How Long Does an A+ Certification Last?

Last Updated on April 26, 2024

The CompTIA A+ certification lasts for three years, after which it is no longer valid. However, it can then be renewed in a variety of ways.

Why Do You Need the CompTIA A+ Certification?

Before we dive into the technicalities of the A+ certification, here are three reasons that make it worthwhile to have:

Launch Your IT Career

With an A+ certification training and the required experience for a specific position, you will have what it takes to enter the IT sector and acquire a decent job. If you are wondering if you can get a job with CompTIA A+, you typically won’t need a degree from a higher-learning institution.

With CompTIA A+ certification, you can land support specialist, field service technician, desktop support analyst, and end-user computing technician jobs. The mean salary for an IT support specialist is $54,500. Similarly, the wage offered to field service technicians is around $46,000. 

Moreover, top IT companies like Intel, Dell, and HP expect candidates to have A+ certification while recruiting for open positions.

CompTIA Is Vendor Neutral

There are no restrictions on what you can accomplish if you get this certification. You can endlessly expand your technical expertise because it does not emphasize vendor-specific software.

Remote Work

With a CompTIA A+ certification, you can work from a remotely allocated desk rather than traveling to an office daily, giving you the freedom to finish projects and achieve your goals wherever you want. This means you will be able to freely plan your days so that your personal and professional lives can coexist with ease, something job-seekers are prioritizing today.

Why Does the CompTIA A+ Certification Have a Three-Year Expiration Date?

There are two main reasons why the A+ certification expires after three years:

Technological Advancements

Changes in the IT sector occur quickly. Therefore, to keep up with the constant growth in the field, you must stay up-to-date. The exam is updated frequently to ensure you stay on top of your IT game. Renewing your certification gives you an edge, proving you are keeping up with tech advancements. 

ISO/ANSI Accreditation Status

As part of ISO/ANSI accreditation, CompTIA is required to put together new exam questions after a set amount of time. Therefore, maintaining this accreditation is crucial to upholding the highest quality standards in the sector.

How Can You Renew Your Certification?

Renewing your certification is essential if you want to be prepared for any future opportunities to advance your career, even if your employer does not demand it. Here is information about how long to study for CompTIA A+, as well as three ways to renew your certification:

Training

You can renew your CompTIA A+ certification online without passing an exam, thanks to a course called CertMaster CE A+. With this, some users can renew their certification in six hours or less.

Additional Certifications

You can maintain your certification by passing the most recent CompTIA A+ exam or by obtaining an acceptable higher-level IT certification (either from CompTIA or another organization). 

Continuing Education Activities

You can also earn continuing education units (CEUs) to renew your certification. To renew CompTIA A+ this way, you need twenty CEUs. You must check these boxes—timing, relevancy, and documentation—for your CEUs to be accepted.

• Timing: Between the time you receive your certificate and the time it expires, you must complete twenty hours of CEUs.
• Relevance: At least 50% of your activities must be related to the fundamental skills tested on the A+ exam.
• Documentation: To ensure your activities adhere to CompTIA’s definition of continuing education, each must be well documented.

You can earn CEUs through multiple activities, including publishing relevant IT-related articles or blogs, teaching or mentoring, creating instructional material, and more. Most of these activities carry ten CEUs each.

In Conclusion

CompTIA A+ certification is promising for anyone looking to expand their IT expertise and kickstart a career. While the certification expires in three years, renewal is easy, especially if you know what needs to be done.