Your CompTIA Network+ certification is good for three years from the date you pass your certification exam. Through our continuing education (CE) program, you can easily renew CompTIA Network+ and extend it for an additional three-year period. Read on to learn more about the certification period and how you can renew your certification.
CompTIA Network+ is a member of our certification group, which has globally recognized ISO/ANSI accreditation status. These certifications expire three years from their earned date and can be renewed through our continuing education (CE) program.
We refer to certifications as active within their three-year period after a successful exam or when they are successfully renewed. We refer to certifications as expired if they are not renewed. If your certification has expired, the only way to get it back is to pass the certification exam again.
Why the Network+ certification expires after three years
Adoption cycle of new technologies
Your job in IT comes standard with constant change, and it’s understood that technology advances at a breakneck pace. Your career success requires you to be ahead of the curve and be familiar with the technology that makes a meaningful impact in the market and constantly changes our lives at work and at home.
We work closely with industry partners and have determined that a substantial change in technology use and adoption usually occurs just about every three years. To that end, we’re continuously updating our exams. Renewing your certification allows you to document your knowledge in technology areas that matter to employers and are important to your IT career.
ISO/ANSI accreditation status
To maintain our ISO/ANSI accreditation status of CompTIA Network+, we are required to develop new exam questions after a certain period. Keeping our accreditation is important because we believe we’re adhering to the best-known quality standards in the industry.
Having this accreditation is a big reason why CompTIA Network+ meets the requirements of the U.S. Department of Defense. The result is a product that not only you can trust, but a product that is globally recognized and you can show with confidence to your existing or future employer.
Ways to renew your certification
Even when your employer does not require renewing your certification, keeping your certification current isn’t just about keeping your accomplishment alive but simply about being ready for future opportunities to grow your career. When the experience you are gaining over the years may be nearly impossible to quantify, a certification delivers the necessary documentation of your expertise. Experience and certification in tandem are a powerful toolset for climbing the job ladder.
- Renewal Option 1: Training
CompTIA offers a CertMaster CE Network+ training course, which you take online and use to renew your CompTIA Network+ certification without taking an exam. Some users renew their CompTIA Network+ certification in six hours or less with CertMaster CE. - Renewal option 2: Certification and recertification exams
You can renew your CompTIA Network+ certification by taking and passing the following:- A higher level CompTIA certification
- A qualifying higher non-CompTIA IT-Industry certification
- The latest release of the CompTIA Network+ exam.
- Renewal Option 3: Activities
Completing qualifying and multiple activities will earn you continuing education units (CEUs) that you need to accumulate to renew your certification. CompTIA Network+ requires 50 CEUs to be renewed.
Want to learn more? Visit our CE pages to learn about the renewal process and how to get started.
Ready for a career in networking?
We’ve made it easy to get started planning your path in networking.
- Begin by reading up on the four important steps toward your certification.
- Then, learn everything you need to know about CompTIA Network+ certification.
- And finally, download the exam objectives and practice test questions to start learning right away.
CompTIA now offers a number of exam training options for CompTIA Network+ to fit your particular learning style and schedule, many of which may be used in combination with each other as you prepare for your exam.
There’s a wealth of information to help you decide if CompTIA Network+ is right for you all the way to taking your exam. We’re with you every step of the way!