How to renew your Network+ certification: Complete guide to renewal requirements and CEUs

CompTIA's Network+ certification proves your networking skills to employers and can significantly boost your earning potential (get our salary guide for detailed salary data). However, this valuable credential requires Network+ renewal every three years to maintain its validity and ensure your knowledge stays current with industry developments.

The certification renewal process isn't just bureaucratic paperwork — it's designed to combat what the industry noticed years ago: professionals who earned certifications but didn't keep their skills updated. As Infosec Institute instructor Tommy Gober explains, "There was this perception that people with certifications had the knowledge, but they didn't have the skills. Someone might have a certification from five, eight, 10 years prior, and they just didn't really know the content at all because the content had moved on."

Understanding your Network+ certification maintenance options and planning ahead will save you time, money, and stress when your expiration date approaches.

Tommy Gober breaks down the CompTIA Network+ renewal requirements on this episode of Cyber Work Hacks.

Network+ renewal requirements overview

CompTIA offers five different pathways for Network+ renewal, giving you flexibility to choose the method that best fits your career goals and learning preferences:

1. Complete CompTIA CertMaster CE
2. Earn a higher-level CompTIA certification (Tommy's preferred method)
3. Earn a relevant non-CompTIA certification
4. Retake the latest Network+ exam
5. Complete multiple educational activities for CEUs

The renewal fee is $150 for the three-year period, regardless of which method you choose.

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Method 1: Complete CompTIA CertMaster CE

This self-paced online course builds directly on your existing Network+ knowledge and focuses specifically on renewal requirements. The course automatically fulfills your CEU requirements upon completion.

Why choose this method:

• Streamlined, one-stop renewal solution
• Self-paced learning that fits your schedule
• Guaranteed to meet all renewal requirements
• Updated content reflects current exam objectives

Method 2: Earn a higher-level CompTIA certification (most popular)

This approach offers the best return on investment for your continuing education efforts. When you earn a higher-level CompTIA certification, it automatically renews your Network+ without additional paperwork.

Certifications that renew Network+:

• CompTIA Security+ (renews Network+ and A+)
• CompTIA CySA+ (renews Security+, Network+, and A+)
• CompTIA PenTest+ (renews Security+, Network+, and A+)
• CompTIA SecurityX (renews all lower-level CompTIA certs)
• CompTIA Cloud+ (renews Network+, A+, and Linux+)

Tommy Gober advocates for this renewal method: "Step up certification is one of the things that CompTIA does to allow you to renew your certification. That's the way I like to do that. And just to stay in tune with what the new changes are in the field."

The cascading renewal effect makes this particularly valuable — Security+ doesn't just renew Network+, it also renews A+ if you hold that certification, maximizing your investment.

Method 3: Earn a relevant non-CompTIA certification

Industry certifications from other vendors can contribute toward your Network+ renewal, though they typically don't provide complete renewal on their own.

Popular options include:

• Cisco CyberOps Associate (now called Cisco Cybersecurity Associate) or other Cisco networking certifications
• AWS Solutions Architect and advanced networking certifications
• EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification
• ISC2 CISSP certification

Important requirements:

• Certification must be earned within the three years of your Network+ certification
• Must provide appropriate documentation
• CompTIA validates these certifications for authenticity

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Method 4: Retake the Network+ exam

Simply passing the current version of the Network+ exam (N10-008 as of 2024) will renew your certification for another three years. This option works well if you want to refresh your foundational knowledge or if significant time has passed since your original certification.

Method 5: Complete multiple educational activities (CEUs)

Network+ renewal requires 30 continuing education units (CEUs) over three years — roughly 10 per year. This method offers the most flexibility but requires solid documentation.

Approved CEU activities

1. Teaching and mentoring (up to 15 CEUs): Share your networking knowledge by teaching classes or mentoring other professionals. As Tommy notes, "So much of security is involved with networking, so much of networking is involved with cybersecurity. The two go hand in hand."

• Formal classroom instruction: 1 CEU per hour taught
• One-on-one mentoring: 1 CEU per hour (maximum 15 CEUs)

2. Creating instructional content (up to 15 CEUs): Develop training materials, write technical articles, or create educational content related to networking concepts.

3. Subject matter expert activities (up to 30 CEUs): Participate in CompTIA exam development workshops or serve as an industry expert reviewer.

4. Publishing technical content (varies by type):

• Articles/whitepapers: Up to 4 CEUs per piece
• Books: Up to 20 CEUs
• Blog posts: Up to 1 CEU per post (minimum 500 words)

5. Attending webinars and training (varies): Professional development through formal training (30 CEU max), conferences (6 CEUs max) or webinars (6 CEUs max) counts toward renewal.

6. Work experience (up to 9 CEUs annually): Document networking-related projects and responsibilities in your current role.

Practical CEU ideas for network professionals

Tommy Gober offers excellent suggestions for earning CEUs through hands-on projects: "Any sort of vendor that may come to your organization to showcase some new technology, some conference that you've attended, whether it's specifically network-focused, or if it's cloud or security-focused, it's all networking."

Home lab projects that count:

• Setting up a new firewall configuration
• Creating a dedicated IoT network for smart home devices
• Experimenting with new routing protocols
• Building a network monitoring system

Professional activities:

• Attending vendor presentations at your workplace
• Participating in industry conferences (network, cloud, or security-focused)
• Completing vendor-specific training courses
• Contributing to networking forums or communities

Documentation requirements

Regardless of which CEU activities you choose, maintain detailed records including:

• Certificates of completion
• Supervisor signatures for work-related activities
• Course syllabi and content descriptions
• Dates, times and duration of all activities
• Your name and certification number on all documentation

Best practices for Network+ renewal

• Start early: Don't wait until the last minute. Begin accumulating CEUs or planning your renewal strategy at least six months before expiration.
• Mix activities: Combine different types of CEUs to stay engaged and avoid monotony. Tommy suggests this variety keeps you "engaged in the industry" rather than just checking boxes.
• Document everything: Keep a renewal folder (physical or digital) and add documentation immediately after completing activities.
• Consider career goals: Choose renewal methods that align with your professional development objectives. If you're moving into cybersecurity, Security+ makes an excellent renewal choice.
• Leverage company resources: Many employers offer training budgets, conference attendance, or internal learning opportunities that count toward renewal.

Infosec resources for Network+ renewal

Infosec bootc amp participants receive 90-day access to Infosec Skills, which includes CEU-eligible content specifically designed for certification renewal. As Tommy mentions, "If you are hard pressed, if you have put it off, you can get a one-stop shop just by going to Infosec Skills."

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With more than 448,000 U.S. cybersecurity job openings annually, get answers to all your cybersecurity salary questions with our free ebook!

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Why maintain your Network+ certification?

Network+ certification demonstrates current, validated networking knowledge to employers. Maintaining your Network+ certification through renewal ensures you stay current with networking technologies, protocols, and security practices. This ongoing professional development directly translates to better job opportunities, higher compensation, and increased credibility in the field.

The three-year renewal cycle encourages continuous learning — exactly what the rapidly evolving networking field demands. Whether you choose the streamlined CertMaster CE approach or the career-advancing step-up certification method, your renewed Network+ credential signals to employers that you're committed to maintaining cutting-edge expertise.

Don't let your valuable Network+ certification expire. Choose your renewal method today and maintain your competitive edge in the networking profession.