latest flavor of the exam, then it should be up to the employer to verify that the employee took the newest exam. I also want to be clear about Microsoft for a minute. I know several people who claim to be MCSEs. Technically, they are correct, the problem is that they are MCSE's in a Windows NT environment. The certification retired, but the title still belongs to that person. Should the person be upfront about this on a resume? Absolutely! Should the employer verify the persons abilities? Absolutely! On my resume I put down that I am an MCSE in both 2000 and 2003 environments because I want to be up front about it. At a job interview I provide transcripts from CompTIA, Cisco and Microsoft so that they can see what dates I certified.

• jack on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Robin, MS certs do not have expiry. You are still a MSCE NT certified now even if you took your certification back in 1996. Physically the cert does not says expired but in the eyes of the employer it is no longer useful to them because non of them uses NT servers anymore. But the cert is still valid, just that it has no demand. But comptia now is making the cert expire physically and not due to the fact that the employer views your certification as outdated. What I am saying is that let us have our certs and let employers decide on whether they wanna recognise it. And not putting a physical expiry on the certifications.

• jack on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Does anyone know the laws in USA and wat comptia is doing now legal? I am not from USA so I do not know how the law works there..

• Linda C on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Found this link. Yes, it is a 3rd party, but if they quoted Comptia's web-site accurately??? http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/28952 I think the expectation is Comptia certs are for life. Whether Comptia can make policy changes is legal or not may not matter. What matters is can they politically make this change and keep their current certified candidates satisified as well as future Comptia candidates.

• Paul Spears on Monday, March 11, 2013

  I'm still just as pissed about this as when I first read about it earlier this week. The blogger who wrote "wait until CompTIA's entire base hears about this" is absolutely correct...our power will be in the numbers of people who complain. Interesting how the podcast never mentioned the suggestion of free vouchers for the bridge exams for those of us who've already spent our money...but the guy insisted this wasn't about money...he even ridiculed the very suggestion that it was about profit...ok, then at least give free vouchers. I obtained my CISSP recently and won't be renewing any of these entry level certs but that's beside the point....lifetime is lifetime and that's what my CompTIA certs say. No judeg in the land will take that away.

• Martin D on Monday, March 11, 2013

  I have a website. www.pcapprentice.com Does this count towards teaching or writing??

• Jellybean on Monday, March 11, 2013

  We've all seen it on TV, some fat cat CEO or VP bankrupts a good company or just runs it into the ground by making terrible decisions; and then everybody wonders how the heck that guy was able to be put in a position to do that? A glimpse of the future - I think that fits this scenario. I had to go put on my boots while listing to the podcast cause the crap was getting too deep, they must take us all for fools. I'll put into terms maybe you can grasp CompTIA: 1. A network technician just found out that his entry level certs are only good for 3 years and he has to spend more money and become a professor or publish a friggin book or spend money on continuing education seminars to keep them valid. Being an IT professional what do you do? A. Laugh it off and count your cash. B. Talk to him like a politician and convince him even though you are screwing him, he/she will learn to like it. C. Tell him that he needs to go to the hospital where he was born and recertify his birth certificate every 3 years. D. Admit that you made a huge mistake and change the decision before it is too late for everyone.

• Lynn Flack on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Robin, Yes some of this could end up being good, but some of it is really unfair. How is it fair, when changing from a never expiring cert system to a three year expiration, that someone who took the A+ 601 and 602 tests in December 2009 gets a certification that expires on December 31, 2011? So this person went from never expiring, to expiring in three years, to actually expiring in just over two years. This needs changed/fixed at the very least.

• Lynn Flack on Monday, March 11, 2013

  It is also not right to spring this on everyone. If I would have known in September that an A+ acquired by passing the 601 and 602 would expire a year earlier than the A+ acquired by passing the 701 and 702, I would have taken the 701 and 702. At the time, it didn't matter because they never expired no matter which one I took. On another topic, are they going to have counselors available? Who will be available to answer questions about whether or not something is "relevant to the highest level CompTIA certification achieved". I am referring to the place on the CEU chart where it says, "Obtaining an industry certification relevant to the highest level CompTIA certification achieved" Would this mean that acquiring a CCNA may count as CEUs if my highest level CompTIA certification is Network+ because it is relevant to that, but that it may not count as CEUs if my highest level CompTIA certification is Security+ because the CCNA is more relevant to Network+? If that is the case, then I may not want to acquire the Security+, BUT I already scheduled the Security+ test BEFORE finding out about all of this. If my job and future certifications end up being more geared toward networking and not toward security, I may be screwing things up by passing my Security+. So now passing the wrong exam could end up hurting you. I don't have a problem with the 3 year expiration, I'm just not thrilled with being surprized by it all mid-way through getting my certs.

