CE Maintenance Fees

[Jeff Strain]

So, I am really confused about maintenance fees. My understanding is we only pay for the most expensive cert and even then... Not sure how this works when you have multiple at the same level. I am also unsure when it starts. Looking at Continuing education, I have a lot of certifications, and I am confused about whether I need to pay anything this year.

I also see that most of my certs this year have not been sent to fulfillment. I think this is the paper certification.

Any way... I'm hoping I have a budget left over at work, and I can pay some of these, but I'm really confused as to what I should pay.

It looks like I partially paid Cloud+, and since it is listed in the professional series, is that the only one I need to care about?

Here is a transcript if you want to help me

Transcript for Jeffrey Lynn Strain

Check out my transcript to see all of my accomplishments.

www.certmetrics.com

 

[BrianFord]

Jeff,
From the Certmetrics site "If you hold an A+, Security+, Linux+, Pen Test+ and or CySA+ and you plan to renew fully with a higher level CompTIA certification then your CE fees will be waived.".

I hold Sec+, CySA+, Linux+, Cloud+, and Data+ AND CASP+. I pay $50 for CASP+. That's all.
It's that question about 'Intent Level' that's important. You need to choose the highest level certification as per:
https://www.comptia.org/continuing-...ity/earn-a-higher-level-comptia-certification

Given your transcript your highest level (intent) is CySA+ or PenTest+.

It may be worthwhile for you to challenge SecurityX.

Regards,
Brian

 

[Mark Anthony Germanos]

Jeff,
From the Certmetrics site "If you hold an A+, Security+, Linux+, Pen Test+ and or CySA+ and you plan to renew fully with a higher level CompTIA certification then your CE fees will be waived.".

I hold Sec+, CySA+, Linux+, Cloud+, and Data+ AND CASP+. I pay $50 for CASP+. That's all.
It's that question about 'Intent Level' that's important. You need to choose the highest level certification as per:
https://www.comptia.org/continuing-...ity/earn-a-higher-level-comptia-certification

Given your transcript your highest level (intent) is CySA+ or PenTest+.

It may be worthwhile for you to challenge SecurityX.

Regards,
Brian

CompTIA should do a better job promoting higher certs. A lot of certificate earners just pay the CE fees because they do not know they can get a higher cert and avoid the CE fees. Also let's remember, the higher cert helps them qualify for jobs with more $$, more pride and more responsibility.

 

[Jose A Ruiz Marquez]

It's $50 a year, whether you have 1 or a 100 certifications. Your payment should point towards your highest cert, in your case CySA+

 

[Jeff Strain]

It's $50 a year, whether you have 1 or a 100 certifications. Your payment should point towards your highest cert, in your case CySA+

I thought down this path, but got the following message. Also, I think the higher level are $75.

 

[Jeff Strain]

Jeff,
From the Certmetrics site "If you hold an A+, Security+, Linux+, Pen Test+ and or CySA+ and you plan to renew fully with a higher level CompTIA certification then your CE fees will be waived.".

I hold Sec+, CySA+, Linux+, Cloud+, and Data+ AND CASP+. I pay $50 for CASP+. That's all.
It's that question about 'Intent Level' that's important. You need to choose the highest level certification as per:
https://www.comptia.org/continuing-...ity/earn-a-higher-level-comptia-certification

Given your transcript your highest level (intent) is CySA+ or PenTest+.

It may be worthwhile for you to challenge SecurityX.

Regards,
Brian

It is one the docket for the next year. I should complete all of the old CompTIA certifications this year. I will attempt some of the newer ones as well. Just trying to cross them all off .

 

[Jose A Ruiz Marquez]

I thought down this path, but got the following message. Also, I think the higher level are $75.

I have CASP+ and I pay $50 each year, 75 is the number of CEU's per 3 year period

 

[Michael Schmitz]

If you have Cloud+ (or maybe in the Future the DataPath). It depends on when you renew and pay. I had once the Problem, that i would have to pay the Fee twice, because i renewed the CASP+ before the Cloud+ renew date was available. Different Paths are independend.
It may be a way to attend a TTT that will give you a chaance to get a Voucher for your Renewal.
And then you need to upload your Certificates for getting the Points.

 

[jarrelrivera]

So, I am really confused about maintenance fees. My understanding is we only pay for the most expensive cert and even then... Not sure how this works when you have multiple at the same level. I am also unsure when it starts. Looking at Continuing education, I have a lot of certifications, and I am confused about whether I need to pay anything this year.

I also see that most of my certs this year have not been sent to fulfillment. I think this is the paper certification.

