After an outpouring of comments in response to our recertification announcement this week, we thought it best to let you hear the responses directly from the horse’s mouth. In this podcast, I discussed some of the more pointed comments with Terry Erdle (our VP of Certs) and allowed him to address them directly.
Download and listen to the podcast here: http://www.comptia.org/media/CompTIA_certification_discussion.mp3
Links to more information about our recent changes:
FAQs
Certification Policy
See How Your Certification Is Affected
Email Customer Service
As always, you can leave comments here or call CompTIA customer service at: 630-678-8300
Update 6/23/2010: With recent changes to our Web site, several of the above links are obsolete. The latest information on this subject is posted at http://www.comptia.org/renewal. Please direct questions to http://support.comptia.org.
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After listening to the podcast, the reasons for having Comptia certifications ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024 accredited and compliant makes sense.
However, the way this is implemented is very poor for reasons below:
1. The A+, Net+ and Security+ have been advertised as life-time certifications.
Sure this maybe could change at some point, BUT….
How you googled colleges and IT Trainers, etc…. and seen how many of them advertised their classes and mentioned that these certifications are for life and never expire.
You have opened a big can of potential lawsuits against Comptia and possible any of the educational providers that advertised these as life time certifications in any of their brochures. Some people paid thousands of dollars for the training. I believe there will be lawsuits. The lawyers will love this.
2. A better implementation of this change!!!!
CREATE brand new certification that is ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024 compliant and lay out the policy clearly on how the new program works. What you call it will need to be something like A+ GOLD. Improve your test quality also. The test questions are poorly written.
Have a path for your current A+ candidates to upgrade to gold. Either thru proof of other certifications, classes, CEUs, or work experience. Or current test.
Thus, avoid angry customers, confused new certification clients and avoid the years of law suits this possibly will bring.
You’ve angered many former supporters and have lost many new candidates.
Good luck and hopefully you will see best to modify the way you are implementing this change,
I think all of the IRE is not there is a change, but how it is being implemented.
Wonder if this is why Microsoft keeps changing the names of their certifications. They are probably avoiding lawsuits by doing this.
Linda
Propanganda, wat a cheap way of doing damage control.
I want my refund back.
Sorry, Teddie. That simply won’t do. Don’t dig the hole any deeper for yourself. Let’s see some action. You’ll need to do some real damage control to get this resolved. Lets see what you can do, not say. The future of your company depends on how you handle this.
talk is cheap.. now comptia’s intergrity is in question.. all the podcast says are just craps because it does not solve our problems.. boycott is the last resort.. if you can’t make people listen to you so simply give them pressure by hurting their pockets.
I sense some despotic ways of doing things to justify higher profits.
The reputation of comptia is going down the drain. Period. I never thought why would anyone wanna shoot on their own foot.
Comptia is now adding additional stress to the recession. All the schools offering comptia’s certifications will see drastic drop in enrollment. All the certifications book for comptia will be left on the shelves in book stores.
My God. I just discovered that my “lifetime” A+ certification will expire. Time to get an attorney because that is not what was advertised by CompTia when I got certified. I still have all the original web pages and advertising literature. Seems like Republicans are behind this – you know, the unilateral contract changers who are really corporate raiders masquerading as politicians.
We’ve all seen it on TV, some fat cat CEO or VP bankrupts a good company or just runs it into the ground by making terrible decisions; and then everybody wonders how the heck that guy was able to be put in a position to do that? A glimpse of the future – I think that fits this scenario.
I had to go put on my boots while listing to the podcast cause the crap was getting too deep, they must take us all for fools.
I’ll put into terms maybe you can grasp CompTIA:
1. A network technician just found out that his entry level certs are only good for 3 years and he has to spend more money and become a professor or publish a friggin book or spend money on continuing education seminars to keep them valid. Being an IT professional what do you do?
A. Laugh it off and count your cash.
B. Talk to him like a politician and convince him even though you are screwing him, he/she will learn to like it.
C. Tell him that he needs to go to the hospital where he was born and recertify his birth certificate every 3 years.
D. Admit that you made a huge mistake and change the decision before it is too late for everyone.
Shady.
First of I think taking away life time expiration away is a bad idea because customers will just certify somewhere else like Cisco were talking any Cisco test renews all of your certifications. Sounds like desperate move to make money in the bad economy to me.
