Are There New Requirements for CompTIA Trainers?

[Ronald]

I hope you’re all doing well. Are there any new requirements or programs from CompTIA for becoming a trainer, especially since CompTIA Trainer+ is no longer available?

Thanks in advance for any insights!

Tagging @Rick Butler and @Stephen Schneiter for insights. Thanks in advance for any information.

 

[Stephen Schneiter]

Hi @Ronald, Thanks for the inquiry. There has never been any requirement to be a CompTIA Trainer or a Certified CompTIA Trainer. I would like to have one, as I think it helps trainers stand out when promoting their skills. CompTIA has always suggested that a trainer hold the certification they are teaching, which I highly agree with. However, there are no official rules for being able to teach towards CompTIA Certifications.

The CTT+ certification was geared primarily toward folks coming from industry moving into the training field. The goal was to provide skills for managing a training environment and technologies used to deliver content and engage students. While this certification was good for proving the holder had the skills required to deliver a course successfully, CompTIA never required a trainer to hold the certification.

CompTIA actually retired and dropped the CTT+ certification. It desperately needed to be updated to current training delivery technologies, and the cost to update the product was just too high compared to the overall lack of interest in the certification.

CompTIA is developing a training delivery course that, when completed, will serve as a training course for those looking to enter the training field. The course will be just that: a short training course without a high-stakes certification. I do not have any update on when this type of course will be publically available. We will definitely keep you posted on any announcements!

With that said, what are the thoughts of the community? What do you think should be offered? Do you think a stand-alone certification similar to CTT+ would be of value? Who would sit for the certification?

Looking forward to the feedback!

 

[Rick Butler]

I hope you’re all doing well. Are there any new requirements or programs from CompTIA for becoming a trainer, especially since CompTIA Trainer+ is no longer available?

Thanks in advance for any insights!

Tagging @Rick Butler and @Stephen Schneiter for insights. Thanks in advance for any information.

Hey Ronald:

So CTT+ was decommissioned last year, as you know. As far as I know, there aren't any plans to add any follow-on certs in its place. I know there are a number of folks who'd like to see it come back, but only time can tell if it will.

CompTIA hasn't prescribed any requirements to being a trainer; it really boils down to the organization for which you work, as to what requirements are needed to be a trainer. Mostly, the trend I'm seeing these days is that you have the certification for which you're training (yes, there are people who don't, yet teach).

Hope that helps.

/r

 

[Leslie]

Hi @Ronald, Thanks for the inquiry. There has never been any requirement to be a CompTIA Trainer or a Certified CompTIA Trainer. I would like to have one, as I think it helps trainers stand out when promoting their skills. CompTIA has always suggested that a trainer hold the certification they are teaching, which I highly agree with. However, there are no official rules for being able to teach towards CompTIA Certifications.

The CTT+ certification was geared primarily toward folks coming from industry moving into the training field. The goal was to provide skills for managing a training environment and technologies used to deliver content and engage students. While this certification was good for proving the holder had the skills required to deliver a course successfully, CompTIA never required a trainer to hold the certification.

CompTIA actually retired and dropped the CTT+ certification. It desperately needed to be updated to current training delivery technologies, and the cost to update the product was just too high compared to the overall lack of interest in the certification.

CompTIA is developing a training delivery course that, when completed, will serve as a training course for those looking to enter the training field. The course will be just that: a short training course without a high-stakes certification. I do not have any update on when this type of course will be publically available. We will definitely keep you posted on any announcements!

With that said, what are the thoughts of the community? What do you think should be offered? Do you think a stand-alone certification similar to CTT+ would be of value? Who would sit for the certification?

Looking forward to the feedback!

I'm new to the CompTIA certifications and I only teach the courses in which I'm certified - as that only makes sense. I have never heard of CTT+ certification, but it is something that I would interested in pursuing.

 

[Rick Butler]

I'm new to the CompTIA certifications and I only teach the courses in which I'm certified - as that only makes sense. I have never heard of CTT+ certification, but it is something that I would interested in pursuing.

Leslie: Unfortunately, the CTT+ has been discontinued as of last year. I do hope, on some level, they bring it back.

