PSA: Found out the hard way that certs expire faster than I thought

I was looking into getting a CompTIA A+ certification since I've been messing with computers on the side for a while and wanted something official for a career switch. Then I read on their website that the cert only lasts three years before you have to renew it. That kinda threw me off because I assumed once you passed the test you were good forever. My buddy who works in IT told me he had to re-up his Network+ last year and it cost him like $150 and a few hours of studying. I mean I get that tech changes but paying to recertify every few years feels like a money grab. Has anyone else dealt with this and decided it was still worth it or did you just skip certs altogether?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_sean1mo ago

My buddy @wade_hall pretty much said the same thing, that the A+ just got him past the HR door at his first real IT job. After that, his employer didn't really care about it, they just wanted to see he could fix things. The $150 renewal fee and a few hours of studying every three years is annoying, but it beats having to take the whole two-part test over again from scratch.

wade_hall1mo ago

Ask him straight up if the cert actually got him a better job or a raise, or if it was just a checkbox he had to check for his current employer. I've heard mixed stories where some guys say the A+ got them past HR filters but others say employers barely care about it anymore. Did your buddy notice a real difference in his pay or responsibilities after renewing, or was it just to keep his current position?