Earn a Higher-Level CompTIA Certification

You can renew your CompTIA certification by earning a qualifying, higher-level one.

Overview and eligibility

Earning a qualifying higher-level CompTIA certification can also renew your lower-level CompTIA certifications. The "ce" after a certification name means the certification is part of CompTIA's Continuing Education (CE) program, which is valid for three years and can be renewed. The table below shows which higher-level certifications will renew the ones you already hold.

Certification	Renewal details
SecurityX ce	Fully renews: Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) ce, PenTest+ ce, Security+ ce, Network+ ce and A+ ce
DataAI ce	Does not fully renew another CompTIA certification
CloudNetX ce	Fully renews: Cloud+ ce
CompTIA CySA+ ce, CompTIA PenTest+ ce	CySA+ fully renews: PenTest+ ce*, Security+ ce, Network+ ce, A+ ce *CEUs are provided when CySA+ certification is initially earned by passing the exam. Renewing PenTest+ does not automatically renew CySA+. The system does allow you to apply CySA+ CEUs to PenTest+. PenTest+ fully renews: CySA+ ce**, Security+ ce, Network+ ce, A+ ce **CEUs are provided when PenTest+ certification is initially earned by passing the exam. Renewing CySA+ does not automatically renew PenTest+. The system does allow you to apply the PenTest+ CEUs to CySA+.
CompTIA Cloud+ ce	Cloud+ V3 Fully renews: A+ ce, Network+ ce, and Linux+ ce Cloud+ V4 Does not fully renew another CompTIA certification
CompTIA Linux+ ce	Fully renews: A+ ce
CompTIA Security+ ce	Fully renews: Network+ ce and A+ ce
CompTIA Server+ ce	Fully renews: A+ ce that were earned by passing the 1100 series only
CompTIA Network+ ce	Fully renews: A+ ce
CompTIA DataSys+ ce	Does not fully renew another CompTIA certification
CompTIA Data+ ce	Does not fully renew another CompTIA certification
CompTIA A+ ce	Does not fully renew another CompTIA certification
CompTIA Project+ ce	Does not fully renew another CompTIA certification
CompTIA AutoOps+ ce	Does not fully renew another CompTIA certification
CompTIA SecAI+ ce	Does not fully renew another CompTIA certification

 

You can renew certain CompTIA certifications by achieving CompTIA Server+. The table below outlines which other CompTIA certification(s) it renews.

Certification	Renewal details
CompTIA Server+	Fully renews: A+ ce that were earned by passing the 1100 series only

 

What you need to know

This page is specific to earning higher-level CompTIA certifications to renew other CompTIA certifications. For information about renewing your certification by passing the new version of the exam, please see Pass the Latest Release of Your CompTIA Exam.

Note: Retaking the same version of a certification exam to attempt to recertify is a violation of our Certification Retake Policy and will not renew your certification.

Follow these requirements to renew your certification by earning a higher-level CompTIA certification.

• Timing: You must earn the higher-level CompTIA certification during your three-year renewal cycle.

• Documentation: You do not need to provide specific documentation. CompTIA will automatically renew your certification when you pass the exam for a valid CompTIA certification within the three-year renewal cycle. 

• Relevance: The higher-level CompTIA certification must correspond to the lower-level CompTIA certification you are renewing.

• CE fees: Continuing Education (CE) fees for your existing CompTIA certification are waived when you fully renew it by earning a higher-level CompTIA certification.

  • Note: CE fees are not waived if the higher-level CompTIA certification does not fully renew the lower-level certification.

• Expiration date: If you're planning to renew your CompTIA certification(s) by achieving a higher-level CompTIA certification, please note that your current certification expiration date(s) will be aligned with the expiration date of the higher-level certification (three years from the date you earn the higher-level certification.)

  • Example: You currently have an A+ CE certification with an expiration date of June 30, 2025. If you achieve a Network+ CE certification on January 18, 2023, the expiration date will be January 18, 2026. Your A+ certification expiration date will be changed to January 18, 2026, to align with your Network+ expiration date (A+ would not be renewed for another three years to June 30, 2028).