CompTIA Introduces Stackable Certifications

On December 20, CompTIA launched what it calls "a major expansion of its credentialing program with the introduction of CompTIA Stackable Certifications." The idea, as I understand it, is to take common or typical two- and three-credential combinations and give them unique names of their own.

This recognizes the efforts and skillsets of IT professionals who've gone to the trouble of pursuing not just one (or two) CompTIA credentials, but who've invested their time, effort and money into amassing larger collections of that organization's vendor neutral credentials.

This creates a veritable raft of possible combinations, of which the announcement includes the following examples in the form of some basic certification arithmetic:

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

Of the various certifications mentioned in this conglomeration, A+, Network+, and Security+ are by far the most popular and widely held. Others, such as Linux+, Server+, and Cloud+ aim more directly at network and system administrators in organizations across a wide range of scales and sizes.

The CSA and CASP aim at full-time security professionals working to protect organizations or clients from a broad range of security threats, exposures, and vulnerabilities.

If you've got two or more CompTIA certifications yourself, then you might want to log into your CompTIA certification account. There's a very good chance that you, too, have qualified for some kind of CompTIA Stackable Certification. It's not quite as good as finding a payoff on your latest scratch-off lottery card, but it ain't at all bad, either.

Furthermore, the more CompTIA certs you hold, the more stackable combinations may emerge from your collection. Enjoy!

Because this will be my last post before the upcoming holiday weekend, I'd like to wish all my readers the very best of the season. I hope you get to spend some quality time with friends and family, away from the pressures and demands of work. May it be a truly great holiday, with an even better new year to come. Season's greetings, y'all (that's what we say down here in Texas).