Still CompTIA A+ Certified
I was recently informed that my A+ certification was no longer valid because CompTIA changed a long running Rule. The rule stated that once CompTIA A+ certified you were certified for life. I was very ticked off that an exam that is considered an entry level (even by CompTIA) was going to have to be renewed every 3 years. I was like what the (%^&%(^(* . I never had any expectations that as a computer tech that technology would never change, but i didn’t make the life time statement, CompTIA did. So anyway my new job asked me if i planned on renewing my A+ cert and i stated
“Why would i do that? The technology changed since I took the exam in early 2000 yes but, the concepts of this vender neutral test should not have changed, and I am no longer an entry level tech.”
So tonight I went to the site to see what was involved with taking an update to the test. I had no real intention of doing so but i just wanted to see what was involved and how much it would cost. I am presently studying for my CompTIA Security + which was also suppose to be a lifetime certification, but was also changed under the new rule. Anyway on the A+ certification page it read this:
For candidates certified under previous versions of the exam:
CompTIA A+ certified professionals who are encouraged or required by their employers to remain current on their certifications have two options:
1. Take the CompTIA A+ 2009 Edition (two exams).
2. Only those who are certified in the most recent version of CompTIA A+ (2006 objectives) by taking 220-601 and one of the following: 220-602, 220-603 and 220-604 exams are eligible to update their currency through taking the CompTIA A+ bridge exam (one exam), which covers the new objectives.
CompTIA has retired the English version of the 600 series of CompTIA A+ in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico and South Africa. The English version will retire in all other countries on August 31, 2010. The educational versions of these exams (JK0-601, JK0-602, JK0-603 and JK0-604), as well as the German, Korean, Arabic, Chinese and Japanese translations of the 220-601 and 220-602 CompTIA A+ exams, will remain in the market for use until August 31, 2010.
I was like oh great now i would have to take the whole thing over again just because i took the test 10 years ago under the disguise that this was suppose to be a life time certification. Then on the Left side i saw a link called Certification Renewal Policy out of curiosity i clicked it.
To my excitement i found that CompTIA decided not to renege on those of us that had been told that they were lifetime certified. And to further that they are going to keep the existing rule in place until January 1, 2011 so if you are like me and studying for a CompTIA exam in the list you better get it done before the rule changes. Now i just hope work also decided to follow CompTIA’s new policy.
CompTIA Certification Renewal Policy
To Our Customers,
I am very appreciative of the honest feedback you have provided us regarding our recent announcement concerning CompTIA certifications. We’ve listened to what you have told us and we’ve changed the policy announced on January 11, 2010.
CompTIA will not require recertification for any current holders of CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+ or CompTIA Security+ certification. You are not required to retest to maintain your valid CompTIA certification. Regardless of when you became certified in CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+ or CompTIA Security+, you are certified for life.
For candidates currently preparing to sit for a CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+ or CompTIA Security+ exam, if you pass an exam and become certified by December 31, 2010, you too will have a lifetime certification with no requirements for recertification or retesting.
Effective January 1, 2011, all new CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+ or CompTIA Security+ certifications will be valid for three years from the date the candidate is certified. After three years, the certification must be renewed. This can be done by passing the most current exam for a respective certification or by participating in CompTIA’s upcoming new continuing education program, which will allow individuals to keep their skills current and their certification up to date without retesting.
We’ve worked hard to balance the interests of our current and future customers first and foremost, with the stringent requirements to maintain our ISO 17024 accreditation for CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+ and CompTIA Security+. Our ISO accreditation is extremely important to us because of the global credibility it carries. Equally important is the trust our certificate holders placed in us when they became certified. We believe our new plan accomplishes both goals.
Chris Stauffer <><