TL;DR
If you’re looking to renew your Security+ certification, you’re definitely not alone. Plenty of folks in the cybersecurity world need to maintain their cert, and it can be a bit confusing figuring out which training or activities actually count for CEUs (Continuing Education Units). Since Security+ is a CompTIA certification, there are some specific guidelines you have to follow. Below is a rundown of a lively conversation that took place on a forum, highlighting some great suggestions on how to pick the right Cybrary courses, keep track of hours, and avoid any missteps when it comes time to recertify.
Why CEUs Matter for Security+ Renewal
CompTIA requires you to earn a certain number of CEUs every three years to keep your certification active. For Security+, you need 50 CEUs total. You can get those through various activities—things like attending webinars, conferences, passing higher-level or relevant certifications, or completing structured training courses through approved providers. Cybrary is one of those providers that many professionals turn to, mainly because it’s online, flexible, and typically offers a wide variety of cybersecurity topics.
Starting With the Most Relevant Courses
One person in the conversation asked for recommendations on which Cybrary courses are both:
- Interesting and skill-building, so they actually learn something new and useful.
- Relevant for CEUs toward Security+ renewal, so their time is well spent
A quick answer pointed out that CompTIA has a published list of pre-approved Cybrary courses that align with Security+ exam objectives. This ensures that if you complete one of these courses, it should count toward your CEU requirement without a hassle. Someone shared the link to a PDF from CompTIA’s site (specifically listing those Cybrary courses). Checking that list is the fastest way to confirm you’re on the right track and you don’t end up taking a course that might only tangentially relate to Security+ exam objectives.
Specific Course Mentions
- Cryptography Course: One user mentioned having completed the Cryptography course on Cybrary and successfully submitted it for Security+ CEUs. That was a direct personal success story. They cautioned that there’s a limit to how many “3-credit hour or more” courses you can use, noting you can only earn 40 out of 50 CEUs with that particular method—though another user chimed in to say you can earn all 50 with training courses as long as you’re following the rules, so there may be a nuance in the documentation worth checking.
- Penetration Testing and Ethical Hacking Course: Another user talked about diving into Cybrary’s Pentesting course and how thorough it is—describing it as “extremely comprehensive.” This is definitely an area that overlaps with Security+ objectives (network security, threats, vulnerabilities, etc.), so it’s worth considering if you want deeper, hands-on knowledge.
Tracking Hours vs. Stated CEUs
One crucial piece of advice came up: CompTIA generally awards 1 CEU per hour of training. It’s often safer to rely on the actual clock hours for your final CEU claim rather than a course’s advertised CEU value. You must ensure that at least 50 percent of the course content lines up with Security+ objectives, and each course must be at least one hour in length to count. If you try to claim a chunk of hours for a 30-minute course, you’ll run into trouble if you’re ever audited by CompTIA.
A user noted that it’s best to keep a copy of:
- The course completion certificate (or proof of completion).
- The course outline or syllabus, showing the content matches Security+ topics.
That way, if CompTIA decides to audit your renewal, you can easily prove that, for example, “I took X hours of cryptography training, and 75% of that course was directly related to Security+ objectives.”
CompTIA’s Audits and Being Prepared
Several people in the thread mentioned CompTIA’s audits have become more frequent in recent years. Gone are the days when maybe only one out of ten professionals ever got audited. Now, it seems more and more folks are having their CEUs scrutinized. To avoid panic down the line:
- Document your activities carefully (dates, hours, relevance to Security+).
- Spread out your CEUs across different methods (webinars, training courses, conferences) if possible.
- Don’t wait until the last month of your three-year cycle to cram all 50 CEUs in; that can lead to mistakes or incomplete documentation.
Final Takeaways and Advice
- Check CompTIA’s Pre-Approved List: If you’re not sure whether a Cybrary course counts, look at the PDF from CompTIA referencing Cybrary courses. That’s your easiest bet for a no-fuss renewal.
- Keep Track of Actual Hours: Don’t rely solely on the CEU count listed by any training platform. If a course says it’s worth 10 CEUs but you realize the content only lasted 7 hours, it’s safer to claim 7 CEUs.
- Stay Organized: Save certificates, note course outlines, and keep a log of each hour you put in. If you’re ever audited, you’ll breeze through it without worry.
Ultimately, choosing the “best” courses is subjective—it depends on what you’re interested in learning and how it fits into your security career path. But from the forum’s advice, cryptography and the pentesting/ethical hacking courses are a popular place to start. They not only help you maintain your Security+ cert, but also build valuable skills that can boost your on-the-job effectiveness. Combine that with a methodical approach to documenting your hours, and you’ll be on track for a smooth Security+ renewal experience!