• eric on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Who knows? They can claim as 3 years now. What if they change it to 1 year after you get recertified? You are now dealing with an entity which lacks integrity.

• Steven Ross on Monday, March 11, 2013

  I've tried commenting several times but I just can't express in words how I feel right now! When we passed each exam we entered into an agreement with Comptia that our certs were lifetime certs.And now in a pitiful attempt to appease the ISO their opening themselves up to litigation. Your know that your actions are just plain wrong and you should be ashamed of yourselves! I encourage everyone to contact the bbb and file a complaint! http://www.bbb.org/chicago/business-reviews/associations/computing-technology-industry-assoc-in-oakbrook-terrace-il-34001005

• Jason on Monday, March 11, 2013

  No comptia your new rules will just put more money in your packet hardware remains the same for log long time only things that change is the OSes and if we follow MS pattern there is no major chnages and no reson to recertify. Honestly speaking if we follow your exam criteria the tests don't chnage much at all from 500 to 600 to 700 exam levels. I guess its another way for money hungry cert compnies to prevent us from moving high up in IT and to have to worry about recertifying all the time if thats the case then I might as well get my ccna and forget about yours since ccna expires every 3 years and is is considered way more acceptable the CompTIA A+ and other exams. The Comptia Exams are so basic there is no need to have to recertify.

• Romanovski on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Here is my post from the podcast. Hopefully CompTia can fix this. First of I think taking away life time expiration away is a bad idea because customers will just certify somewhere else like Cisco were talking any Cisco test renews all of your certifications. Sounds like desperate move to make money in the bad economy to me. Second, if CompTia is going to implement an expiration date then they should grandfather in the users who got there certifications before 2010. Third CompTia needs to have a better renewal policy like CISCO does. You only need to take any Cisco test within the three year period to renew all prior certification. For example if you have a CCNA cert and it expires, then you can take any one test from the CCNP to renew your CCNA for another 3 years. Comptia should let us renew all of our certifications by talking any other Comptia test every 3 years. I have A+ Network + and Security + and should only have to take one of these tests or another comptia test like Linux+ to renew all of them. Otherwise it would take me forever to renew each certification individually since I’m trying to advance my knowledge in higher level certifications and attend college at the same time making it counter productive. This is my suggestion. Personally if Comptia does not fix its policy then I will not renew my certifications and instead totally commit to Cisco and any other certifications that provide a pyramid like structure of advancement in its certification policy. Im a certified in CCNA, A+, Network+, Security+ Currently inroled in University of Phoenix in persuit of BSIT/ISS (Bachelors of Science in IT Information System Security) 3rd year in.

• Michael B on Monday, March 11, 2013

  It's pretty plain to me the board members who made this change are clueless to the damage it has done to CompTIA. I don't think CompTIA will recover from this. Goodbye CompTIA when you go bankrupt you money grabbing bunch of wankers.

• Ed on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Robin, I think it is a litte presumptive of you to consider those who are not happy with this new development from CompTIA as "whiners". You are arguing for change in the certification renewal policy from CompTIA while ignoring the fact that CompTIA has been dishonest by taking money under false pretenses. CompTIA issued these certifications to all of us as life long certifications and there is no way around that. If CompTIA changes the policy and discloses that up front to all new test takers that is there prerogative and would be an acceptable business practice, but to issue certifications under one set of rules and to later reverse the agreement is wrong and dishonest. I would venture to say that many of us went the CompTIA route because of the added benefit of the life long certification, so I do not think our complaints specific to that point are inconsequential. CompTIA has lied to us! Maybe that does not bother you but it sure bothers me.

