CompTIA: Difference between revisions
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{{StubNotice}}{{ | {{StubNotice}} | ||
| | {{CompanyCargo | ||
| | |Description=American trade association issuing certificates for various IT skills. | ||
| | |Founded=1982 | ||
| | |Industry=Information Technology | ||
| | |Logo=Comptia logo.png | ||
| | |ParentCompany=H.I.G. Capital, Thoma Bravo | ||
|Type=Private | |||
}} | |Website=https://comptia.org/ | ||
}} | |||
'''{{Wplink|CompTIA}}''', the Computing Technology Industry Association, is an American non-profit trade association that issues professional certifications for the information technology (IT) industry. It is considered one of the IT industry's top trade associations. It was founded on January 1st 1982 in Downer's Grove, Illinois. CompTIA issues vendor-neutral professional certifications in over 120 countries. | |||
==Consumer impact summary== | ==Consumer impact summary== | ||
== | *User Freedom: Changed certificate expiration time from lifetime to 3 years | ||
*User Privacy: Online tests routinely taken using OnVUE | |||
*Business Model: IT training/certifications | |||
*Market Competition: competing with Cisco, and other certification offering companies. | |||
==Incidents== | |||
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]]. | |||
===Certification expiration (''2011'')=== | |||
Historically, CompTIA promoted its high-end certifications of A+, Network+, and Security+ as lifetime. In January of 2011, the company altered the status of such certifications, so they would expire within three years. According to this proposal, certified professionals would either need to re-certify for the exams or pay an annual maintenance fee to participate in a CEU (Continuing Education Units) program. CompTIA then updated the guidelines to have only the certificates earned after January 1, 2011 renewed every three years, with the requirement of documented hours of continuing education.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How Long Does the CompTIA Security+ Certification Last? |url=https://www.comptia.org/faq/security/how-long-does-the-comptia-security-certification-last |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[CompTIA]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250423023640/https://www.comptia.org/faq/security/how-long-does-the-comptia-security-certification-last |archive-date=23 Apr 2025}}</ref> Certificates earned prior to 2011 are still valid for lifetime and referred to as Good-for-Life, so replacing the Good-for-Life certification with an expirable one does not devalue the Good-for-Life certification.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Which CompTIA Certifications Must Be Renewed? |url=https://help.comptia.org/hc/en-us/articles/13923899954196-Which-CompTIA-Certifications-Must-Be-Renewed |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[CompTIA]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250801235339/https://help.comptia.org/hc/en-us/articles/13923899954196-Which-CompTIA-Certifications-Must-Be-Renewed |archive-date=1 Aug 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Nate |date=26 Jan 2010 |title=CompTIA backs down; past certs remain valid for life |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2010/01/comptia-backs-down-past-certs-remain-valid-for-life/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=ArsTechnica |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250921060520/https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2010/01/comptia-backs-down-past-certs-remain-valid-for-life/ |archive-date=21 Sep 2025}}</ref> | |||
===Lobbying against Right to Repair=== | ===Lobbying against Right to Repair (''2017—2020'')=== | ||
In March of 2017, CompTIA lobbied against a [[Right to Repair]] legislation in Nebraska, claiming:<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 Mar 2017 |title="Right to Repair" Legislation is Wrong for Nebraska Consumers and Businesses |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/right-to-repair-legislation-is-wrong-for-nebraska-consumers-and-businesses-300420721.html |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website= | In March of 2017, CompTIA lobbied against a [[Right to Repair]] legislation in Nebraska, claiming:<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 Mar 2017 |title="Right to Repair" Legislation is Wrong for Nebraska Consumers and Businesses |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/right-to-repair-legislation-is-wrong-for-nebraska-consumers-and-businesses-300420721.html |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=PR Newswire |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251113021721/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/right-to-repair-legislation-is-wrong-for-nebraska-consumers-and-businesses-300420721.html |archive-date=13 Nov 2025}}</ref> | ||
<blockquote>''Hackers are constantly trying to break into a wide range of devices, including computers, servers, smartphones, and other industrial and consumer electronics. Any weakening of the current standards, including sharing sensitive diagnostic tools and proprietary hardware data, could expose customers to risk. Manufacturers also have strong concerns about unauthorized independent service providers who may take risks or cut corners and provide service without training or following safety standards.''<br /> | |||
''Additionally, manufacturers make significant investments in the development of products and services, and the protection of intellectual property is a legitimate and important aspect of sustaining the health of all industry, including third party software developers who rely upon the device's DRM to protect their software from hackers. However, the bill compromises the intellectual property that creators invested heavily in to develop.''</blockquote | ''Additionally, manufacturers make significant investments in the development of products and services, and the protection of intellectual property is a legitimate and important aspect of sustaining the health of all industry, including third party software developers who rely upon the device's DRM to protect their software from hackers. However, the bill compromises the intellectual property that creators invested heavily in to develop.''</blockquote> | ||
In February of 2020, CompTIA put forth a statement that it was stepping back from all lobbying activities related to [[Right to Repair]] legislation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 Feb 2020 |title=CompTIA Steps Back from Lobbying Activity Related to Right to Repair Legislation |url=https://www.comptia.org/newsroom/2020/02/21/comptia-steps-back-from-lobbying-activity-related-to-right-to-repair-legislation |url-status=dead |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[CompTIA]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250402211213/https://www.comptia.org/newsroom/2020/02/21/comptia-steps-back-from-lobbying-activity-related-to-right-to-repair-legislation |archive-date=2 Apr 2025}}</ref> | |||
