How Long Does The A+ Certification Last?

Your CompTIA A+ certification is good for 3 years from the date you pass your certification exam. ​Through our Continuing Education program, you can easily renew A+ and extend it for additional 3-year periods. Read on to learn more about the certification period and ways how you can renew A+.

A+ is a member of our group of certifications with globally recognized ISO/ANSI accreditation status. They expire three years from the date they are earned and can be renewed through our Continuing Education (CE) Program.

We refer to certifications within their 3-year period after a successful exam, or when it is successfully renewed, as “active”. We refer to certifications as “expired”, if they are not renewed. If your certification has expired, the only way to get it back again is to pass the certification exam again.

Why the A+ certification expires after 3 years

Adoption cycle of new technologies

Your job in IT comes standard with constant change: Technology advances at a breakneck pace. Your career success requires you to be ahead of the curve and be familiar with the technology that makes a meaningful impact in the market and constantly changes our lives at work and at home. We are working closely with industry partners and found that a substantial change in the use of technology usually takes place just about every 3 years. So we’re continuously updating our exams and renewing your certification gives you a great opportunity to document your knowledge in technology areas that matter to employers and are important to your career in IT.

ISO/ANSI accreditation status

To maintain the ISO/ANSI accreditation status of A+, we are required to expire A+ after a certain period of time. The benefits of accreditation include various aspects of quality management and, what we believe, some of the best-known quality standards in the industry. It also helps CompTIA to meet the high certification requirements of the U.S. Department of Defense. The result is a product that not only you can trust, but a product that is globally recognized and you can show with confidence to your existing or future employer.

Ways to renew your certification

Even when renewing your certification is not a non-negotiable requirement set by your employer, keeping your certification current isn’t just about keeping your accomplishment alive, but simply about being ready for future opportunities to grow your career. When the experience you are gaining over the years may be nearly impossible to prove, a certification delivers the necessary documentation of your expertise. Experience and certification in tandem are a powerful toolset for climbing the job ladder.

  • Renewal option 1: Training

    CompTIA offers a CertMaster CE A+ training course, which you take online and use to renew your A+ certification without taking an exam. Some users renew their A+ certification in 6 hours or less with CertMaster CE.

  • Renewal option 2: Certification and recertification exams

    You can renew your A+ certification by taking a recertification exam, qualifying higher IT-Industry certifications, a higher CompTIA certification or by passing the latest release of the CompTIA A+ exam. Learn more on our Continuing Education pages.

  • Renewal option 3: Activities

    Completing qualifying, multiple activities will earn you continuing education units (CEUs) that you need to accumulate to renew your certification. A+ requires 20 CEUs to be renewed.

Want to learn more? Visit our CE pages to learn about the renewal process and how to get started.