Keeping CompTIA certifications active is less about exams and more about managing CEUs correctly. Once you understand how CompTIA actually handles CEU submission, payment, and verification, the process becomes straightforward and low-risk.
In this blog post, we will outline practical CEU options and clearly document how CompTIA processes CEUs behind the scenes, based on real-world experience.
- Understanding the CompTIA CEU Program
- The Real Problem With CEUs
- CEU Submission, Payment, and Verification (How It Really Works)
- Conferences and Industry Events
- Teaching, Mentoring, and Knowledge Sharing
- Writing and Documentation
- Work Experience and Hands-On Practice
- Recommended Tracking Strategy
- Final Thoughts
Understanding the CompTIA CEU Program
CompTIA certifications such as Security+, CySA+, PenTest+, and SecurityX (CAS-005) all fall under CompTIA’s Continuing Education (CE) program.
Official CompTIA CEU guidance:
https://www.comptia.org/continuing-education
Each certification has:
- A defined renewal cycle
- A required CEU total
- Accepted activity categories
Once these rules are understood, renewal becomes a documentation exercise rather than a technical challenge.
The Real Problem With CEUs
Most certification bodies provide long lists of acceptable CEU activities, but they often lack clarity on what is efficient versus what is merely allowed.
Common pain points include:
- Uncertainty about what qualifies
- Poor documentation habits
- Waiting until the last renewal window
- Overpaying for low-value CEU courses
The key is choosing CEU activities that overlap with work you are already doing.
CEU Submission, Payment, and Verification (How It Really Works)
1. CEU Upload Process
CEUs are submitted through your CompTIA CE account by uploading supporting documentation.
Accepted documentation typically includes:
- PDFs, screenshots, or certificates of completion
- Your full name
- Course title
- Provider name (for example, O’Reilly)
- Completion date
- Total training hours
Once uploaded:
- CEUs appear immediately in your total
- Submissions are auto-accepted
- There is no manual review at upload time
2. Payment Requirements (Pay Only for the Highest Cert)
CompTIA uses a single CE account for all certifications.
Key rule:
- You only pay CE fees for your highest-level certification
For SecurityX (CAS-005):
- $50 per year
- $150 total for the 3-year cycle
When SecurityX renews:
- Security+ renews automatically
- No duplicate CE fees are required
- No separate CEU submissions are needed for Security+
3. CEU Verification and Audits
CompTIA does not verify CEUs during submission.
Your certification renews automatically once:
- Required CEUs are met
- The CE fee for the highest certification is paid
CompTIA performs random post-renewal audits.
During an audit, CompTIA may review:
- CEU documentation
- Course relevance to exam objectives (50% or greater)
- Training hours and dates
As long as your training is legitimate and relevant, audits are routine and low risk.
4. If You Are Audited
If selected for audit:
- You receive an email notification
- You submit documentation you already saved
- Rejected CEUs can be replaced
- Certification remains valid unless fraud is found
Conferences and Industry Events
Industry conferences and technical events are often CEU-eligible, even when attended virtually.
These typically qualify when they include:
- Structured sessions
- Technical or professional content
- Agendas or attendance verification
For consultants and business owners, conferences can serve both business development and certification maintenance goals.
Teaching, Mentoring, and Knowledge Sharing
Many certification programs allow CEUs for activities where you are teaching or sharing knowledge.
Examples include:
- Presenting at internal or external sessions
- Mentoring junior staff
- Hosting technical workshops
These activities are often overlooked, despite being high-value and already embedded in many roles.
Writing and Documentation
Technical writing can be a strong CEU source when it demonstrates professional knowledge.
This may include:
- Blog posts
- Whitepapers
- Internal documentation
- Training materials
For consultants, documenting work publicly or internally can serve both marketing and CEU accumulation purposes.
Work Experience and Hands-On Practice
Some certification bodies allow CEUs for verifiable, hands-on professional experience.
This may include:
- Operating production systems
- Designing or maintaining infrastructure
- Performing security or compliance work
The key requirement is being able to clearly describe the work performed and how it relates to the certification domain.
Recommended Tracking Strategy
To avoid renewal stress, adopt a simple tracking habit:
- Log CEU activities quarterly
- Save proof immediately (emails, certificates, agendas)
- Maintain a short summary for each activity
This turns CEUs into a background process instead of a last-minute scramble.
Final Thoughts
CompTIA’s CEU system is simpler than it appears once you understand the flow:
- Upload documentation once
- Pay only for your highest certification
- Lower-level certifications renew automatically
- CEUs are only reviewed if you are randomly audited
By keeping clean documentation and aligning CEUs with real work and training, CompTIA renewals become predictable, defensible, and easy to manage.
For official rules and submission details, always reference:
