I've been a technical trainer for 25+ years. I've taken more than 16 different cert exams from CompTIA and re-certified in many of them two, three, four, five, or even six times. I've even re-certified in two CompTIA certs that were "good for life" certifications. Mostly, this was due to requirements from end clients who wanted me to hold the most recent version of the cert exam that they wanted me to teach. It doesn't matter that I've passed Security+ in 2005, 2010, 2019, 2021, and 2023. They don't trust that my 25+ years of technical training experience, list of certs, and continuing education make me qualified to teach the latest version of the exam. Because they think that the exam is different now, since the version number changed.
Honestly, I never studied for recertification exams. By teaching the courses on a regular basis, I drilled the information into my long-term memory. Every time an exam versions, only 10%-15% of the exam objectives change, mostly because they gradually add new content. But the evolution of the exams is extremely slow. There are lots of topics on my first Security+ exam that are still on the most recent Security+ exam.
It's strange because the same clients don't seem to care that I've only taken the ISC2 CISSP, ISC2 CCSP, ISACA CISM, or any other exam only one time each. They only seem concerned that I've passed THE MOST RECENT version of the CompTIA exam, apparently because passing a previous version doesn't matter in their eyes.
CompTIA doesn't print the version number on the certifications. And they don't care if you renew the cert by taking the new version, or by racking up CEUs, or by passing a different industry cert. That's what I've been doing the last few years.
Out of all my current active CompTIA certs, the one that expires the soonest is in 2027, and the one that expires the furthest out is 2031.
I really have to thank CompTIA for all the free certs and the free and discounted Beta exams over the years. Honestly, if it weren't for them, I probably wouldn't have taken as many exams as I have over the years. The costs add up quickly. Students complain nonstop about voucher costs, when CompTIA is one of the most affordable options on the market. Go check the cost of ISC2, ISACA, OffSec, and GIAC exams if you don't believe me.
I have chosen NOT to take new versions of the exam for certs I already hold. I don't learn anything new by studying for a cert that I've already passed multiple times. I'm completely fine renewing my certs by getting different certs or by racking up CEUs from webinars, conference attendance, and other educational opportunities.
I've got vouchers for Linux+. DataAI, and I'm still waiting on a voucher for Data+ (which I let expire). I'm attending the SecAI TTT, and am looking forward to taking a crack at that exam to see if there's anything new for me on that exam. Mostly, I'm looking for new challenges, not just repeating old challenges.
For those who choose to pass version after version of the CompTIA exams, I wish you the best. If that works for you, I will not disparage it. It just doesn't work for me any more.
Honestly, I never studied for recertification exams. By teaching the courses on a regular basis, I drilled the information into my long-term memory. Every time an exam versions, only 10%-15% of the exam objectives change, mostly because they gradually add new content. But the evolution of the exams is extremely slow. There are lots of topics on my first Security+ exam that are still on the most recent Security+ exam.
It's strange because the same clients don't seem to care that I've only taken the ISC2 CISSP, ISC2 CCSP, ISACA CISM, or any other exam only one time each. They only seem concerned that I've passed THE MOST RECENT version of the CompTIA exam, apparently because passing a previous version doesn't matter in their eyes.
CompTIA doesn't print the version number on the certifications. And they don't care if you renew the cert by taking the new version, or by racking up CEUs, or by passing a different industry cert. That's what I've been doing the last few years.
Out of all my current active CompTIA certs, the one that expires the soonest is in 2027, and the one that expires the furthest out is 2031.
I really have to thank CompTIA for all the free certs and the free and discounted Beta exams over the years. Honestly, if it weren't for them, I probably wouldn't have taken as many exams as I have over the years. The costs add up quickly. Students complain nonstop about voucher costs, when CompTIA is one of the most affordable options on the market. Go check the cost of ISC2, ISACA, OffSec, and GIAC exams if you don't believe me.
I have chosen NOT to take new versions of the exam for certs I already hold. I don't learn anything new by studying for a cert that I've already passed multiple times. I'm completely fine renewing my certs by getting different certs or by racking up CEUs from webinars, conference attendance, and other educational opportunities.
I've got vouchers for Linux+. DataAI, and I'm still waiting on a voucher for Data+ (which I let expire). I'm attending the SecAI TTT, and am looking forward to taking a crack at that exam to see if there's anything new for me on that exam. Mostly, I'm looking for new challenges, not just repeating old challenges.
For those who choose to pass version after version of the CompTIA exams, I wish you the best. If that works for you, I will not disparage it. It just doesn't work for me any more.
