• To ensure you get the most out of your CIN membership and stay connected with the latest updates, we are asking all members to update their community profiles. Please take a few moments to log in and: • Complete all sections of your profile • Review your current information for accuracy • Enter an alternative email address if desired (CIN requires your valid business email address for your training organization). Keeping your profile up to date helps us better serve you, ensures your account is correctly linked with CompTIA’s CRM, streamlines processes, enhances communication, and guarantees you never miss out on valuable CIN opportunities. Thank you for taking this important step! step!

Implementation Experiences: Aligning CompTIA Training with U.S. State CTE Frameworks (e.g., DESE Massachusetts)

Hello everyone,

I’m an Information Technology instructor at a Chapter 74 Career and Technical Education (CTE) high school in Massachusetts, working under the DESE Information Support Services and Networking (ISSN) framework.

I’d like to learn from others about their experience implementing CompTIA training programs (such as A+, Network+, Security+, etc.) in alignment with state-level CTE frameworks across the U.S.

Specifically:
  • How have schools structured CompTIA coursework within multi-year high school CTE pathways?
  • Which CompTIA certifications have you integrated at each grade level (e.g., sophomore, junior, senior years)?
  • How do you ensure compliance with your state’s CTE standards (for example, DESE’s six strands: Safety & Health, Technical Skills, Employability, etc.) while maintaining industry relevance?
  • What methodologies or pacing models have proven most effective (semester-based, full-year, hybrid, or modular)?
I’m currently mapping CompTIA A+ Core 1 & 2 (CertMaster Learn v15) against the DESE CTE framework and would appreciate insights, success stories, or lesson structures that have worked well in your districts.

Thank you in advance for sharing your experience and best practices.

— José Volquez
Greater Lawrence Technical School, Andover MA

Certification Recommendation

I'll echo Rick Butler - and add; AWS Cloud Practitioner has a gamified learning platform https://aws.amazon.com/training/digital/aws-cloud-quest/
that HS students (and others) enjoy.
I would say CompTIA Tech+, which you've mentioned already.

I would also look at Microsoft 365 Fundamentals (MS-900) or AWS Cloud Practitioner if you're looking at cloud stuff.

Certification Recommendation

Hello Community,


I’m looking for substantial certifications that high school students can realistically earn in 6 weeks (about 8 hours of in-class training per week).


Due to funding, my paid apprenticeship program has been shortened from two years to six weeks. During this time, students will also complete a 40-hour work week in IT departments or community volunteer roles.


I want participants to leave with meaningful credentials, not just filler certificates. I’m currently considering Tech+, since many students already have some IT background, but I’d love to hear suggestions for other short-term, impactful certifications.


Thank you for any recommendations!

Certification Recommendation

Good point you have here, A+ with so many objectives and 2 exams to sit for, it is not recommended at this level.
I know there's always that push to get the kiddos into those core exams. And perhaps there are 1-2 students in a classroom of 30 that may be able to step up to that. Tough to get good training across with a class period of 50 minutes on average, with, maybe about 35 minutes of actual teaching, apart from all the administration stuff.
  • Like
Reactions: precious

Passed- CompTIA SecurityX Certification Exam(CAS-005)

While I received the confirmation that I passed the SecX exam within minutes of completion, I have students who had to wait several days before they received their results.

Congratulations to you for passing it... It was NOT an easy exam!

Filter