Key Takeaways
- Earning CompTIA Security+ does count towards Continuing Professional Education credits.
- CompTIA Security+ certification is valid for three years.
- You need to earn 60 CPEs over the three-year certification period.
- Specific training, like approved courses, can also earn you CPEs.
- Renewing your certification with a higher-level CompTIA cert is another option.
Understanding CompTIA Security+ and CPEs
CompTIA certifications are well-respected in the IT industry. They show that you have a certain level of knowledge and skill. Because technology changes so fast, it’s important to keep your skills sharp.
This is where Continuing Professional Education, or CPEs, comes in. CPEs are like proof that you are continuing to learn and grow in your career. They help you stay current with the latest tools, threats, and best practices.
Many IT professionals aim to get Security+. It’s a foundational certification for cybersecurity roles. Once you have it, you need to renew it every three years.
To renew, you typically need to earn a specific number of CPE credits. This requirement ensures that certified individuals don’t let their knowledge become outdated. The process might sound complicated, but it’s designed to be manageable for busy professionals.
What Are CPEs?
CPEs stand for Continuing Professional Education. They are credits or units earned by participating in activities that advance your professional knowledge and skills. Think of them as points you collect to show you’re staying up-to-date.
Most IT certifications, not just CompTIA’s, require CPEs for renewal. This is because the technology landscape shifts rapidly. New threats emerge, new tools are developed, and old methods become obsolete.
Without a CPE requirement, certifications could quickly lose their value. A Security+ certification earned five years ago might not reflect current cybersecurity practices. Therefore, CPEs ensure that certificate holders are actively engaged in learning.
This benefits both the individual, by keeping their skills relevant, and the industry, by maintaining a knowledgeable workforce. Different organizations have different ways of awarding and tracking CPEs. CompTIA has a specific system for its certifications.
Why Are CPEs Important for Security+ Holders?
The primary reason CPEs are important for Security+ holders is to maintain the validity of their certification. CompTIA Security+ is valid for three years. To keep it active beyond that period, you must earn 60 CPE credits.
This means actively engaging in learning activities throughout the three-year cycle. Collecting these credits demonstrates your commitment to cybersecurity. It also assures employers and clients that your skills are current.
Failing to earn enough CPEs means your certification will expire. This can be a setback in your career. Many job descriptions specifically ask for current certifications.
Expired certifications can mean you need to retake the entire exam, which is time-consuming and costly. Therefore, planning how to earn your CPEs is a smart move for any Security+ certified professional.
Does Earning Security Plus Count Towards CPEs
This is the big question many ask when they achieve their Security+. The answer is a resounding yes, but not in the way you might first think. Earning the Security+ certification itself is the initial step that starts your three-year clock.
The act of passing the Security+ exam and becoming certified doesn’t directly earn you CPE credits for future renewals. Instead, the certification’s validity period begins, and you then need to earn CPEs during that period to renew it.
However, there are nuances. Sometimes, earning an additional, higher-level CompTIA certification can contribute towards your CPEs. For example, if you earn Security+, and then later earn CompTIA CySA+ or CompTIA CASP+, those achievements can fulfill your CPE requirements for your Security+ certification.
This encourages continuous learning and career progression within the CompTIA ecosystem. It’s a smart way to maintain your foundational cert while advancing your expertise.
CompTIA’s Renewal Policy Explained
CompTIA has a clear policy for renewing its certifications, including Security+. Each CompTIA certification is valid for three years from the date you earn it. To keep your Security+ certification active, you must earn 60 CPE credits within those three years.
You can earn these credits through various approved activities. The key is that these activities must be relevant to the skills and knowledge covered by the Security+ certification.
The renewal period starts the day you pass your exam. You don’t earn CPEs for the exam itself to renew that same exam. Instead, you focus on learning and professional development after you’ve obtained the certification.
CompTIA provides a portal where you can log your earned CPEs. This makes tracking your progress straightforward. It’s important to submit your CPEs regularly, rather than waiting until the last minute.
Approved Activities for Earning CPEs
CompTIA offers a wide range of activities that qualify for CPE credits. These are designed to support your ongoing professional development. The goal is to keep your cybersecurity knowledge current and practical.
Many of these activities align with the domains covered in the Security+ exam, such as threat management, security operations, and access control.
Some common examples include attending industry conferences, webinars, and training courses. Completing other CompTIA certifications, especially higher-level ones, is also a great way to earn CPEs. Even contributing to the IT community, such as writing articles or presenting at events, can count.
CompTIA provides detailed guidelines on its website about what activities are eligible and how many credits they award. Always check these guidelines to ensure your chosen activity will be accepted.
Let’s look at some specific types of activities:
- Higher Level CompTIA Certifications: If you have Security+, and then pursue and pass CompTIA CySA+ (Cybersecurity Analyst), that achievement can count towards your Security+ CPEs. Similarly, passing CompTIA Network+ can also contribute. This rewards you for advancing your skill set. CompTIA often assigns a set number of CPEs for earning a new, higher-tier certification.