• Michael on Monday, March 11, 2013

  I think you're outnumbered Robin. Hah. Anyway, I would like to comment in response to Romanovski and mention that if you hold multiple certs with CompTIA, you only have to renew your highest ranking cert in order to renew them all. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but that was what I read. Still doesn't make this acceptable and I hope CompTIA severely pays for this if they don't do an about face or at the very least grandfather the currently certified. This is BS. Absolute BS.

• jack on Monday, March 11, 2013

  I've just check wtih a colleague who works as a QA manager in my company who is in charge of our ISO certifications. He stated that ISO does not have the requirements to take away any previous version of any documents or procedures pior to getting ISO certified. ISO is mean to standardise the proper procedures now and not back dating to 10 years back. He stated that this action by comptia must be due to monetary gain. Come on comptia, show us the ISO documents that gives u the right to take away any non expiry certificate issued previously. And stop doing some kids stunts like making a podcast justifying your wrong doings. There are around 800 thousands A+ certified in the entire world. Let's wait till they heard this story that their certificates are gonna be taken away. Let's see their reactions..

• jack on Monday, March 11, 2013

  come one, Robin must be one of the comptia employees.. fat bonus coming. FED govt dun bail out certification bodies..

• jack on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Michael, This renewing the highest ranking cert in order to renew them all policy is just to ease the angry population. Renewing CCNP revalidates CCNA because both are networking based certifications. Comptia is offering multiple certifications. So how can a security+ related to network + or A+? or vise versa.

• Lucas Acha on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Just to state my position again, I do not agree with what is happening here, but I do want to point out that CompTIA is a non-profit organization. "CompTIA is the non-profit trade association advancing the global interests of information technology (IT) professionals and companies including manufacturers, distributors, resellers, and educational institutions." This is from the "About" section of the CompTIA website. So, I'm not so inclined to believe that this is about money, although, I could be mistaken. I do think that it has more to do with increasing CompTIA's value in the IT certification industry. Unfortunately, even with an expiration set on certifications, that goal is not achieved. In order for CompTIA to compete above the entry level market they have to introduce exam program that are of higher difficulty. The only thing that they have done here is upset their client base and taint their reputation. I'm almost half-considering the idea of putting together a board of SMEs and creating a new industry standard for entry level AND mid-level certifications.

• John Davidson on Monday, March 11, 2013

  This press release is the exact moment that you can reflect back to, when your wondering what happened! I can just see Terry Erdle wandering around wondering where everyone went!

• Paul Spears on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Shame on CompTIA for this recertification sham...with a link on their main page titled "Put Food on the Table" one would surmise that they were compassionate about the effect of the poor economy on everyone and would never ever do anything to make it even worse. The seemingly heartfelt article starts by saying "While the economy continues to improve, some workers are still struggling to put food on the table and take care of their families. Many are hard-working and dedicated individuals who have had to turn their professional lives upside down in this turbulent market." Poor economy or not, even in the best of times, this is pure and simplly wrong and no corny podcast from CompTIA can make it right. You have to wonder how these folks sleep at night.

• Shelby Smith on Monday, March 11, 2013

  This whole thing reaks of corruption and greed! Getting past the whole our lifetime certs being only good for 3 years, why should we pay an "annual maintenance fee" to access the CEU system? We're already potentially giving you $280 to take the newest test! So to keep my lifetime Security+ I'm going to have to pay you, $330? You really think a lot of your certifications don't you?

• Jellybean on Monday, March 11, 2013

  @Robin You must work for CompTIA or be the wife of someone who does, I cannot fathom why you dont understand how and why people are so mad about this. Plain and simple they should not be allowed to put a retroactive expiration date for people already certified, the idea is crazy and mindboggling. Also the CEU are so ridiculous the average person cannot be expected to get those credits and even if you do, your still stuck paying an annual fee of $49 for Sec+ and Net+! Thats annual by the way so for three years you spend $150 for certs you already paid for, not to mention our time...who can put a price on that? Your comment about every other vendor out there makes absolutely no sense because CompTIA IS NOT A VENDOR, they dont make an OS like Microsoft or switches like Cisco and on and on, they are supposed to be VENDOR NEUTRAL! Also your comment of wheter or not someone with an A+ from 1995 is considered qualified to work on a computer does not matter. It should be up to the employers to determine whether or not someones cert qualifies them to perform a job, not you, and certainly not CompTIA. CompTIA is not trying to add value Robin, they are trying to add money to their pockets but this is going to backfire bigtime!