===Proprietary invasive software required to be installed to personal devices if taking tests at home=== | ===Proprietary invasive software required to be installed to personal devices if taking tests at home=== | ||
CompTIA allows tests to be done online at home for their certifications however this requires users to download and install the "OnVUE" proctoring software to their PC which is a monitoring software designed to make sure testers cannot cheat.<ref>https://www.comptia.org/en-us/blog/comptia-online-testing-your-questions-answered/</ref> it is closed source and cannot be ran on Linux or a Virtual machine. While CompTIA does allow test takers to visit a | CompTIA allows tests to be done online at home for their certifications, however this requires users to download and install the "OnVUE" proctoring software to their PC which is a monitoring software designed to make sure testers cannot cheat.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=CompTIA Online Testing: Your Questions Answered |url=https://www.comptia.org/en-us/blog/comptia-online-testing-your-questions-answered/ |website=CompTIA |date=5 Dec 2024 |access-date=26 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251011222210/https://www.comptia.org/en-us/blog/comptia-online-testing-your-questions-answered/ |archive-date=11 Oct 2025}}</ref> it is closed source and cannot be ran on Linux or a Virtual machine. While CompTIA does allow test takers to visit a Pearson VUE test center and take a test in person some people may not be able to do this. | ||
==Products== | |||
Certifications (2011): Certificates issued after 2011 expire after 3 years. | |||
==See also== | |||
[[Cisco Systems, Inc.]] | |||
[[Amazon]] | |||
[[Google]]<!-- None of these see also links actually talk about certification problems. I realized this once I added it, but I think if a section is ever added, this should be updated - Left4Code --> | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{Reflist}} | |||
[[Category: | |||
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]] | |||
Latest revision as of 12:26, 10 March 2026
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This article is underdeveloped, and needs additional work to meet the wiki's Content Guidelines and be in line with our Mission Statement for comprehensive coverage of consumer protection issues. Learn more ▼
CompTIA
| Basic information | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1982 |
| Legal Structure | Private |
| Industry | Information Technology |
| Also known as | |
| Official website | https://comptia.org/ |
CompTIA, the Computing Technology Industry Association, is an American non-profit trade association that issues professional certifications for the information technology (IT) industry. It is considered one of the IT industry's top trade associations. It was founded on January 1st 1982 in Downer's Grove, Illinois. CompTIA issues vendor-neutral professional certifications in over 120 countries.
Consumer impact summary
[edit | edit source]- User Freedom: Changed certificate expiration time from lifetime to 3 years
- User Privacy: Online tests routinely taken using OnVUE
- Business Model: IT training/certifications
- Market Competition: competing with Cisco, and other certification offering companies.
Incidents
[edit | edit source]This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the CompTIA category.
Certification expiration (2011)
[edit | edit source]Historically, CompTIA promoted its high-end certifications of A+, Network+, and Security+ as lifetime. In January of 2011, the company altered the status of such certifications, so they would expire within three years. According to this proposal, certified professionals would either need to re-certify for the exams or pay an annual maintenance fee to participate in a CEU (Continuing Education Units) program. CompTIA then updated the guidelines to have only the certificates earned after January 1, 2011 renewed every three years, with the requirement of documented hours of continuing education.[1] Certificates earned prior to 2011 are still valid for lifetime and referred to as Good-for-Life, so replacing the Good-for-Life certification with an expirable one does not devalue the Good-for-Life certification.[2][3]
Lobbying against Right to Repair (2017—2020)
[edit | edit source]In March of 2017, CompTIA lobbied against a Right to Repair legislation in Nebraska, claiming:[4]
Hackers are constantly trying to break into a wide range of devices, including computers, servers, smartphones, and other industrial and consumer electronics. Any weakening of the current standards, including sharing sensitive diagnostic tools and proprietary hardware data, could expose customers to risk. Manufacturers also have strong concerns about unauthorized independent service providers who may take risks or cut corners and provide service without training or following safety standards.
Additionally, manufacturers make significant investments in the development of products and services, and the protection of intellectual property is a legitimate and important aspect of sustaining the health of all industry, including third party software developers who rely upon the device's DRM to protect their software from hackers. However, the bill compromises the intellectual property that creators invested heavily in to develop.
In February of 2020, CompTIA put forth a statement that it was stepping back from all lobbying activities related to Right to Repair legislation.[5]
Proprietary invasive software required to be installed to personal devices if taking tests at home
[edit | edit source]CompTIA allows tests to be done online at home for their certifications, however this requires users to download and install the "OnVUE" proctoring software to their PC which is a monitoring software designed to make sure testers cannot cheat.[6] it is closed source and cannot be ran on Linux or a Virtual machine. While CompTIA does allow test takers to visit a Pearson VUE test center and take a test in person some people may not be able to do this.
Products
[edit | edit source]Certifications (2011): Certificates issued after 2011 expire after 3 years.
See also
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ "How Long Does the CompTIA Security+ Certification Last?". CompTIA. Archived from the original on 23 Apr 2025. Retrieved 15 Mar 2025.
- ↑ "Which CompTIA Certifications Must Be Renewed?". CompTIA. Archived from the original on 1 Aug 2025. Retrieved 15 Mar 2025.
- ↑ Anderson, Nate (26 Jan 2010). "CompTIA backs down; past certs remain valid for life". ArsTechnica. Archived from the original on 21 Sep 2025. Retrieved 15 Mar 2025.
- ↑ ""Right to Repair" Legislation is Wrong for Nebraska Consumers and Businesses". PR Newswire. 8 Mar 2017. Archived from the original on 13 Nov 2025. Retrieved 15 Mar 2025.
- ↑ "CompTIA Steps Back from Lobbying Activity Related to Right to Repair Legislation". CompTIA. 21 Feb 2020. Archived from the original on 2 Apr 2025. Retrieved 15 Mar 2025.
- ↑ "CompTIA Online Testing: Your Questions Answered". CompTIA. 5 Dec 2024. Archived from the original on 11 Oct 2025. Retrieved 26 Feb 2026.