- Industry Training and Conferences: Attending cybersecurity conferences like RSA Conference or Black Hat can earn you a significant number of CPEs. These events are packed with sessions on the latest trends, threats, and solutions. Many webinars offered by security vendors or professional organizations also qualify. Typically, an hour of a qualified webinar or conference session might earn you one CPE.
- Academic Courses and E-Learning: Taking relevant courses at colleges or universities can earn you CPEs. Online learning platforms also offer many courses that are approved for CPE credit. These can range from short, focused modules on specific topics to longer, more in-depth courses. The key is that the content must be related to cybersecurity and professional development.
- Professional Contributions: CompTIA also recognizes contributions to the IT security community. This can include teaching courses, writing articles for industry publications, speaking at events, or even participating in beta exams. These activities demonstrate leadership and a commitment to sharing knowledge, which are valuable.
Calculating Your CPE Requirements
The requirement for CompTIA Security+ renewal is 60 CPEs over a three-year period. CompTIA usually structures this so that you can earn credits incrementally. For example, you might aim to earn about 20 CPEs per year.
This makes the task feel less overwhelming. The CompTIA certification portal is where you will log all your earned credits. It’s a good practice to log your activities as you complete them.
The portal helps you track your progress. It will show you how many credits you have accumulated and how many more you need. There’s usually a deadline for submitting your final credits before your certification expires.
Don’t wait until the last month to submit everything, as there can sometimes be processing delays. CompTIA provides clear instructions on how to submit documentation for your CPEs if it’s not automatically tracked.
Here’s a simple way to think about it:
- Set a Yearly Goal: Divide the total 60 CPEs by 3 years. That’s 20 CPEs per year.
- Track Your Activities: Keep a record of all the training, webinars, or certifications you complete that might qualify.
- Log Regularly: Log your completed activities into the CompTIA portal as soon as possible.
- Verify Approved Activities: Double-check the CompTIA website for their current list of approved CPE activities and their credit values.
How Earning Security Plus Contributes to CPEs
It’s important to clarify that passing the Security+ exam itself does not award you CPEs for its own renewal. The act of earning the certification marks the beginning of its three-year validity. However, the knowledge gained from Security+ is foundational.
This knowledge makes it easier and more efficient for you to pursue other learning opportunities that do award CPEs. For instance, your Security+ background helps you understand advanced topics in a CySA+ course, allowing you to earn those CPEs more effectively.
The value of Security+ lies in preparing you for continuous learning. It gives you the baseline knowledge needed to grasp more complex cybersecurity concepts. When you then attend a specialized workshop on incident response or advanced threat hunting, your Security+ training makes that experience richer and more beneficial.
This deeper learning is precisely what the CPE system aims to encourage. So, while Security+ doesn’t directly give you CPEs for its own renewal, it empowers you to earn them more effectively through other avenues.
The Interplay Between Certifications
CompTIA has designed its certification paths to encourage progression. Earning Security+ is often the first step for many cybersecurity professionals. From there, individuals might move to certifications like CompTIA CySA+ (Cybersecurity Analyst) or CompTIA PenTest+ (Penetration Tester).
CompTIA recognizes this progression by allowing higher-level certifications to count towards the renewal of lower-level ones.
For example, if you hold a Security+ certification and earn the CySA+ certification within the same three-year renewal period, the CySA+ certification often fulfills a significant portion, if not all, of the 60 CPE credits required for your Security+ renewal. This is a powerful incentive to continue your education within the CompTIA framework. It makes maintaining multiple certifications more achievable and reinforces your overall skillset.
Always check the latest CompTIA renewal policies for specific credit allocations.
Practical Scenarios for Earning CPEs
Let’s look at a few realistic scenarios to illustrate how earning CPEs works for a Security+ holder.
Scenario 1: The Dedicated Learner
- Sarah earned her CompTIA Security+ in January 2023. Her certification is valid until January 2026.
- Throughout 2023, she attended several webinars on cloud security and endpoint detection and response, earning 15 CPEs.
- In 2024, she attended a major cybersecurity conference for three days, earning 24 CPEs. She also completed an online course on incident response, earning another 10 CPEs.
- By January 2025, Sarah had earned 15 + 24 + 10 = 49 CPEs.
- She still needs 11 more CPEs before January 2026. She plans to attend a few more webinars in late 2025 to meet her goal.
This scenario shows how consistent effort over time helps meet the CPE requirement. Sarah actively sought out relevant training opportunities.
Scenario 2: The Career Advancer
- Mark achieved his Security+ in March 2023, with renewal due in March 2026.
- In November 2023, he decided to pursue CompTIA CySA+. He studied diligently and passed the exam in February 2024.
- According to CompTIA’s renewal policy at the time, earning the CySA+ certification automatically granted him 50 CPEs towards his Security+ renewal.
- Mark has now earned more than the 60 CPEs needed for his Security+ renewal, simply by advancing his career with another CompTIA certification. He still has over two years before his Security+ expires.
This highlights how earning a higher-level certification can significantly simplify the renewal process. It’s an efficient way to maintain multiple credentials.
Statistics on Certification Renewals
Keeping certifications current is a priority for IT professionals. A study by the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) found that 68% of IT professionals hold at least one certification. Of those, a significant portion are actively engaged in renewal processes. CompTIA also reports that a large percentage of certified professionals renew their certifications, indicating the value they place on maintaining their credentials.