Second, if CompTia is going to implement an expiration date then they should grandfather in the users who got there certifications before 2010.
Third CompTia needs to have a better renewal policy like CISCO does. You only need to take any Cisco test within the three year period to renew all prior certification. For example if you have a CCNA cert and it expires, then you can take any one test from the CCNP to renew your CCNA for another 3 years. Comptia should let us renew all of our certifications by talking any other Comptia test every 3 years. I have A+ Network + and Security + and should only have to take one of these tests or another comptia test like Linux+ to renew all of them. Otherwise it would take me forever to renew each certification individually since I’m trying to advance my knowledge in higher level certifications and attend college at the same time making it counter productive. This is my suggestion. Personally if Comptia does not fix its policy then I will not renew my certifications and instead totally commit to Cisco and any other certifications that provide a pyramid like structure of advancement in its certification policy.
Im a certified in CCNA, A+, Network+, Security+
Currently inroled in University of Phoenix in persuit of BSIT/ISS (Bachelors of Science in IT Information System Security) 3rd year in.
Comptia, let’s be honest. I’ve check with a qa manager from my office that is in charge of my office ISO certification. He told me that all the documents and procedures pior to the ISO certificationare not affected.
When Microsoft was first planning their ‘new-generation’ certifications, they announced they would expire (take the credential away from people who’d already earned it, not just stop offering outdated tests to new people) every three years without recertification. IT professionals were so disgusted/frustrated with this, even being announced in advance, that Microsoft changed its mind and decided not to do that.
But now CompTIA is thinking it’s a good idea to start retroactively expiring EVERYONE’S certifications, for hundreds of thousands of people, after Microsoft has decided it was a bad idea to force on people even when it wasn’t retroactive??
And most people upset about this horrendous move by CompTIA haven’t even noticed THIS part yet, as the only mention of it seems to be buried halfway down the Renewal Policy FAQ page:
“Participants will pay an annual maintenance fee of $25 if they are CompTIA A+ certified, or $49 if they are CompTIA Network+ or CompTIA Security+ certified. Payment of this annual fee will be required the first time each year you access the continuing education system. Only electronic payments will be accepted.”
Here’s one way you could address these ISO/etc requirements without angering the majority of your certified pros who don’t care about that. Microsoft recently released an OPTIONAL update exam to be taken every three years for one of their certifications, to let people who want or need to meet special requirements for their particular employment do so, but not affecting any other people who have earned or will earn that certification who don’t want or need to do renewals.
http://borntolearn.mslearn.net/2009/11/announcing-the-availability-of-exam-70-699-windows-server-2003-mcsa-security-specialization-skills-update
“Microsoft announces the availability of exam 70-699: Windows Server 2003, MCSA Security Specialization Skills Update. …
Some organizations will not recognize credentials unless they meet the ISO 17024 Personnel Certification Bodies requirements. For example, according to the Department of Defense Directive 8570.1, by 2010, the DoD will only recognize information security credentials that have been accredited by ANSI or equivalent authorization bodies. Because demonstrating continued competence (recertification) is one of the ISO 17024 requirements, we have developed this exam to fulfill this requirement.
If you hold the MCSA Security Specialization credential and work for the DoD or an organization with similar requirements, you should take this exam if you’d like your organization to recognize your MCSA Security Specialization credential. Additionally, candidates who are interested in demonstrating continued competence on the security-related functions and tasks on Windows Server 2003 and one of Microsoft’s clients are encouraged to take this exam. Recertification is not required for candidates who do not work for such an organization or who have no interest in demonstrating continued competence in this content area.”
So I just took the most current 2008 Sercuity+ exam in September. Now my “lifetime certification” is only valid for 3 years? Wait, no according to your renewal policy it is only valid until Dec 31, 2011. So for my money I get 2 years and 3 months? What a bunch of crooks!
Congratulations Comptia, you’ve chopped off three of your cash cow’s legs. All that’s let is the DoD, But when people stop getting their entry level certs from you, then the government will eventually question Comptia’s value.
Nothing like working yourself right out of a job!
I’m glad Glad that They fell that Their Certifications Don’t hold Value … That is no More than 3 years, The CEO Should get Fired if He doesn’t ReTake His College Degree …He darn Well drag it and Benefited for well over 30 years from that, Let’s make it every 3 Years Since the technology changes so often….. The reason I’m GLAD is that I don’t have to spent my time and money on their Certifications, I’ll just go with Cisco….
