CompTIA Certification Renewal Policy Clarified

Current certificate holders remain certified for life; renewal requirement applies only to certifications earned on or after January 1, 2011

OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill.--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--CompTIA, the leading provider of vendor neutral skills certifications for the world’s information technology (IT) workforce, today clarified details of its upcoming certification renewal and continuing education policy.

“Our ISO accreditation is extremely important to us because of the global credibility it carries.”

All individuals currently certified in CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+ and/or CompTIA Security+ will retain their “certified for life” status with no requirement to recertify or retest.

Individuals who become certified in CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+ or CompTIA Security+ by December 31, 2010 also will be considered certified for life.

“We do not wish to disenfranchise any of the individuals who have supported our certification program,” said Todd Thibodeaux, president and chief executive officer, CompTIA. “The right thing to do is to honor our past commitment to those certified under our original ‘certified for life’ policy.”

Effective January 1, 2011, all new CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+ and CompTIA Security+ certifications will be valid for three years from the date the candidate becomes certified.

“We believe this solution balances the interests of our current and future certification customers with the stringent requirements set for us by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI),” Thibodeaux continued. “Our ISO accreditation is extremely important to us because of the global credibility it carries.”

The policy that takes effect on January 1, 2011 will allow CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+ and CompTIA Security+ certifications to maintain their accreditation with internationally accepted standards for assessing personnel certification programs (ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024).

CompTIA also said that the new date for the launch of its continuing education program will be January 1, 2011. The program will offer CompTIA certified professionals a range of ways to keep their certifications earned on or after January 1, 2011 current without necessarily having to take a new exam. Certification holders and candidates are encouraged to visit www.comptia.org/renewal for the latest updates. Soon, information will be available on this web site on how to participate and help shape the program.

About CompTIA

CompTIA is the voice of the world’s information technology (IT) industry. Its members are the companies at the forefront of innovation; and the professionals responsible for maximizing the benefits organizations receive from their investments in technology. CompTIA is dedicated to advancing industry growth through its educational programs, market research, networking events, professional certifications, and public policy advocacy. For more information, please visit www.comptia.org.