For instance, over 80% of CompTIA certifications are renewed by their expiration date, demonstrating the importance professionals place on continuous learning.
This statistic underlines the widespread understanding within the industry that ongoing education is not optional but a necessity. Professionals recognize that their skills must evolve with technology. The CPE system, including the renewal of certifications like Security+, plays a critical role in driving this continuous learning culture.
It ensures that the certifications held by IT professionals remain a valid indicator of their up-to-date expertise.
Maximizing Your CPE Earnings
To make the most of your CPE credits and ensure your Security+ remains valid, strategic planning is key. Don’t wait until the last minute to start accumulating credits. Incorporate learning activities into your regular professional development routine.
This makes the process less of a chore and more of a natural part of your career growth.
Think about the different domains covered by Security+. These include threat management, identity and access management, security architecture, and operations. Look for training and resources that align with these areas.
This not only helps you earn CPEs but also deepens your expertise in specific cybersecurity domains, making you a more valuable professional.
Leveraging CompTIA Resources
CompTIA itself offers several resources that can help you earn CPEs. Their website provides detailed information on the renewal process, including eligible activities and credit allocation. They often host webinars on various IT topics, some of which may qualify for CPE credits.
Staying informed about CompTIA’s offerings can be a straightforward way to accumulate credits.
Additionally, CompTIA’s certification portal is your central hub for managing your credentials and logging your CPEs. Familiarize yourself with its features. It allows you to see your progress, understand upcoming deadlines, and find information on renewal requirements for all your CompTIA certifications.
Utilizing these official resources ensures you are following the correct procedures.
Exploring External Training Options
Beyond CompTIA’s direct offerings, the cybersecurity world is rich with external training opportunities. Many vendors, such as Microsoft, Cisco, and Palo Alto Networks, offer specialized training and certifications that can be valuable. If these align with cybersecurity domains, they can often be submitted for CompTIA CPE credit.
It’s always best to check CompTIA’s guidelines or contact them directly if you’re unsure about a specific training program.
Online learning platforms like Coursera, edX, and LinkedIn Learning host countless courses on cybersecurity. Many of these are designed by industry experts and can provide in-depth knowledge. Look for courses that offer certificates of completion and explicitly mention their relevance to cybersecurity professional development.
Some of these platforms even partner with certification bodies to offer CPE credits directly. This broadens your options considerably.
Common Myths Debunked
Myth 1: Earning Security Plus Directly Gives You CPEs for Renewal
This is a common misunderstanding. While Security+ is a valuable certification, passing the exam itself does not grant you CPE credits to renew that same certification. The act of earning the certification starts its three-year validity period.
CPEs are earned during this period through continuing education activities to maintain the certification’s active status.
Myth 2: You Must Earn All CPEs in the Final Year
This is incorrect and a risky approach. While you have three years to earn the 60 CPEs for Security+, it’s highly advisable to spread them out. Trying to cram 60 credits in the last year can be stressful and may lead to missing the deadline if unforeseen issues arise.
Regular learning throughout the three-year cycle is the best strategy.
Myth 3: Any IT Training Counts Towards CPEs
Not all IT training qualifies for CPE credits. The activities must be relevant to the domains covered by the CompTIA Security+ certification. For example, a basic course on office software might not count, but a course on secure coding practices or threat intelligence analysis likely would.
Always verify the relevance and check CompTIA’s official list of approved activity types.
Myth 4: You Need To Re-take The Security+ Exam To Renew
While you can retake the exam to renew your Security+ certification, it’s not the only way, and often not the easiest. Earning CPEs through continuing education is the primary method. If you don’t earn enough CPEs, then retaking the exam becomes an option to extend your certification for another three years.
However, the CPE route is typically more accessible for those who are actively working and learning in the field.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Can I use my CompTIA Network+ certification for Security+ CPEs?
Answer: Yes, earning a higher-level CompTIA certification like Network+ can count towards your Security+ CPE requirements. CompTIA allows credit for obtaining other valid certifications.
Question: How do I log my CPEs?
Answer: You will log your CPEs through the CompTIA certification portal on their official website. It’s important to log them as you complete the activities.
Question: What if I miss the deadline for earning CPEs?
Answer: If you do not earn the required 60 CPEs by the expiration date, your Security+ certification will expire. You would then need to retake the Security+ exam to become certified again.
Question: How many CPEs does a webinar usually give?
Answer: Typically, a one-hour webinar that is relevant to cybersecurity and approved by CompTIA can earn you one CPE credit. Always check the specific event details.
Question: Can I count self-study time without a formal course for CPEs?
Answer: Generally, informal self-study without a structured curriculum or demonstrable completion (like a certificate) does not count for CPEs. The activities need to be verifiable and usually offer a specific credit amount.
Final Thoughts
Earning your Security+ certification is a great achievement. To keep it active, focus on earning 60 CPEs over three years. Activities like advanced certifications, webinars, and training count.
Plan your learning to stay current. This ensures your skills remain valuable in cybersecurity.