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All About CompTIA Continuing Education (CEU) Requirements

by | Aug 14, 2017 | Certifications | 0 comments

Plan to Earn CEUs

Earning Continuing Education Units (CEU) for your CompTIA certifications isn’t as tedious or as hard as it sounds.

This post organizes the top 90% of what you need to know in one organized place.

Renewing by Exam Type

Each certification requires renewal within a 3 year cycle.

Unlike (ISC)² certifications, you are not required to keep up with it CEUs and fees annually. If you want to submit CEUs as you get them, you are required to pay fees annually (Due September 29 every year). You can literally gather everything and submit in year 3 or pass the next highest exam in year 3.

Other multiple activity requirements include at least a 50% relevancy to the exam’s objectives and proper documentation of the activities.

A+

Network+

Security+

Cloud+

  • Cloud+ is the only exam that does not renew other certifications
  • Partial CEUs can be issued for earning a Cloud+ but renewing Cloud+ does not give CEUs to other certifications
  • Take a newer or bridged Cloud+ exam
  • Non-CompTIA Certifications
  • Complete a combination of renewal activities for CEUs (listed below)
    • Cloud+ requires 50 Continuing Education credits every 3 years after passing the exam

PenTest+

CySA+

CASP

Activity Combination Renewal Options

See the information below or use the CEU Assessment tool. You’re able to claim these activities in combination to renew all CompTIA exams. Log them at the student portal (Certmetrics website). Documentation is key here for all these activities.

This table shows all activities together for quick comparison.

ActivityA+Network+Security+Cloud+PenTest+CySA+CASP
Complete a Training Course20305050606075
Attend a Live Webinar461010151520
Attend a Conference461010151520
Complete a College Course10204040505060
Complete an American Council on Education (ACE) Course10204040505060
Teach or Mentor10152020303040
Create Instructional Materials10152020303040
Participate as a SME in a CompTIA Exam Development Workshop20305050606075
Publish an Article or White Paper8121616181820
Publish a Blog Post8121616181820
Publish a Book15204040505060
Work Experience9999999

Activity tables below represent max CEUs allowed per activity category.

Complete a Training Course

ActivityA+Network+Security+Cloud+PenTest+CySA+CASP
Complete a Training Course20305050606075
  • 1 CEU for each hour you attend
  • A course can only be submitted one time, regardless of renewal cycle
  • In addition to the basic information you’ll need a description/outline of the training content

Attend a Live Webinar

ActivityA+Network+Security+Cloud+PenTest+CySA+CASP
Attend a Live Webinar461010151520
  • 1 CEU for each hour you attend
  • In addition to the basic information you’ll need a detailed description/outline of the webinar content
  • On-demand webinars and YouTube videos are accepted provided they offer proof of registration or certificates of completion
  • CompTIA webinars are fun with amazing speakers but the experience is a bit wonky. Here are a few CompTIA webinar tips to properly get your CEUs

Attend a Conference

ActivityA+Network+Security+Cloud+PenTest+CySA+CASP
Attend a Conference461010151520
  • 1 CEU for each hour you attend
  • In addition to the basic information you’ll need a detailed description/outline of the session content
  • Virtual conferences can work too. Check out ChannelCon.

Complete a College Course

ActivityA+Network+Security+Cloud+PenTest+CySA+CASP
Complete a College Course10204040505060
  • 10 CEUs for each 3 to 4 credit hour course you attend
  • In addition to the basic information you’ll need a detailed description/outline of the college course content

Complete an American Council on Education (ACE) Course

ActivityA+Network+Security+Cloud+PenTest+CySA+CASP
Complete an American Council on Education (ACE) Course10204040505060
  • 10 CEUs for each 3 to 4 credit hour course you attend
  • In addition to the basic information you’ll need a description/outline of the ACE course content

Teach or Mentor

ActivityA+Network+Security+Cloud+PenTest+CySA+CASP
Teach or Mentor10152020303040
  • 1 CEU for each hour you teach or mentor
  • Topic must be related to the certification for credit
  • Specific content (topic) may only be submitted once per cycle
  • Teaching documentation requirements
    1. Lesson plan or syllabus with your name as the instructor
    2. Description of the content covered
    3. Date the course was taught
  • Mentoring documentation requirements
    1. Content objectives as they relate to the CompTIA exam being renewed
    2. Description of the content covered
    3. Dates and length of time mentoring occurred
    4. Signed document from mentee that mentor dates and times are valid

Create Instructional Materials

ActivityA+Network+Security+Cloud+PenTest+CySA+CASP
Create Instructional Materials10152020303040
  • 2 CEU for each hour of materials creation
  • Created course materials may only be submitted one time, regardless of renewal cycle
  • Instructional material documentation requirements
    1. Lesson plan or syllabus with your name as the author
    2. Copy of the instructional materials
    3. Date the materials were created

Participate as a SME in a CompTIA Exam Development Workshop

ActivityA+Network+Security+Cloud+PenTest+CySA+CASP
Participate as a SME in a CompTIA Exam Development Workshop20305050606075
  • 1 CEU for each workshop hour that you participate as a CompTIA Subject Matter Expert
  • The workshop must be related to the certification your are trying to renew
  • Submit a signed letter from the CompTIA workshop coordinator confirming your successful participation
  • Learn more about CompTIA exam development workshops