• jack on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Paul, Comptia is just telling you that they need food on their tables too. And the new came one day later after that article. bunch of hypocrites..

• Romanovski on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Michael or anyone else can you please provide a direct qoute and hyperlink regarding renewing your highest CompTia Cert? This would help me greatly. Thanks

• Holly on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Congratulations Comptia, you've chopped off three of your cash cow's legs. All that's let is the DoD. But when people stop getting your entry level certs, then the government will eventually question Comptia's value. Nothing like working yourself right out of a job!

• Kevin on Monday, March 11, 2013

  You just lost a customer Comptia. Do you not understand that people take your certifications to start out in the IT field? I have my A+, Net+, and Security+ and I feel like I've been cheated because I was told that they would be good forever. People take your certifications so they can prove that they know a little bit when they first start out. Your certifications were becoming more meaningless in the IT field to begin with and now you pull this little stunt? No one with any sense is going to re-certify by paying for another exam. They will go after Microsoft and Cisco certificates because they actually mean something to employers. Your certificates are now going to become non existent. As stated above... you really over estimated how much Comptia certificates mean these days because they were already a joke.

• Nicolai Michel on Monday, March 11, 2013

  I've been A+ certified for many years and was considering Network+, but with your boneheaded decision to kill my lifetime certification there's no way I'll be seeking any CompTIA certification in the future. Boycott CompTIA!

• Alice on Monday, March 11, 2013

  I think that this renewal stuff should not be forced on anyone (make it optional), particularly not anyone who already earned their certifications before this. And if they do force it on people who earn new CompTIA certifications going forward, they should allow a 'grace period' of several months for people to finish earning lifetime certifications they want (like when they introduce a new version of a test, they continue offering the previous one for several months so people can finish studying). I, like many other people, will be curtailing my plans to earn more CompTIA certifications, unless this renewal stuff becomes optional. If they would at least have a 'grace period', I would at least take one more CompTIA exam to get it for life. But I would probably still be disappointed by the certificate received, as I hear they aren't available on 8.5x11in paper anymore! That's another thing that Microsoft already learned (see my other post at http://blog.comptia.org/2010/01/14/addressing-certification-concerns/#comment-102 for the other thing CompTIA should've learned from Microsoft already) -- they briefly sent out smaller certificates a couple years ago, then due to dissatisfaction went back to offering 8.5x11in and A4.

• silicon avatar on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Places like CompTIA will take your money over and over again. Get a degree and it won't expire. Stop paying these guys for their "certification" that apparently expires whenever they feel like it.

• Rasta on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Well I was just about to register for Sec+ today and read this thing...Thank God. I have Net+ and used it for my 1st IT job but I guess I'm going to do some Microsoft and Cisco exams and my Masters. CompTIA doesn't realize that their "Lifetime cert" is false advertising now that they're doing this. As an IT Specialist I will no longer recommend these certs to employers when I develop job descriptions and requirements for them and will no longer recommend the younger guys to pursuit these. Good way to remove yourself from the competition. I guess your model will be used as a case study in a few years of how the cert industry weeded out a few decent certs. lol. This is money making to sustain them. I hope when they do the maths they'll realize a decrease in test takers and interest in their certs. Expect them to increase their exam prices too to compensate for their losses. I wonder if any University will ever ask a graduate to re-certify for a Bsc, BA, MBA etc?

• eric on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Yes. My ugly comments are not approve. Go proprof.com and discuss.

• silicon_avatar on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Someone needs to create a real forum to discuss this. They are deleting comments from this one.