And what a bunch a croc.. they’ll not make a profit out of this…..And I thought their main business is Certifications….Go Cisco by all Means….By by CompTia…….Next…
I may be in the minority here, but I actually think this is a good IDEA. Poor implementation, but a good idea at heart. Here’s why.
A+, Net+, and Security+ are ENTRY LEVEL CERTIFICATIONS. Argue that all you will, but they’re a mile wide and an inch deep.
Security+ is meant to be the end of the three exam sequence. CompTIA also weighs it the highest, as is evidenced by the fact that it requires 50 units to recertify. It also contains material from both the N+ and A+. The easiest way (and for most people, the ONLY way) to keep their certifications active will be to retake the Security+ every three years.
If CompTIA updates the exam that frequently, I’m all for it. Security is a rapidly changing field, and anyone in the industry will benefit from learning the newest technologies.
HOWEVER,
If CompTIA does NOT update the exam at least every two years, this is worthless.
Cost is a concern as well. CompTIA, you know your customers are entry-level techs, who will have a hard enough time simply finding employment in this industry. $50 every year and almost $200 for the Security+ is too much to ask. For $300, a tech could buy a new book AND pay for a new certification, expanding their skil lset and increasing their value. Which brings me to my next point.
The re-certification form (pdf) vaguely mentions “other industry certifications” counting towards credits. This makes sense, since the A+/Net+ combo, or the Security+ alone, count as electives towards the MCSA and MCSE. But guess what? THEY DON’T COUNT TOWARDS THE MCITP AT ALL! So it’d behoove you CompTIA folks to think very carefully about what other certifications do and don’t count towards keeping these three current, since the MCSE is going the way of the buffalo.
I think it’s fairly obvious that the only people happy about this change have stock in CompTIA. Nobody wants to pay to retake an entry level exam three years after they enter the industry. My prediction is that the vast majority of people will be sufficiently skilled, and have obtained enough job experience in three years that they’ll simply allow these certifications to expire. Once you’ve made it past “Help Desk Technician I”, they don’t really mean much anyway. People will move on to their MCITP and their CCNA and the like, and never look back. The irony is, that’s what happens NOW. You’re only screwing the people who don’t advance quickly. While it’s true that the slowest in the herd get eaten, that’s a pretty tasteless business model for a company that’s supposed to be all about helping IT techs get started.
you will also need to retake your driving license going according to comptia’s theory. 20 years ago, cars have engines that are below 100BHP and newer cars nowadays have engines with injection and power exceeding 150BHP. so you may not be qualifed to drive those cars anymore.
PS: also add another driving license test for driving lamborghini.
Some places in the world DO have “Class licenses” for different types of cars. Even in the US, we have learners permits, junior licenses, car, motorcycle, commercial truck, etc. In keeping with this analogy, if CompTIA were to follow that model that’d be GREAT. Rather than recertifying my car driver’s license every few years, I could get a motorcycle license. It takes more skill to operate, but builds on the same concepts of traffic law, vehicle operation, etc. In many places (NY, for one) taking a Motorcycle Safety Course counts as a defensive driving class applicable to your car insurance. And come on- do you think a 17 year old kid who just got his license should be able to pilot a Gallardo on the interstate?
If there were a tier above entry level CompTIA exams, I’d be 100% supportive of a requirement to either take the next level up, or an updated version of the highest one you hold. Since there isn’t, and the exams are updated so infrequently, I can’t support this new model.
This is what happens when certification companies lobby the government. DOD 8570 was the result and now they are lobbying congress for mandatory cyber security certifications. This is not good as many, including myself will be leaving the IT field because I want a life outside if IT. I work long hours as it is and improve my skills on my own time. Now because of you my employer thinks my skills have no merit unless I keep passing some generic test?
To make it worse I had to dumb down my thinking to your obsurd test questions and fork out big bucks to boot. Screw this, I am glad i saved up and paid off my bills. Because this recertification craze is going to increase the costs of being in IT and dont forget with DOD 8570 not only do you have to be certified/recertified in IA, BUT you have to be certified/recertified on every OS you work with. Maybe if a non profit company like yourself would make your certifications more affordable it would not be so bad. Where exactly is your overhead to justify the cost? All your tests are electronic and your test centers are really independent businesses that provide their own support and equipment to run your electronic tests, plus you only pay them what 10 cents on the dollar for each test completed?