Publish an Article or White Paper

ActivityA+Network+Security+Cloud+PenTest+CySA+CASP
Publish an Article or White Paper8121616181820
  • 4 CEUs for each article or white paper of at least four pages in length
  • Article or white paper documentation requirements
    1. URL or copy of the published work with your name and the date published
    2. Description of the content covered

Publish a Blog Post

ActivityA+Network+Security+Cloud+PenTest+CySA+CASP
Publish a Blog Post8121616181820
  • 1 CEU for each blog post of at least 500 words
  • Blog post documentation requirements
    1. URL or copy of the published work with your name and the date published
    2. Description of the content covered

Publish a Book

ActivityA+Network+Security+Cloud+PenTest+CySA+CASP
Publish a Book15204040505060
  • 15 to 60 CEUs for a published book depending on the certification related to the subject
  • Simply link the website where the book is featured or can be purchased

Work Experience

ActivityA+Network+Security+Cloud+PenTest+CySA+CASP
Work Experience9999999
  • 3 CEUs per year during your renewal cycle for work experience related to your certification
  • Submit a letter from your employer on company letterhead containing the following information:
    1. Your name
    2. Current job title
    3. The Continuing Education (CE) year for which your work experience is being submitted
    4. Tasks you performed
    5. Signature of your supervisor
  • Work experience documentation NOT permitted:
    • Work orders
    • Work performance reports
    • Resumes

Taking Cloud+ or Renewing Cloud+

  • Just like I mentioned above, Cloud+ is a weird one
  • Earned CompTIA certifications that contribute to Cloud+ but do not fully satisfy CEU requirements for:
    • CASP gives 25 CEUs
    • PenTest+ and CySA+ gives 33 CEUs
    • Security+ gives 40 CEUs
    • A+ and Network+ gives 34 CEUs
  • Earning Cloud+ contributes to but does not fully satisfies CEU requirements for:
    • A+ and Network+ 15 CEUs
  • Requires submitting CompTIA certification or transcript (that contains info below) to Earned a CompTIA Certification activity option in Certmetrics to receive CEUs
    1. Your name
    2. Name of the certification
    3. Date the certification was earned
  • CompTIA certification or transcript does NOT include:
    • Training completion certificates
    • Score reports
    • Emails

Additional IT Industry Certifications

  • Only certifications listed on the CompTIA preapproved charts can be used to earn CEUs
  • Requires submitting non-CompTIA IT certifications, transcripts or badge link issued by the certifying body (that contains info below) to Earned a Non-CompTIA Certification activity option in Certmetrics to receive CEUs
    1. Your name
    2. Name of the certification
    3. Date the certification was earned or renewed
  • Non-CompTIA certifications or transcripts do NOT include:
    • Training completion certificates
    • Score reports
    • Emails
  • CompTIA automatically audits all IT industry certifications submitted for CEUs so you’ll need to wait 24 to 48 hours before the audit completes and the CEUs are properly credited to your Certmetrics account

Certifications That Do Not Require Renewal

These certifications are good for life:

  1. IT Fundamentals+ (ITF+)
  2. Linux+
  3. Server+
  4. Cloud Essentials
  5. Certified Technical Trainer (CTT+)
  6. Project+

Highest Retired Good For Life Certifications That Are Now CE

  1. A+ (220-701 and 220-702)
  2. Network+ 2009 Edition (N10-004)
  3. Security+ 2008 Edition (SY0-201)

If you earned a CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+ or CompTIA Security+ certification prior to January 1, 2011, the certification is considered good for life (GFL) and does not expire.

I know there are other GFL certifications that were removed completely from CompTIA’s lineup. Is anyone really putting i-NET+ on their resume anymore though?

So Are Non-CE Certs or GFL Certs Still Good?

Of course they are good for life but if you’re interested in government work, you’ll find that CE certs are very necessary for directives.

For compliance with DoD 8570.01-M, as of January 1, 2011, the U.S. DoD no longer recognizes CompTIA’s good-for-life (GFL) certifications. Individuals certified after December 31, 2010, are in compliance with DoD 8570.01-M for three years from their certification date and are automatically entered in the CompTIA CE Program. Note that DoD CE Program participants must pay an annual fee as part of their successful program completion. The DoD 8570.01-M compliance also pertains to government contractors.

CompTIA Notice

The DoD Approved 8570 Baseline shows certifications that have been approved as IA baseline certifications for the IA Workforce. Personnel performing IA functions must obtain one of the certifications required for their position category or specialty and level.

To learn more about DoD-approved certifications, check out this article, DoD Approved 8570 Baseline Certifications. Refer to Appendix 3 of 8570.01-M for further guidance.

So What Happens to My GFL Certification When I Pass A CE Certification?

If you hold a GFL certification and pass the newer exam or a higher tier exam, your highest tier certification, along with all the lower tier ones will be put in the CE program.

You’ll then have two certifications for each level – your GFL certifications and your CE certifications.

Roy's CompTIA Certification History with CE

CEU Conclusion and Source Links

There you have it. CompTIA is probably the most generous in regards to the convenience of certification upkeep and renewals.

Hopefully this all makes sense. Let me know if you have any questions or if something needs to be corrected.

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