Any way... I'm hoping I have a budget left over at work, and I can pay some of these, but I'm really confused as to what I should pay.

It looks like I partially paid Cloud+, and since it is listed in the professional series, is that the only one I need to care about?

Here is a transcript if you want to help me

Transcript for Jeffrey Lynn Strain

Check out my transcript to see all of my accomplishments.

www.certmetrics.com

I suggest that you look at TTT sessions next year (2025)
By completing all sessions, you can use it for CEU points. You may also be able to get an exam voucher, i.e. Cloud+.

Per your transcript, Linux+ and Cloud+ are due for renewal on January 2026.
If you take Cloud+ in 2025, that also renews A+, Network+ and Linux+.
If you get an exam voucher from TTT sessions, then you renew it for free.

OR, you can take Pentest+ in 2025, which then renews CySA+, Security+, Network+, A+
but it doesn't renew Linux+ tho... might just need to start with Cloud+ first.

 

[Michael Schmitz]

I suggest that you look at TTT sessions next year (2025)
By completing all sessions, you can use it for CEU points. You may also be able to get an exam voucher, i.e. Cloud+.

Per your transcript, Linux+ and Cloud+ are due for renewal on January 2026.
If you take Cloud+ in 2025, that also renews A+, Network+ and Linux+.
If you get an exam voucher from TTT sessions, then you renew it for free.

OR, you can take Pentest+ in 2025, which then renews CySA+, Security+, Network+, A+
but it doesn't renew Linux+ tho... might just need to start with Cloud+ first.

The Windows for the Cloud+ Voucher is already closed. He may view the 4 sessions and get 8 Points for it.
Pentest TTT will be in 2025. since the New Version will be released in Dec. 24.
Linux+ new Version is in Dev. so there should be in late 25 a TTT or in early 26..
Some time to get that done.

 

[Jeff Strain]

Okay,

Even if this is not the correct answer, it is the way the system appears to work...


It looks like you are charged $75 per year. This shows for me the last 3 years. So, that is what I am paying becuase it is requesting me to pay it. This is not what my understanding is of what should be done.


On a side note... Fullfillment - sending of the paper certifications. Each time you are required to validate your address, I think. I just validated my address and looks like they are all being sent. Unless someone at CompTIA noticed my comment above.


I have done multiple certifications every year and it looks like you still are expected to pay a certification fee, but no clue what happens if you do not pay.

I hope this information in helpful.

 

[Jose A Ruiz Marquez]

Oh, so they charge you 25 extra for the Data+ cert! Wow..... But why for A+, they explain that CySA+ renews all the cybersecurity pathway backwards Pentest, Security, Netowrk, A..... strange...... Like I said, CompTIA needs to review this system......

 

[Jeff Strain]

Oh, so they charge you 25 extra for the Data+ cert! Wow..... But why for A+, they explain that CySA+ renews all the cybersecurity pathway backwards Pentest, Security, Netowrk, A..... strange...... Like I said, CompTIA needs to review this system......

My understanding is the advanced should cover/include the other (Data+, A+, etc) but it looks like it does not. Also, renewing may not be the same as maintenance. Then again, maybe I am paying something I do not need to. I just paid all my others and am trying to understand CompTIA. With my other certifications, it is easier to know when and what maintenance to pay. CompTIA... I am confused and not sure I am doing it right.

 

[Jose A Ruiz Marquez]

Well, I have to now see what happens with me, I know that the CASP+ renews Pentest+, & CySA+..... Cloud+ renews Linux+, .... My A+, Network+ Security+ and Server+ are lifetime so I don't have to worry about them. But seeing your screenshots makes me wonder if I have to pay fees for both CASP+ and Cloud+ and how many CEU's will be really required because you don't find much overlap on things you can use for both certs. This makes it feel a little like a money pit.... If my boss keeps giving me free vouchers then no worries, I just take Security X and the new version of Cloud+ and pay the fees. It seems like the most economical solution to keep renewing the certs..... I need to renew Cloud in October 2027 and for those of us that have CASP+ CompTIA explained that we will become Security X certified automatically so that means if the new cert change drops on January 2025 I'll be home free till 2028. Only fees.

 

[Michael Schmitz]

What you have to pay is, when is the Cert Fee due do renew. I had the Problem once, that i renewed to early, that Cloud+ was not in the Window. So i payed for CASP, and then had to pay for Cloud+ again. Had i waited four more weeks, the renewal would have incl. Cloud+ as well.
So you have to check the Dates by yourself. When renewal starts, and what is the window for renewal.

Michael