This makes the fourth CompTIA certification I've earned that has been retired.
Cloud Essentials+ retires on September 25, 2025
- Thread starter Gregory Childers
- Start date
Question is whether it actually contributed any value to the market. Me, I'm thinking that it's fine they're culling some of their products.
Of course, they're also adding a wild growth of new products, but
Of course, they're also adding a wild growth of new products, but
I'm assuming that they run the numbers on sales figures in the CompTIA store for vouchers and training to make decisions regarding ROI. The organization has retired several certifications over the years.
I'm adopting a "wait and see" approach to the new products. My concern is that I hope they do not dilute their brand with these offerings.
I'm adopting a "wait and see" approach to the new products. My concern is that I hope they do not dilute their brand with these offerings.
I've always stuck with the most recognized certifications like A+, Network+, Server+, PenTest+, CySA+, and CASP+. Now, I just need to take SecurityX to renew. The only time I deviated from the standard, widely accepted certs was for the Healthcare IT certification—and we all know how that turned out. I have Cloud+ and Linux+ because they are required to teach at the University I work
@Gregory Childers do you have the link for that or is it on their website, sorry I am just on a break, I was sure they said it was December as the last date to take the exam.
Cloud Essentials+ Certification | CompTIA IT Certifications
The Cloud Essentials+ certification validates the understanding of cloud computing principles. Learn about the certification, available training and the exam.
www.comptia.org
Top man, thank you, as soon as I clicked on it the pop up came up.
This is interesting as this exam was supposed to still be available, and I quote "it will be sunsetted at the end of this calendar year", so that is a spanner in the works for sure for some organisations like ours that are still actively delivering it.
This is interesting as this exam was supposed to still be available, and I quote "it will be sunsetted at the end of this calendar year", so that is a spanner in the works for sure for some organisations like ours that are still actively delivering it.
That Healthcare IT certification was the only crazy digression I made. It aged about as well as Internet Explorer lets face it.
Cloud+ and Linux+ weren't particularly popular either they were simply requirements for university instruction. Right now I'm essentially gathering certificates like Pokémon but only the ones that HR is genuinely interested in.
yes - diluting the brand is my most concern.
thats 1 big issues vendor neutral certs face that vendor centric platforms and certs dont phase. exams can be retired but realignment is driven more because of technology and other important factors not acceptance or sales figure
My Thoughts
The three retired certifications that I earned were the i-Net+, CDIA+, and DHTI+.That Healthcare IT certification was the only crazy digression I made. It aged about as well as Internet Explorer lets face it.
The CompTIA i-Net+ certification was designed to validate the technical knowledge and skills needed for entry-level Internet and e-commerce roles. It focused on fundamental Internet concepts, including infrastructure, development, and security, and was a vendor-neutral certification. The i-Net+ exam was designed to help individuals enter the Internet industry and demonstrate their entry-level skills to potential employers.
The CompTIA CDIA+ (Certified Document Imaging Architect) certification was a globally recognized credential validating competency in document imaging and management. It demonstrated expertise in planning, designing, and specifying document imaging solutions, including enterprise content systems.
The CompTIA DHTI+ certification, formally known as the CEA-CompTIA Digital Home Technology Integrator certification, was a vendor-neutral credential validating a home technology professional's skills in configuring, integrating, maintaining, and troubleshooting electronic and digital home systems. It aimed to recognize expertise in areas like networking, audio/video, security, and home automation.
Honestly, you could probably list those on your résumé under "IT Archeology."....
I bow to your certification archaeology skills!
I can remember when the official A+ curriculum taught a lesson on the history of computers and technology.
John Napier, Charles Babbage, Alan Turing, Adm. Grace Hopper, Lady Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace., Atanasoff and Berry, Howard Aiken, John W. Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert, John von Neumann, and many others. Today, no one knows (or cares) about those pioneers in the field.
John Napier, Charles Babbage, Alan Turing, Adm. Grace Hopper, Lady Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace., Atanasoff and Berry, Howard Aiken, John W. Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert, John von Neumann, and many others. Today, no one knows (or cares) about those pioneers in the field.
I have to agree with that. I took the certification only because, at the time, I was working for a company that provided comprehensive HIPAA compliance assessments for healthcare providers, specifically focused on their IT infrastructure. They hired me on the condition that I would sit for the exam within six months, and they covered the cost. Otherwise, I doubt I would’ve ever considered it. As for my main certification track, it follows the typical CompTIA progression: A+, Network+, Security+ / Server+, Linux+, Cloud+ / CySA+, Pentest+, and CASP+ (Security X). This is largely because I currently work at a university that’s a full CompTIA academic partner—so it’s simple: you earn the cert, or you don’t teach the course. Plus, they pay for them, which makes the decision even easier.That Healthcare IT certification was the only crazy digression I made. It aged about as well as Internet Explorer lets face it.
Outside of that, I also hold the OSCP from Offensive Security and the CISM from ISACA—mainly because those two are favorites among HR departments. I’ve also completed Microsoft’s AZ-800 and AZ-801 exams for the Windows Server Hybrid Administrator certification. At this point, I only maintain my ISACA CISM because it automatically renews my Security X, which in turn renews several CompTIA certifications. Honestly, sometimes it feels like a money-making scheme by all these certification bodies. But as long as I'm not the one paying, I’ll keep taking them.
Anyone remember the long-retired Mobility+ certification back in the days of BlackBerry and the rise of Exchange ActiveSync?
Wow, honestly, the first time I've heard of it, I'm sure CompTIA will come up with a Banana+ certification if the trend moves to using bananas to hold server room doors open
I studied for and earned Cloud Essentials+ back when it was first offered. I had been preparing for the AWS Cloud Practitioner exam and was ready to set the date when I learned of Essentials. I took both on the same day and passed both. In my opinion, Cloud Essentials was the better exam. AWS Cloud Practitioner covers some of the same ground but focuses on the candidate's AWS product decoder capabilities. Cloud Essentials has links to Network+ and Security+. I later earned Cloud+, which covered many of the same objectives with better connections to AWS, Azure, and GCP. That's the Cloud+ advantage. It covers aspects of all major CSPs.
I took and passed both Cloud Essentials+ and Cloud+. If I remember correctly, Cloud Essentials was more for business leaders and cloud 'newbies'
If CompTIA is coming out with Business Essentials and AI Essentials etc, I am not sure why Cloud Essentials would be dropped from that pathway.
If CompTIA is coming out with Business Essentials and AI Essentials etc, I am not sure why Cloud Essentials would be dropped from that pathway.
I was thinking that on the list would be Storage+ -- one I wish was still available. If anyone has the study material for that please let me know, I would find it relevant and helpful.
I considered Storage+ but never got around to taking the exam. I also took the computer-based exam for CTT+ but never submitted the video portion.
Another cert I’ve never heard of. Same thing will probably happen with the AI Essentials — I used the TestOut material to build a course on new trends in technology, hoping it would cover the full 8 weeks. In the end, I had to split it: 4 weeks of AI and 4 weeks of cyber psychology. Everyone who beta tested the class said the second half was great; the first half… not so much. Once again, it's a solid study resource, but as a certification, I see little value. They still haven’t announced when the cert will officially go live, but I was told — yet again — that you’ll need to take it if you want to teach the course.