Steve was right – we are the certification leader. CompTia – you gotta be kidding me $$$
I have to agree with a lot of the comments here. I have got my CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, and CompTIA Server+ certifications.
I have started my own little business thinking that once I had certified, all I had to do was keep up to date by studying on my own. I have been reading updated journals from various websites and I have been doing my best to keep up to date for the most part on all three certifications. It has taken up all of my free time. On top of this, I have been getting more and more clients because of the speed and quality of work that I can do. As well, I am going to be writing CompTIA’s Linux+ certification in August of this year.
After each exam, yes, my troubleshooting skills were increasing, but I found myself constantly reading updated IT journals and some white papers. What CompTIA doesn’t realize is that some people had to home school themself for these certifications. For some, they had no choice as they needed to make ends meet by taking another job to survive.
I took CompTIA’s exams with the notion that once I was certified, it was for lifetime. Now I am really frustrated. I am going to have to recertify on my own; as I home schooled myself for all of these certifications. I don’t mind it and I know why they are doing this, but let the individuals who have achieved the certification keep them. Just introduce new certification exams and change the logo slightly. Not the CompTIA name part of the logo, nor the bullets or the line, but where it dictates the type of certification. (Let’s say CompTIA A+, replace with CompTIA A+ certified 2010 or CompTIA A+ cert 2010). This would make more sense as it would not be really hard to put 5 characters (4 and one space) into the CompTIA logo.
In the last example of CompTIA A+ cert 2010, the only modification would be to change the last 5 character. For CompTIA Network+ certified, they can change it to CompTIA Network+ cert 2010 and still have the same amount of characters. If they wanted to, they can use the full word certified.
A lot of people are upset besides myself. I am going to be heading off to IBM certification shortly after I write the CompTIA Linux+ exam. I know the speed of technology is changing dramatically, but to recertify on an entry level exam again! That’s what I can understand on their thinking. What harm are you going to do let people keep their entry level certifications through CompTIA. Most of the people anyways who get certified through CompTIA go on to higher level certification.
What about if a person who has Network+ and A+ and the years they got certified are old. Can he or she just recertify the higher level certification and can keep their entry level A+ CompTIA should actually have consulted the vast amount of people who are already certified and asked them about what possible scenarios could be implemented.
CompTIA then should have taken these to the appropriate bodies of people. This would have given them a better pool of information and how to deal with it appropriately. I know myself, once I achieve CompTIA Linux+ certification in August, I’ll recertify once before I challenge IBM’s certification.
The other thing that I don’t know if CompTIA has thought it through is, what about the people who write the certification books. I know myself I had ordered two books to prepare for my Linux+ certification. The original release date was October 22, 2009. One of the books arrived November 26, 2009. I finished that book and made my own notes, which I’ll be typing up for myself to be ready to study for March 1, 2010. The other book, however, has still not come and it’s been almost 4 months since the book was originally supposed to be released for my Linux+. I got no email from the publisher and the store where I pre-ordered the book for my Linux+ certification doesn’t know what’s happening.
So how is an individual to prepare for certification exams, if the publisher is having trouble meeting the deadline and how are they going to be putting out certification book every two years. Are they going to offer the books via electronic download through retailers. That’s just going to eventually overload the servers because of the amount of certifications out there.
I hope CompTIA rethinks their position and comes up with a better alternative. After all, there was a lot of suggestion on the blogs and I think there are more problems out there than CompTIA realizes as well as other certification vendors. After all, the last item I discussed about how publishers are going to get the books out to people in time is going to be the biggest challenge to.
Will Strata become the entry level cert from now? and A+ the higher level cert?
I have just passed the A+ 2009 certification today, and I was very happy about getting a certification for “LIFE.” Boy was I wrong. I will be smarter next time before wasting my time with a company that is without integrity. The irony is that the A+ exams focuses on integrity a great deal, but the company is being hypocritical. I and many believe that the new rules is a way to make more dollar bills.
Well, you’ve gone and shot yourselves well and truly in the foot, CompTIA. Life means life, and that is what you sold the A+, Network+ and Security+ as. People, me included, paid good money, hard earned cash, to get our certifications.