• David Marsh on Monday, March 11, 2013

  For people opinions on real forums check :- http://www.proprofs.com http://www.certforums.co.uk/ http://www.techexams.net

• David on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Silicon, for real (unedited) debate head on over to :- http://www.certforums.co.uk/ http://www.proprofs.com http://www.techexams.net

• Jackie Childes on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Bitter irony that the previous blog post is "putting food on the table" and then they go and pull this stunt. I wish I could post pics here because this is worthy of a double facepalm. I feel sorry for the CompTIA workers and their families who had no part in this decision but will be adversely affected by it, layoffs and cutbacks are coming because nobody is going to waste their money on these certs anymore. Cisco and Microsoft must love this :)

• jericho on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Comptia will be history in 2012.. Here in Singapore, I do not see any jobs that requires comptia certifications.. But people still take it because they used to be non-expiry.. I doubt anyone is gonna take those exams anymore.. Popular certifications from cisco and MS will definately get in more businesses after this incident.. The exam voucher here cost SGD$460 for the network+ and only SGD$360 for the ICND1/2.. Only idiots will take the network plus because it makes no sense in terms of value and recognition. Cisco still have promotions like 2nd try for free. LOL

• C.C. on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Dear CompTIA, I just finished studying my second Network+ program and was all proud of myself, thinking I'm almost ready for Network+. Now I'm having second thoughts about taking it. Guess what, that's money from me you have already lost.

• Mike on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Passed A+ and got ceritifed January 12, 2010. The day this news broke. WTF is this? If i had know this was going to happen I would have never taken the exam in the first place! Great business tactics Comptia. False advertisement and not even one notice this sort of change was going to happen. Isn't this against the law?

• annoyed member on Monday, March 11, 2013

  I am a tutor for CompTIA. I have been helping students gain this entry level qualification for years and now this! Explain something to me please so I can pass the information onto the ever dwindling students. How do I explain that an entry level certification needs to be updated every 3 years to prove they are at entry level????? Bye bye CompTIA. Was good whilst it lasted. RIP.

• Holly on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Board dealing with the new "policy" http://www.techexams.net/forums/general-certification/49994-comptia-certification-renewal-policy.html

• Robert on Monday, March 11, 2013

  I took my A+ certification back in 2002, and I did so under the agreement that once certified my status would not expire. I now see that you have changed your rules. I also attributed your higher prices to the fact that your certifications were lifetime. I am writing you to say that I will not be renewing my certification with your company, nor shall I be pursuing any further CompTIA certifications. I am finally at a point in my life where I can further my education and had planned on getting my Network+, Security+ and Linux+. You just lost out on the $700 I had planned to spend. I will instead spend that money towards LPIC and Microsoft certifications. I have been on many websites that are talking about boycotting CompTIA certifications, and I will also disparage your products to any newcomers that ask if a CompTIA certification is worth holding. -Mr. Reeves PS - Join my Boycott CompTIA Facebook group! http://www.facebook.com/pages/I-Boycott-CompTIA-for-reneging-on-lifetime-certifications/261697464555?ref=ts

• GiddyG on Monday, March 11, 2013

  So, CompTIA...what was wrong with my post then? Too close to the truth to be palatable to you, eh? There was no bad langauage in it, no swearing, just my view on what you had done. I didn't realise censorship had hit CompTIA; obviously, you're that concerned about comments from little old me that you'd sooner not show them. As I said before... you should hang your heads in shame.

• Linda C on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Or just make it simple. Using A+ exam as example. Allow candidates the option to do regular A+ track or the A+ (ISO) track. Keep things as they have been and keep past candidates and future candidates happy. Don't add a higher cost of ownership to these exams and certifications. It will definitely make future candidates consider other options and bypass these certifications. Thus, making the value of Comptia certifications decrease. A+ Certifications should NOT expire. (Optional if someone wants to retake updated exams and/or go for ISO level of A+) This will help highschool students and people that are just getting into IT to study this material, pass the test, find out if they like IT, and use it to gain an entry-level position or even just increasing their knowledge on the subject. Doesn't passing the test show a basic-level compentency of the subject matter. Isn't that the goal of the A+ exam? Wasn't that the goal? Aren't these entry-level certifications? Releasing new exams should keep the contents of the exam updated and thus the subject matter will be in-line with any new requirements. New candidates would be taking these new exams. We all should know by now, that passing and gaining a certification is just the start. To really apply this knowledge in a working production environment there is a continual need to learn and grow. Okay, so now to address the NEW ISO REQUIRMENT: Modify A+ certificates to allow someone proof to show that they are A+ (ISO) certified. They are certified by either taking current exam or doing the CEUs as you mention. This can simply be accomplished by printing this higher level certification on their certificate with expiration date. Have a track for a past candidates to upgrade to ISO by showing professional growth or retaking current exams. I would think that at this point that government employers are the only ones requiring the ISO level certification. Other employers at this point could care less. So, really the proof is in how the certificate is printed. If an employer is not requiring ISO then they would not even be looking for this requirement. By doing the above you've accomplished these goals. 1. Keep current candidates happy. Your fan-base. 2. Future candidates will see how you treated already certified candidates and feel better about going for your certifications. 3. Higher-level ISO certification to make the certification more valuable. 4. By offering two certifications tracks, you will meet needs of someone who just needs the basic entry-level certification to get that first entry-level position. And you've also met the needs of ISO by having an ISO track. Hope you will listen to your currently certified candidate base. Many experienced people have used Comptia exams to get started and then have moved on to more advanced jobs and advanced certifications.

