When did CompTIA announce that A+ is only good for three years? Has this been something in place for awhile, or is new?

I'm thinking that although those who were certified before Dec. 2010 are still certified for "life," their certifications will not be considered nearly as valuable as those who now have to retake the exam every three years or else do the continuing education requirements.

Has the price been lowered for the exams now that we are having to fork over extra fees? What does everyone else think of this?

I think it has been like this for at least a year and I dont think the exam prices have changed much. Having a IT certification which expires after 3 years resulting in the person having to do the exam again is a good thing. All major IT bodies such as Microsoft, Cisco, CWNP come with a disclaimer that their certs expire after 3 years. CompTIA realised this was a good thing and so jumped in that wagon.

I wanted to be grandfathered into being certified for life, but didn't make it in time and some things in life came up which prevented me from doing so.... I wonder if we'll actually have to pay the full couple hundred bucks or whatever it is to re-take the test every 3 years? Or will there be some sort of shortened bridge version of the test for those that had the cert, but it just expired?

I do agree that a IT cert should have a expiration date, but I don't agree on a three year retake. I think that if you re-take an exam you shouldn't pay full price. And it should last at least 5 years. I feel this move was a good move for CompTIA. I finished all my CompTIA certs before the deadline. And I more then likely won't re-due A+ or Network+, but will re-due Security + for good reasons. If I was to retake all my certs every three years, that is all I would be doing. At least with Microsoft, you can take one or two exams to upgrade to the newer cert. And a good majority of Microsoft certs last as long as the software is supported. I know people still putting XP, and Server 2003 certs on the resume. So three years is not a set thing with Microsoft.

If you're retaking the exam every three years, then you're not doing it right...

What is the right way of doing it?

Most people will get another certification sometime during the next three years, and it's also really easy to get continuing education units. You can attend some seminars and write some blog posts, and you're well ahead of the game.

Oh ok, that makes me feel much more at ease! I had planned on pursuing Network+ pretty much immediately after getting A+. I also plan to continue my education after that even. I didn't know you could get credit doing those things. Is this outlined anywhere on the Comptia website? If anyone has a link with this info it would be appreciated! Thanks!

Nevermind! I found the link that explains the credits and things here - http://www.comptia.org/Libraries/Certification_Documents/CE_FAQ.sflb.ashx

I was kind of bummed when I missed the deadline to be certified for life, but I guess it's good overall to continue my education and learn more, as the technologies are always advancing.. Plus, who knows, maybe it will be more attractive to employers seeing how up-to-date the certs are.

@nirvabre

Why? I think those that got under the wire, like myself will be under more pressure later on to get re-certified. Besides like Professor said, "most people will get another certification sometime during the next three years." So in three years A+ will have less weight on your resume. By then you should have other more advanced certs to put on a resume. IMHO

I probably wasn't very clear when I wrote that. When you get your next certification, the new cert will renew your A+ certification as well.