What you have done stinks, plain and simple. You may be legally entitled to do this, but morally you stink.
I, for one, will never attempt another CompTIA certification and I will caution anyone else considering doing so to think long and hard before they throw hard earned cash your way.
You should hang your heads in shame.
Or just make it simple. Using A+ exam as example.
Allow candidates the option to do regular A+ track or the A+ (ISO) track.
Keep things as they have been and keep past candidates and future candidates happy.
Don’t add a higher cost of ownership to these exams and certifications. It will definitely make future candidates consider other options and bypass these certifications. Thus, making the value of Comptia certifications decrease.
A+ Certifications should NOT expire.
(Optional if someone wants to retake updated exams and/or go for ISO level of A+)
This will help highschool students and people that are just getting into IT to study this material, pass the test, find out if they like IT, and use it to gain an entry-level position or even just increasing their knowledge on the subject.
Doesn’t passing the test show a basic-level compentency of the subject matter.
Isn’t that the goal of the A+ exam? Wasn’t that the goal? Aren’t these entry-level certifications?
Releasing new exams should keep the contents of the exam updated and thus the subject matter will be in-line with any new requirements. New candidates would be taking these new exams.
We all should know by now, that passing and gaining a certification is just the start. To really apply this knowledge in a working production environment there is a continual need to learn and grow.
Okay, so now to address the NEW ISO REQUIRMENT:
Modify A+ certificates to allow someone proof to show that they are A+ (ISO) certified.
They are certified by either taking current exam or doing the CEUs as you mention.
This can simply be accomplished by printing this higher level certification on their certificate with expiration date. Have a track for a past candidates to upgrade to ISO by showing professional growth or retaking current exams.
I would think that at this point that government employers are the only ones requiring the ISO level certification. Other employers at this point could care less.
So, really the proof is in how the certificate is printed. If an employer is not requiring ISO then they would not even be looking for this requirement.
By doing the above you’ve accomplished these goals.
1. Keep current candidates happy. Your fan-base.
2. Future candidates will see how you treated already certified candidates and
feel better about going for your certifications.
3. Higher-level ISO certification to make the certification more valuable.
4. By offering two certifications tracks, you will meet needs of someone who just
needs the basic entry-level certification to get that first entry-level position.
And you’ve also met the needs of ISO by having an ISO track.
Hope you will listen to your currently certified candidate base.
Many experienced people have used Comptia exams to get started and then have moved on to more advanced jobs and advanced certifications.
CompTIA has reneged on agreements with CompTIA cert holders.
Whether or not expiring certifications are good or bad, for cert holders is beside the point. Previous cert holders had an agreement with CompTIA, and it is not fair, and should not be legal, for CompTIA to arbitrarily break that agreements.
If CompTIA wants to change their agreement with subsequent exam takers, then that is a different matter. Comptia has no right to renege on agreements that they have already been made. A done deal is a done deal. If I pay to get a lifetime certification, then I expect to get a lifetime certification – period.
Security+ is worth jack when it comes to fulfilling 8570 requirements, and the A+/Net+ are worth even less. Defense contractors want the CISSP, or at least the CISSP-Associate. This comes from somebody who was recently employed by a defense contractor that was regulated by 8570. From my experience, I would have to say that 8570 regulated institutions put no value at all on CompTIA certs.
Bottom line:
1) The change is self serving
2) They lied to me.
All the rest of the noise is just that, noise.
Bottom line is not about this ISO issue that they are putting expiry on the certs. ISO are worthless nowadays, anyone can request for ISO certification by setting a set of rules and procedures to follow and pay some money for the auditing. Many small companies now also have ISO certifications comparing to 20 years ago so it is just to show the public that they follow certain procedures. It does not add any value on the comptia certificates anyway. Comptia is just using this as an excuse to rip more money from us.
CompTIA basically used us as stepping stones! We paid for them to be where they are now…..now they want us to all pay again so that they can get more money from us. For anyone who wants to see how CompTIA’s certifications were advertised back in the day….check out my Blog posting……CompTIA can’t hide from the Wayback machine!
http://www.retromags.com/forums/blog/1/entry-74-comptia-reneges-over-800000-lifetime-a-certifications/
I’ve been thinking about this……
Regarding Security+ renewal fee?
Doesn’t make sense why this cost more.
Why isn’t Security+ the same renewal price of A+ or Network+?
