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 table below shows which ones will automatically renew other CompTIA certifications.

Certification	Renewal details
SecurityX ce	Fully renews: Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+), PenTest+, Security+, Network+ and A+
DataX ce	Fully renews: N/A
CloudNetX ce	Fully renews: Cloud+
CompTIA CySA+ ce, CompTIA PenTest+ ce	CySA+ fully renews: PenTest+*, Security+, Network+, A+ *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+**, Security+, Network+, A+ **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+ V2 Fully renews: A+ and Linux+ Cloud+ V3 Fully renews: A+, Network+, and Linux+
CompTIA Linux+ ce	Fully renews: A+
CompTIA Security+ ce	Fully renews: Network+ and A+
CompTIA Network+ ce	Fully renews: A+
CompTIA DataSys+ ce	Fully renews: N/A
CompTIA Data+ ce	Fully renews: N/A
CompTIA A+ ce	Fully renews: N/A

 

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: Network+ and A+

 

What you need to know

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).