 

[Ronald]

Hi @Ronald, Thanks for the inquiry. There has never been any requirement to be a CompTIA Trainer or a Certified CompTIA Trainer. I would like to have one, as I think it helps trainers stand out when promoting their skills. CompTIA has always suggested that a trainer hold the certification they are teaching, which I highly agree with. However, there are no official rules for being able to teach towards CompTIA Certifications.

The CTT+ certification was geared primarily toward folks coming from industry moving into the training field. The goal was to provide skills for managing a training environment and technologies used to deliver content and engage students. While this certification was good for proving the holder had the skills required to deliver a course successfully, CompTIA never required a trainer to hold the certification.

CompTIA actually retired and dropped the CTT+ certification. It desperately needed to be updated to current training delivery technologies, and the cost to update the product was just too high compared to the overall lack of interest in the certification.

CompTIA is developing a training delivery course that, when completed, will serve as a training course for those looking to enter the training field. The course will be just that: a short training course without a high-stakes certification. I do not have any update on when this type of course will be publically available. We will definitely keep you posted on any announcements!

With that said, what are the thoughts of the community? What do you think should be offered? Do you think a stand-alone certification similar to CTT+ would be of value? Who would sit for the certification?

Looking forward to the feedback!

Hi @Stephen Schneiter
Thanks for the info! I think the CTT+ was a great addition for teaching skills, but years of experience in the field should also matter. A stand-alone certification could be valuable, especially for those new to training. However, hands-on experience should be just as important when promoting trainers' skills.

Looking forward to any updates!

 

[Ronald]

Hey Ronald:

So CTT+ was decommissioned last year, as you know. As far as I know, there aren't any plans to add any follow-on certs in its place. I know there are a number of folks who'd like to see it come back, but only time can tell if it will.

CompTIA hasn't prescribed any requirements to being a trainer; it really boils down to the organization for which you work, as to what requirements are needed to be a trainer. Mostly, the trend I'm seeing these days is that you have the certification for which you're training (yes, there are people who don't, yet teach).

Hope that helps.

/r

Hi @Rick Butler
Thanks for the update! I understand that CTT+ was decommissioned, and while it's uncertain if anything will replace it, I agree that having the certification you're teaching is becoming more of a standard requirement these days. It definitely helps ensure trainers are equipped with the right knowledge, although I’ve also seen cases where that’s not always the case.

Appreciate the insight!

 

[jarrelrivera]

I echo what they have all said.

It is indeed sad that CTT+ has been decommissioned.

Having said that, I encourage you to check if there are instructor training courses that you can take either online or in class. It is great to have some teaching background, as that can help prepare you in either in-class or online deliveries.

The train-the-trainer sessions is a good avenue to learn from other trainers, regarding the course content, and how a particular course can be delivered. Plus, you also get certificates for completing each session!

 

[Gregory Childers]

As a CompTIA Adjunct Instructor, I must have the current version of the CompTIA exam I am teaching.

I.E. if I'm teaching Security+, I have to have the SY0-701 version of the exam, which I do. I've got six of the seven Security+ exam versions, but I need the 701 to teach the 701 class.

Every time the exam version, I have to retest if I'm going to teach the new version. I have four different Network+ certifications, but I can't teach the 009 version because my most recent one is the 008 version. I will have to retest.

That is a CompTIA requirement for Adjunct Instructors.

Other clients only care if your certification is still active in the system. Most of my renewable certifications are good through 2028 or 2029.

 

[Brian Ford]

Hi @Rick Butler
Thanks for the update! I understand that CTT+ was decommissioned, and while it's uncertain if anything will replace it, I agree that having the certification you're teaching is becoming more of a standard requirement these days. It definitely helps ensure trainers are equipped with the right knowledge, although I’ve also seen cases where that’s not always the case.

Appreciate the insight!

Everything that I've heard about CTT+ is that there are no plans to replace it.

You may want to look at Microsoft's MCT program. According to their site that may open again next month.

 

[Stephen Schneiter]

The train-the-trainer sessions is a good avenue to learn from other trainers, regarding the course content, and how a particular course can be delivered. Plus, you also get certificates for completing each session!

Spot on @jarrelrivera! I think this is one of the great features of the TTT series is that you get to experience different teaching styles, different methods for delivering content and explaining concepts to students. You also get to network with other instructors from around the world and share ideas about delivering content. Great takeaways!

 

[Leslie]

Leslie: Unfortunately, the CTT+ has been discontinued as of last year. I do hope, on some level, they bring it back.

