IT Certification Verification
How to Verify a CompTIA Network+ Certification
CompTIA Network+ is the leading vendor-neutral networking certification for IT professionals. CompTIA provides a free verification tool at verify.comptia.org. There are key differences between current and legacy versions of the certification that affect how active status is determined.
Quick answer
Verify CompTIA Network+ (and all CompTIA certifications) at verify.comptia.org. Search by the candidate's name and certificate number (printed on the certificate) or by name and date of birth. The portal confirms active certification status and whether the certification is within its validity period.
What CompTIA Network+ is
CompTIA Network+ is a vendor-neutral certification that validates foundational networking skills including network infrastructure, protocols, network operations, security, and troubleshooting. It is designed for IT professionals with approximately 9–12 months of networking experience.
Network+ is widely used as an entry-to-mid-level networking credential for:
- › Network administrators and network technicians
- › Systems administrators responsible for network management
- › Junior security roles (alongside Security+)
- › DoD 8140 (formerly DoD 8570) IAT Level II baseline requirement
There is no prerequisite for Network+, though CompTIA recommends holding the A+ certification first. Unlike Cisco's CCNA, Network+ does not focus on a specific vendor's implementation — it covers concepts applicable across networking platforms.
How to verify at verify.comptia.org
Step 1: Navigate to verify.comptia.org
Go to verify.comptia.org. This is CompTIA's official certification verification portal covering all CompTIA certifications: A+, Network+, Security+, CySA+, CASP+, PenTest+, Cloud+, Linux+, and others.
Step 2: Enter verification details
You can search by:
- › Name + certificate number — the certificate number appears on the CompTIA certificate and in the candidate's CompTIA CertMetrics account
- › Name + date of birth — if you do not have the certificate number
CompTIA also issues digital badges through Credly. Ask the candidate to share their Credly badge URL at credly.com — the badge verification page shows the certification name, issue date, and expiration.
Step 3: Confirm active CE status
The portal returns active certifications and their expiration dates. Confirm that Network+ is listed as active and not expired. Pay attention to the expiration date — a Network+ earned in 2020 under the CE program has a different expiration profile than one earned in 2018.
CE vs. non-CE: understanding Network+ versions
CompTIA introduced its Continuing Education (CE) program, making Network+ (and other certifications) expire after three years. Prior to the CE program, some legacy Network+ certifications had no expiration.
| Version | Expiration | Renewal method |
|---|---|---|
| Network+ CE (2011 onward) | 3 years from exam date | 30 CEUs + $50 renewal fee, or pass a higher-level exam |
| Legacy Network+ (pre-2011) | No expiration (grandfathered) | No renewal required |
Exam version vs. validity period
CompTIA periodically releases new exam versions (e.g., N10-007, N10-008). Passing an older version does not invalidate the certification as long as the CE renewal requirements are met. The verify.comptia.org portal shows expiration dates that account for CE renewals — trust the portal status over the version number on a certificate.
Network+ vs. CCNA: what hiring managers need to know
| Dimension | CompTIA Network+ | Cisco CCNA |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor | Vendor-neutral | Cisco-specific |
| Depth | Broad concepts, moderate depth | Deep Cisco IOS, routing protocols, CLI |
| Best for | General networking roles, mixed environments | Cisco-heavy networks, enterprise WAN/LAN |
| DoD 8140 | IAT Level II (alongside Security+) | Not listed (vendor-specific) |
| Verification | verify.comptia.org | cisco.com/go/verifycerts |
For roles in Cisco-heavy environments, the CCNA is typically the stronger credential. For general networking roles, especially in government or compliance-driven contexts where DoD 8140 alignment matters, Network+ is often the standard requirement.
Other CompTIA certifications and verification paths
All CompTIA certifications are verified at the same portal: verify.comptia.org. This includes A+, Security+, CySA+, CASP+, Cloud+, Linux+, PenTest+, Server+, and DataSys+. Certificate numbers from any CompTIA certification can be entered in the same search.
Verify the degree behind the certification
Many IT networking roles require an associate's or bachelor's degree alongside the Network+. Use VerifyED to confirm that a candidate's degree comes from a legitimately accredited institution — and catch diploma mill credentials in your IT hiring pipeline.
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