If this is non-profit it seems the price would be the same.
walter,
you mean comptia choose to offend 1 million over certified customer for 8000 plus folks working in the US defense. That is really penny wise pound foolish.
the damage that they have done is massive and could probably bankrupt the entire company.
I cannot believe what I am reading. I sent my son to PennCo Tech to get his certifciations. It cost us 14,000 for classes and the certifications. There was never any mention of the certifications expiring. NEVER. I am a paralegal, I am also a Licensed Real Estate Agent. Continuing Legal Education is just a part of the job, you take classes, you don’t get recertified. Continuing education is part of the Real Estate License also, every 2 years I have to 14 hours of classes to maintain my license. YOU ARE THIEVES!! Recertification is bullt, have continuing education classes like the rest of the world. Repeat after me people !! CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT!!!
> you mean comptia choose to offend 1 million over certified customer for 8000 plus folks working in the US defense. That is really penny wise pound foolish.
I don’t know. CompTIA has already got their money from those 1 million customers, so comptia may feel that they have nothing to lose.
I think 8570 may have a lot to do with this. The A+, Net+, and especially the Sec+, are the only comptia certs that fulfill any 8570 requirement – and those are the only certs being invalidated.
It used to be that the Sec+ and SSCP exams cost about the same, covered the same material, and fulfilled the same 8570 requirement. But unlike the SSCP, the Sec+ had the advantages of being a lifetime cert that required no maintenance fees, or CEUs. Notice how the Sec+ has been changed to match the SSCP right down the line? I have long suspected that ISC2 has a special relationship with the DoD. I further suspect that ISC2 did not think that comptia was competing fairly.
In any case, the DoD really wants the CISSP for 8570. Neither the Sec+, or the SSCP, are especially valuable for 8570.
CompTIA should make this renewal plan much more public. And if comptia won’t do that, we should.
I have five comptia certs, and I didn’t know about it until I read that post on these forums. I tried searching on news.google.com, and could not find one word about it.
Doesn’t comptia have the email addresses of their cert holders? Couldn’t comptia have submitted the story to some mainstream tech sites like: computerworld, eweek, cnet, zdnet, or slashdot?
CompTIA is acting like this is some dirty little secret. I edited the CompTIA wikipedia page, but – not surprising – the entire thing was white washed. Okay, maybe CompTIA does not like the way I worded it, maybe CompTIA would rather say “revised” instead of “renege” but should there not be some mention of this on wikipedia? What is the big secret?
If comptia refuses to alert the public, or even their own cert holders, then I think we should submit this news to some mainstream sites.
Wow. I was thinking about trying for Security+ or Linux+, but no more. You’ve lost a customer, Comptia. Where’s the class action suit at? I want on board.
I have already posted this on another blog, but why don’t they just put the year passed in your certificate tittle. I wouldn’t have a problem putting on my resume that I have a Comptia Securtiy+ 2008 certification. Then let the prospective employer decide if it is relevent, just like they can when they see when someone has completed the BA degree. When people put the time and money into getting a certification it is very disheartening to thinng that you can loose it like that.
Well, I for one, will no longer participate in Comptia certifications although I can easily prove my continued education. Anyone who works in this field must stay on top of current technologies.
However, I no longer trust Comptia. You broke a contractual agreement. Your word is no longer valid.
What should have happened is that you should have made a policy starting from Jan. 1st forward. A promise of a lifetime certification should mean just that. A lifetime, nothing more, nothing less.
I wish that I could decide that my mortgage is no longer valid for thirty years. Rather, I arbitrarily decide it should only be three years. Hmmm, I wonder what result of that would be.
Your certifications are ENTRY level. They mainly consist of memorization. They give the person the “why” before you do.
If I bother with certifications in the future, I will obtain those from companies who are upfront and honor their contracts. Comptia, you just lost the one thing that you had going for you. Integrity
My certifications include Security+ (2002) Network+ (2005) and Project+ I just learned that these certifications will be obsolete very soon. I am a government contractor who needs these certifications for the DoD 8570.1 requirement. I am upset with the new policy because now I will be required to pay more money and training on certifications and ultimately be required to “maintain” these certifications which in turn requires more of my valuable time. What happened to the idea that certified professionals actually apply these skills to the jobs each and every day. I understand that CompTIA wants to stay competitive the only way to do this is to
1. offer free upgrades to certified people
2. Make the certifications a GOLD standard
3. REFUND everyone who wants to (OPTOUT) of the new policy.
Brian, with all due respect, I think you misunderstand the fundamental issue. It’s not about whether re-certifying is a good idea, it’s about business ethics.