Yeah, I understood that, just saying that if something like that came back around I would be interested.

 

[Rick Butler]

Yeah, I understood that, just saying that if something like that came back around I would be interested.

Moi aussi!

 

[James Arn]

Hi @Ronald, Thanks for the inquiry. There has never been any requirement to be a CompTIA Trainer or a Certified CompTIA Trainer. I would like to have one, as I think it helps trainers stand out when promoting their skills. CompTIA has always suggested that a trainer hold the certification they are teaching, which I highly agree with. However, there are no official rules for being able to teach towards CompTIA Certifications.

The CTT+ certification was geared primarily toward folks coming from industry moving into the training field. The goal was to provide skills for managing a training environment and technologies used to deliver content and engage students. While this certification was good for proving the holder had the skills required to deliver a course successfully, CompTIA never required a trainer to hold the certification.

CompTIA actually retired and dropped the CTT+ certification. It desperately needed to be updated to current training delivery technologies, and the cost to update the product was just too high compared to the overall lack of interest in the certification.

CompTIA is developing a training delivery course that, when completed, will serve as a training course for those looking to enter the training field. The course will be just that: a short training course without a high-stakes certification. I do not have any update on when this type of course will be publically available. We will definitely keep you posted on any announcements!

With that said, what are the thoughts of the community? What do you think should be offered? Do you think a stand-alone certification similar to CTT+ would be of value? Who would sit for the certification?

Looking forward to the feedback!

Sorry, this will be long...

As a former SME for this exam (2Xs), I was very sad to see it go. In addition, the organization I work with had it as a requirement for all new instructors w/i 6mos of employment. To my knowledge there is no industry wide certification for technical instructors.

Personally I see a reason for dropping this exam being that the demand was dropping, however; I don't think having to update for different platforms and technologies, adding to the cost of the exam is really necessary.

insert My .02

I have been teaching technical courses for over a decade and a half, and I have a very brief car sales background (IKR). When I was selling cars, the sales manager once told me that a good salesman can sell anything. I believe that applies to instructors as well, to a point. If you know your topic and you can teach, you can teach it. It is a skill that you can have naturally or learn, but at the end of a day it is a skill that can be applied to any topic you have sufficient knowledge of. What is my point...

The CTT+ exam was a very good way to assess an individual's basic grasp of teaching skills. While I had an issue with some of the minutia looked for in the video portion of the Exam that were really just check the box items that you would never do outside the first day of a class ( how's the temp, lighting, ; where is the breakroom and bathroom etc) The video assessment combined with the knowledge test was a good test of the instructor. I do think one of the issues with the CTT+ exam was cost, and that could be fixed IMO by combining and averaging the two tests instead of 2 separate exams.

Let the CTT+ exam be to teach and assess an individual's teaching skills, not their proficiency with a given technology, or any new technology that presents itself. A good instructor uses technology to enhance their teaching but should never be beholden to it. I think if CompTIA could focus on teaching skills, ethics, and conduct instead of worrying about technologies It could be a VERRYYY good Certification, and a quality way to certify an instructor

Just my .02 and it may not be worth that

 

[Michael Schmitz]

Sorry, this will be long...

As a former SME for this exam (2Xs), I was very sad to see it go. In addition, the organization I work with had it as a requirement for all new instructors w/i 6mos of employment. To my knowledge there is no industry wide certification for technical instructors.

As a Company, you still can provide the Book to students, to internal training and evaluation. If they wanna become an MCT, there is path to prove there Instructor knowledge, even in the moment no new MCTs are enrolled online.. but it is possible.

Personally I see a reason for dropping this exam being that the demand was dropping, however; I don't think having to update for different platforms and technologies, adding to the cost of the exam is really necessary.

It changes more to online learing, precreated content or AI generated...

I believe the Costs for the Exam Review where to expensive and low demand. I have seen CompTIA stopping Exams, when there was not high turnout over the years (Storage by SNA, Mobility, Mobility App, CDIA+, PDI+) they are all long gone...

Michael

 

[Gregory Childers]

As far as I know, there are no adequate train-the-trainer courses or certifications available. The industry wants to replace us with cheaper e-learning and AI/ML solutions because they're more inexpensive than paying a quality instructor with years of experience.