CompTIA Security+ Continuing Education: Definition & CEU Requirements 

CompTIA Security+ Continuing Education is one of the ways to renew your CompTIA Security+ certification. Wondering how many CEUs are required to renew Security+? This article will answer all your questions about CompTIA Security+ Continuing Education and guide you on how to earn CEUs. Let’s dive in!

What is CompTIA Security+ Continuing Education (CE)?

CompTIA Security+ Continuing Education (CE)

CompTIA Security+ Continuing Education (CE) is a program that allows you to renew your Security+ certification on a 3-year cycle by engaging in activities and training related to the content of your certification.

This program is designed to ensure that your knowledge remains up-to-date with the ever-evolving field of cybersecurity. Similar to the initial Security+ certification, CompTIA Security+ CE is also recognized globally with ISO/ANSI accreditation, making it a trusted and credible way to demonstrate your ongoing expertise in the industry.

CEU Requirements for CompTIA Security+ certification

There are two key CEU requirements for maintaining your CompTIA Security+ certification:

• Earn 50 CEUs: You need to accumulate 50 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) within a 3-year period after earning your initial Security+ certification. These CEUs can be obtained through a variety of activities, including taking relevant courses, attending webinars, or gaining other industry certifications.
• Renewal Process: After gathering the required 50 CEUs, you must submit them to CompTIA for review in order to renew your certification. This ensures that you’re up-to-date with the latest security knowledge and best practices in the industry.

How to earn CEUs to renew CompTIA Security+ certification?

How to earn CEUs to renew CompTIA Security+ certification

To earn CEUs and renew your CompTIA Security+ certification, follow these steps:

Complete training and education

Engage in formal training through online platforms or attend live or recorded webinars that are related to security topics. For example, a 40-45 hour training program on systems administration may count toward the CEUs for Security+.

Submit work experience or employer verification

You can submit work experience to earn up to 9 CEUs. A letter from your employer confirming your security-related job duties can contribute 3 CEUs per year, totaling 9 over 3 years.

Track your progress on the CompTIA Website

Log in to your CompTIA account and track the CEUs you’ve accumulated. On the website, you’ll find a section to input your training, certifications, and other activities that contribute to your CEUs. You can also make payments for the certification renewal fee here.

Renew your certification

When you’ve accumulated the required CEUs, pay the renewal fee (typically around $550 for 3 years) to complete the renewal process. You can choose to pay all at once or in smaller increments, but ensure the payment is made before your certification expires.

Remember, CompTIA periodically audits submitted CEUs, so make sure your activities are relevant to your field. Ineligible activities, such as unrelated courses or personal hobbies, could result in rejected credits.

CompTIA Security+ CEUs list

Here’s a list of acceptable CEU (Continuing Education Unit) activities to maintain your CompTIA Security+ certification:

1. Training & education

Earn a higher-level or related certification to renew Security+ automatically:

FAQs

1. How many CEUs are required for Security+?

To maintain your CompTIA Security+ certification, you need to earn 50 CEUs over a three-year period after certification. This is part of the CompTIA Continuing Education (CE) program.

2. How to get 50 CEUs for Security+?

You can earn CEUs for Security+ through a variety of activities, including:

• Taking CompTIA-approved courses (online or in-person)
• Attending webinars or workshops related to cybersecurity or IT
• Obtaining other IT certifications (such as those from Cisco, Microsoft, or ISC2)
• Contributing to the IT community, such as writing blogs, articles, or delivering presentations
• Working in IT and security roles, where certain job experience can be counted
• Participating in industry conferences or events that have CEU opportunities

CompTIA also allows you to submit various activities (such as college courses, publications, or other certifications) for CEU credit. Each type of activity has a different value, so you’ll need to track your activities to ensure they add up to 50 CEUs over three years.

3. Is there a difference between Security+ and Security+ CE?

Yes, there is a difference:

• Security+: This refers to the initial certification. It’s valid for three years before you need to renew.
• Security+ CE (Continuing Education): This refers to the program you enter into after you’ve earned the CompTIA Security+ certification. In order to maintain your CompTIA Security+ credential after three years, you’ll need to earn 50 CEUs through various activities to demonstrate that you’re keeping your knowledge current in the field of cybersecurity.

The CE program is how you keep your certification active, whereas the initial Security+ exam is what you pass to get the certification in the first place.

Conclusion

With the CompTIA Security+ Continuing Education (CE) program, you can renew your CompTIA Security+ certification flexibly, ensuring that you stay up-to-date with the latest in cybersecurity without the stress of retaking the exam. The CompTIA Security+ CE program provides a variety of options to earn the required CEUs. We hope you find a method that best suits your professional needs and schedule.