• Another Customer Lost on Monday, March 11, 2013

  "What was true and cutting-edge in IT three years ago isn’t necessarily either today." If this is truly the reason then why did my A+ tests I took last year have questions about Windows 95 and NT on it? I came here with credit card in hand ready to purchase a voucher, i had planned to spend 2010 taking a lot of these different certs but why waste my money now. If CompTIA can change their minds and make my lifetime cert expire, for A+, Net+ and Sec+ then I dont trust them and they may eventually do the same with Server+, Linux+, and all the rest. Deceptive business practices to say the least, maybe CompTIA needs to take an Ethics+ course. Oh, gotta go, my highschool I graduated from 15 years ago just called and I have to go take a bridge exam to keep my diploma valid.

• tbader01 on Monday, March 11, 2013

  F Comptia, their CEO, all their newly appointed board of directors, and all their VP's! Not for profit my a**. Who needs Comptia anymore now? I say if you are currently studying for any Comptia exam, stop immediately, go sell your books on amazon.com or ebay, and run in the opposite direction as fast as you can before you give them any more of your money. If you are enrolled in school for ANY of their courses, drop the class and ask for a full refund immediately! Once there is a vacuum of money sucked from all the schools from students pulling out, maybe they will lobby against Comptia to change their policies. But in my book, they have already lost my loyalty. Also, I for one will NOT be recommending Comptia certs. to ANYONE from this day forward. Comptia's stock has dropped to zero in my book. Go forward and spread the gospel that Comptia is now a big zero, and all of their product offerings are worthless. Let's hit them where it hurts, in their "not-for-profit" wallets! I've gotten my A+, Network+, Security+, and Linux+ thinking that those would never expire, as originally stated, but now they are all worth zero to me now. BTW, isn't this the same "technology leader" that had their database down for months on end? We should have seen the writing on the wall back then! The dog starved at his master's gate, tells the ruin of the estate - William Blake

• No more CompTIA for me on Monday, March 11, 2013

  They deserve a class action lawsuit. My agreement with them was for a lifetime certification. I wont take any more of their exams. Entry level stuff anyways.

• Michael Cherry on Monday, March 11, 2013

  I have 7 CompTIA certifications. I have been in IT for close to 15 years. I will not bother renewing or wasting my money renewing any of these certs. I find them absolutely useless anyway. For newbies...don't waste your time or money on CompTIA certs. Get a college degree if you don't have one. They will not expire. Shame on you CompTIA. You folks need to listen to the 800,000 certified IT professionals if you want to survive as a certification provider. And finally, you have broken your contract with us, period. I trust that there will be a class action law suit to address this if the CompTIA leadership does not.

• Max on Monday, March 11, 2013

  I was going to prepare for Project +, well might as well not do that if in the future it might expire. I rather go for something much more creditable in the market than comptia intro certs.

• jack on Monday, March 11, 2013

  come and join us in our boycott champaign. http://www.facebook.com/pages/I-Boycott-CompTIA-for-reneging-on-lifetime-certifications/261697464555?ref=ts

• Gaspar on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Best of luck with your 3 years certs, don't have any reason to come back to CompTIA anymore!!!

• Will L G on Monday, March 11, 2013

  How can they make a policy 'retro' for those who obtained their A+, Network+, and Security= BEFORE Jan 1, 2010? An agreement (contract even) is just that, an agreement. If CompTIA fails to grandfather older certificate holders in, I smell a class action lawsuit! They will lose more than they will rake in, thats for damn sure!