CompTIA made it very clear, for 15 years, that CompTIA certifications never had to be renewed. CompTIA certifications were good for a lifetime, CompTIA proudly advertised that on their website for many years. Now, 1.2 million certs later, CompTIA wants to go back on their word, and retroactively invalidate all of those older certs? I’m sorry but that is flat-out dishonest.
If I pay for a lifetime cert, then I expect a lifetime cert. Don’t give me any BS about how we’re really better off without lifetime certs. A done deal should be a done deal.
Obsolete – ComPTIA Certified member:
I strongly recommend you go with a different certification company. CompTIA has sent you a big fat FU, they have spat in your face, and they are laughing up their sleeves about the money they expect get by screwing you over.
If you have to spend money, and study, anyway, why not go with a more reputable organization like ISC2? At least you won’t have to reward CompTIA for screwing you over.
Six words:
I’ll never go CompTIA again. EVER!
Times are hard for everyone….I think Comptia should have asked for a governement bailout before trying this scam. The logic is simple. At the time you sit for an exam, you have prepared for it with the most current resources available. Comptia should just update their exams like they have done in the past. This ensures that newcomers are up to date. Those already certified have or are in the process of advancing their knowledge by pursuing advanced certifications which require keeping abreast with new technology. I too, like my comrades on this forum, will not sit for another Comptia exam.
I want a refund……I wasn’t told this upon brining my VA money to this program. I was told that I needed to cert by Febuary 23rd 2010. We are now being told that now regardless if the cert’d in 2009 we still have to re-cert. I consider this a “Breach of Contract”. I feel that ompTia should lose it’s accreditaion with any and all Federal Government agencies. I pissed and feel my money could have been better suited elsewhere. Instead of the old bait and switch one month due to the original deadline. So believe me I’m speaking with my VA Rep and asking them to investigate!!!! You guys really got me pissed. I will NEVER take another COMP TIA cert EVER!!!!!
The silence from CompTIA says everything really. They don’t give a stuff for the existing user base. They have seen and read the comments, seen the various blogs and tech forums… and what have we had in return? A single soundbite. Whoop!
I haven’t seen anything in this week’s ‘Computing’ or any of the other ‘tabloid techs’. I think we should nudge them in case they missed this ‘event’.
This is classic bait and switch. You see this all the time on the news. If CompTia wants to screw itself, then they need to learn the hard way. Lawsuits are coming, students will drop, and schools, when they see their bottom line disappearing, will revolt. If CompTia was smart, like the people they certify, they would drop this every three year nonsense, admit they screwed up, and your certification is indeed lifetime.
CompTia, if you advertise lifetime certified, you need to honor that. Otherwise, you are no better than the cheap watch salesman on a street corner, claiming a watch is a rolex when it is a casio.
Once I get my MCSA and MCSE, I am not going to pay a bunch of scamsters more money to get recertified on base level certifications.
CompTia, do you see the cliff? You may want to turn back before you go over it.
Why no emails? You have everyone’s contact information but no has been directly contacted. Are you to ashamed?
Now that they have offended 1 million plus folks just to earn the money from 8000 defense staffs. Seems like a very stupid mistake to make. Newcomer are gonna skip ur exams and go for the ICND1/2 or the MCDST so you are gonna lose big time on this.
Is comptia filtering out comments now? I believe that there are alot more comments than what we see here.
If Comptia can reneg on their original offering, then we should be able to reneg on the money spent on their tests.
I suggest everyone write Comptia and ask for a full refund on all their tests. In this economy, that money is better in our pockets than the now value-less Comptia certifications.
I bet the “moderators” will keep this post from going through, because this is exactly what everyone needs to do…
I suggest that anyone currently currently studying for Comptia certifications to stop immediately and sell their books online (to some sucker) before giving any more money to Comptia.
Also, everyone currently enrolled in any Comptia courses should drop the class and ask their school for a full refund, because this new policy isn’t what was promised. Then the schools will stop offering Comptia courses, which are now completely worthless.
I bet this post will get filtered out too…
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