CompTIA Offers Stackable Certifications

CompTIA presented "Stackable Certifications" on Wednesday, a new destination for many of the neutral skills certifications of the providers it offers.

CompTIA's stackable certifications follow two professional CompTIA routes: infrastructure and cybersecurity, and offer a series of eligible routes to obtain a stackable certification.

Calling this a major expansion of its credentialing program, CompTIA notes that a stackable certification recognizes the great experience of a certification holder and their firm commitment to continuous professional growth and development.

"Technology professionals who have earned CompTIA Stackable Certifications have done so by passing rigorous industry-developed exams to validate the technical and business skills that have the greatest demand in today's economy," said Todd Thibodeaux, president and CEO of CompTIA.

Here are the routes for CompTIA certified IT professionals to attain a stackable certification:

•     CompTIA A+ and CompTIA Network+ = CompTIA IT Operations Specialist
•     CompTIA A+ and CompTIA Linux+ = CompTIA Systems Support Specialist
•     CompTIA Network+ and CompTIA Server+ = CompTIA Network Infrastructure Professional
•     CompTIA Network+ and CompTIA Cloud+ = CompTIA Cloud Administration Professional
•     CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+ and CompTIA Security+ = CompTIA Secure Infrastructure Associate
•     CompTIA Security + and CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst = CompTIA Security Analytics Specialist
•     CompTIA Security+, CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst and CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner = CompTIA Security Analytics Expert

More than 145,000 IT professionals who obtained more than one CompTIA certification obtained a CompTIA Stackable Certification.

How does it work?

Stackable certifications follow CompTIA's two professional pathways: CompTIA Infrastructure Career Pathway and CompTIA Cybersecurity Career Pathway. Then, within each route, the Stackable certifications are classified by experience level. Specialist: early career IT professional with less than two years of experience; Professional: mid-level IT professional with two to five years of experience; and Expert: established IT professional with more than five years of experience.

Stackable certifications require active CE certifications. If you have a "good for life" certification, that also counts for a stackable certification as long as you re-certify and validate that your skills are up to date, CompTIA said.

"More than any other certifying agency, CompTIA makes extensive use of performance-based questions and simulations on its exams," said James Stanger, CompTIA's chief technology evangelist. "These simulations accurately reflect the real-world scenarios that IT professionals face, which requires examiners to demonstrate networking skills, cybersecurity and other areas under the pressure of a timed test."