• Holly on Monday, March 11, 2013

  You dare have the audacity to post an article titled “The Power of Predictability” on the same blog where you try to announce this policy change! GRANDFATHER US IN!

• Not Happy on Monday, March 11, 2013

  THE POLICY HAS CHANGED !AGAIN! http://www.comptia.org/certifications/listed/renewal.aspx we're lifetime if we have taken the test before 01-01-11...but never again will you get a penny from me CompTIA!

• Clay Burton on Monday, March 11, 2013

  I studied for my A+ 220-60x series, but did not get around to taking the test before the the new objectives took affect. Now I have started my own IT business, and was going to start with CompTIA certs, but now I "WILL NOT" and will move on to better ones. It is sad that these changes are being made, soon the life time certs will probably not be worth anything, and there will probably be no bridge exam as they will want you to stay current with the continued education thing. I thought this was the purpose of the bridge exam, even though it was optional. They will also want a maintenance fee to stay certified, $25 per year for A+, and $49 per year for N+ and Security+; plus some other things that I, as a small business owner, may not have time to engage in. I can not help but think this is a bad move by CompTIA.

• geek19 on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Comptia took this the wrong way, for one thing 2007-2008 certifications are useless for the federal government because now they require certification in which CE credits are required.

• John Warnes on Monday, March 11, 2013

  My applause to Comptia! This change will definitely contribute to the validity of my A+, N+ and S+ certs. There are to many people simply memorizing exam answers and not gaining any actual knowledge of the field of study. If you think for a moment that prospective employees don't see this trend, your sadly mistaken. This policy change is long over due for Comptia. As for the comptia certified naysayers. Are you afraid now, you might actually have to know the technology you've studied for. Thanks Comptia for making my certs. worth having! I will only consider hiring IT techs. with the most up to date certification cards, not those that took a course 7 years ago and don't bother to keep up with the technology.

• Kyle on Monday, March 11, 2013

  This is harsh, I've been getting ready for my A+ cert and was planning on my N+ afterwards... but not if I have to renew it. It completely defeats the purpose of "keeping-up-to-date" if the ones who were privileged enough to take it before 2011 don't even have to retake. This means that the ones with the most outdated knowledge don't have to renew, BUT the ones with the most current knowledge have to retake in 3 years? This makes no sense. But what does make sense is your greedy intensions. I am not going to be renewing an entry level cert every 3 years. I am not going for this cert anymore. Its rapidly losing it's effectiveness, so why even bother? Id rather go for a microsoft server cert or something worth its weight for the time and money I put into it. I was really excited too. What total bummer.

• Mason on Monday, March 11, 2013

  what is wrong with comptia ?:S

• Roger Dodger on Monday, March 11, 2013

  I liked Comptia being vendor neutral and me being certified for life. Now greedy fucks have entered the building and want me to pay for the rest of my life for holding some silly entry level certification. Fuck that, I'm busy enough with greedy mickeysoft, cisco and vmware certification. At least those certification really open doors to good jobs AND i don't have to pay an annual fee. I've got A+,Server+,Network+,iNet+ and Linux+ and was planning for more, but now I'm totally not intereset anymore. I understand that technology changes and that certification can expire after some time, but an annual fee?? This ain't world of warcraft bitches.

• chicken on Monday, March 11, 2013

  Why should they make 30 bucks off of me every year or so to keep my cert going

• David on Monday, March 11, 2013

  I spent nearly 300 pounds sterling on the 2009 A+ and train tickets to plymouth with the expressed belief that i would hold this cert on XP for life only to have the rug pulled out from under me with your stunt. I signed over the money and studied my ass off so i could have this one on XP for life. Now you change the rules after the Doc's have been signed and paid for ? No more Comptia certs for me then. My mother just sent me the 5th edition Mike Meyers N+ and it will sit quietly on the shelf now as i will study the 680 instead which will be for a lifetime of the product. I will NOT be re-newing your A+ and you will NOT be getting any CE money from me. Studying and getting the S+ will update all "lower" certs such as the A+ and N+? HOw does studying completely unrelated material qualify me for a re-newed cert on A+ and N+? Its sticks of a money makign scheme. I will now advise people here in the UK to avoid your organization