CompTIA logo with stackable certification badges for IT professionals, including CIOS, CSSS, CCAP, CNIP, CSIS, CSCP, CSAP, and CSAE.

[This post was last updated on 4/12/2019.]

You’ve put in the time, proved you have the knowledge and skills, and earned the certification. Your certifications validate your experience, but how to bundle that into a cohesive designation? CompTIA has the answer with CompTIA Stackable Certifications.

What Are CompTIA Stackable Certifications?

CompTIA Stackable Certifications are a new way to showcase the skills you’ve validated through earning your CompTIA certifications with a new designation. There are two pathways for the new CompTIA Stackable Certification designations.

  1. Infrastructure Career Pathway
  2. Cybersecurity Career Pathway

Each pathway within CompTIA’s Stackable Certifications is also categorized by experience level; specialist, professional, and expert. Specialist designations recognize IT professionals with up to 2 years of experience. Professional level designations are for IT professionals with between 2 to 5 years of experience. The expert level designation is for IT professionals who have over 5 years of experience.

CompTIA’s Stackable Certifications for either pathway validate the IT professional’s technical skills and knowledge from the beginning to end, regardless of years of experience.

Exploring CompTIA Stackable Certification Pathways

Infrastructure-

Certifications that fall into the Infrastructure pathway confirms those that have achieved this certifications will be able to work in almost every area of IT operations.

Cybersecurity-

The Cybersecurity pathway is a deep dive designation covering almost every aspect of IT security and the stackable certifications verify that professionals posses the knowledge to make sure their organization is secure.

Stackable Certification Designations

Infrastructure

Specialist

CompTIA CIOS logo for IT Operations Specialist certification, emphasizing the importance of validating IT skills in the CompTIA Stackable Certifications pathway.
 CCIOS – CompTIA IT Operations Specialist (A+/Network+)
CompTIA CSSS certification logo, representing Systems Support Specialist designation in IT, relevant to CompTIA Stackable Certifications and career pathways.
CSSS – CompTIA Systems Support Specialist (A+/Linux+)

Professional

CompTIA CCAP logo for Cloud Admin Professional certification, relevant to CompTIA Stackable Certifications in IT pathways.
 CCAP – CompTIA Cloud Admin Professional (Network+/Cloud+)
CompTIA CNIP logo representing the Network Infrastructure Professional certification, emphasizing IT operations and career pathways in CompTIA stackable certifications.
CNIP – CompTIA Network Infrastructure Professional (Network+/Server+)
CompTIA CLNP logo representing the Linux Network Professional certification, highlighting its relevance in the IT Infrastructure pathway.
CLNP – CompTIA Linux Network Professional (Network+/Linux+)

Cybersecurity

Specialist

CompTIA CSIS logo representing Secure Infrastructure Specialist certification for IT professionals.
CSIS – CompTIA Secure Infrastructure Specialist (A+/Network+/Security+)

Expert

CompTIA CSAE logo for Security Analytics Expert certification, symbolizing advanced expertise in cybersecurity analytics.
CSAE – CompTIA Security Analytics Expert (Security+/CySA+/CASP)

Professional

CompTIA CSCP logo representing the Secure Cloud Professional certification, emphasizing IT security and cloud expertise within CompTIA's stackable certification pathways.
CSCP – CompTIA Secure Cloud Professional (Security+/Cloud+)
CompTIA CSAP logo for Security Analytics Professional certification, relevant to CompTIA Stackable Certifications and Cybersecurity pathway.
CSAP – CompTIA Security Analytics Professional (Security+/CySA+)

How to Get Your CompTIA Stackable Certifications

There are a few ways to get your Stackable Certifications. Please find which option suits you and follow the instructions to find you designation logo and certificate.

Current, Renewal Certification Holder

If you have already earned renewable individual certifications from CompTIA the only step you need to take is downloading the Stackable Certification logo and certificate from your Career ID Profile on the CompTIA website.

Good-for-Life Certification Holder

You will need to re-certify with the specific Good-for-Life certification you already hold. Good-for-Life certifications are A+, Network+, or Security+ certifications earned prior to January 1, 2011. Re-certifying will validate that you have the most up-to-date skills and knowledge need and will give you two certifications the GFL and CE certification.