Keep the A+ you passed: 20 CEUs, three years and the higher credential that renews it
A+ follows a three-year cycle. To renew through continuing education you need 20 continuing education units (CEUs). CompTIA lists several routes: CertMaster CE for A+, a qualifying higher-level CompTIA certification such as Network+ or Security+, qualifying certifications from other IT bodies, and approved training and other activities. If the cycle ends without renewal, the credential expires and you must pass both current exams again.
Nobody forgets to renew on purpose. They find out in the last months that their activities do not qualify, and the credential lapses the week a job application asks for it. The fix is a calendar and a folder of evidence.
How long does A+ last?
A+ follows a three-year renewal cycle, which begins once you have passed both cores in the same version. Your cycle end date appears in your CompTIA account. To renew through continuing education, you need 20 CEUs during the cycle.
What are the routes?
| Route | What you do |
|---|---|
| CertMaster CE for A+ | Complete CompTIA's own continuing education product |
| A higher-level CompTIA certification | Earn a qualifying one, such as Network+ or Security+ |
| Another IT body's certification | Earn a qualifying certification from another issuer |
| Approved training and activities | Complete training and other qualifying activities for CEUs |
Read CompTIA's continuing education pages for A+ before you commit to a route. Check the CEU total, the qualifying activities, any fees and your cycle end date.
Tariq, in the book, passed Security+ in his second year as an A+ holder. He confirmed with CompTIA that it renewed his A+ as well, which saved him a separate set of CEUs. Maya passed A+ and felt pressure to start Security+ at once. She spent a year on a hospital help desk instead, then took Security+, which her employer paid for and which also renewed her A+.
What happens if you let it lapse?
If your cycle ends without renewal, the credential expires, and you would need to pass both current exams again. That is two vouchers, two study periods and two exam days. Keep evidence of every activity, because CompTIA can review your claims.
A calendar that works
Twenty CEUs over three years is about seven a year.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| The week you pass your second core | Put your cycle end date in your calendar with reminders at 12, 6 and 3 months before it |
| Every month | Record any activity in the month you complete it |
| Every six months | Check your CEU total against the pace of about 7 a year |
| Month 24 | Decide: CertMaster CE, a higher CompTIA exam or another route |
| Month 30 | If you are short, switch to a higher certification while there is still time to study |
If you plan Network+ or Security+ anyway, time it so it also renews A+. Confirm with CompTIA first that the exam qualifies.
Should you renew or move on?
Renewing keeps what you have. It does not decide what is next. For most new holders, six months to a year on a help desk adds more value than another exam, and it makes the next exam far easier.
Choose the next step from your goal. For networking, CompTIA Network+ or Cisco CCNA. For security, CompTIA Security+. For cloud, AWS Cloud Practitioner or Microsoft AZ-900. For systems administration, a vendor administrator credential such as Microsoft's. If you want to stay in support and lead a team, build experience first, then look at an IT service management credential.
If you are still deciding on your first move, the first guide in this series has the fit test, and the cost guide covers what a retake or a second pair of exams costs. Chapter 15 of CredenTrek For CompTIA A+ holds the full renewal plan, and Appendix D has a message template for CE activities that show the wrong status.
- Add your cycle end date to your calendar with reminders at 12, 6 and 3 months before it.
- Read CompTIA's continuing education pages for A+ and note the CEU total and qualifying activities.
- Create a folder for evidence of every activity you submit.
- Write your two-year goal and decide whether it needs a new credential or more experience.
Questions readers ask
How many CEUs do I need to renew A+?
Can Security+ or Network+ renew my A+?
What if my A+ expires?
Where do I see my cycle end date?
- CompTIA A+ certification page
- CompTIA continuing education pages for A+
- CompTIA CertMaster CE for A+
This guide is independent and is not endorsed by CompTIA. Facts change: confirm them on the official page before you act.