What are CompTIA Stackable Certifications?
Earning IT certifications is one of the best ways to show you have the knowledge required to land a new role or take on new responsibilities. One of the top vendors for IT certifications is CompTIA, thanks to its wide range of vendor-agnostic certs.
In addition to their stand-alone certs, CompTIA also offers what they call stackable certifications.
Whether you're looking for a new role or just like to stack up certifications like Lego blocks, stacking your certifications can strengthen your resume and career path. So what are they, and how do you get one? Here's what you need to know about CompTIA's stackable certifications.
What are CompTIA Stackable Certifications?
Stackable certifications from CompTIA recognize IT professionals who’ve earned multiple CompTIA certifications in a way that demonstrates deeper expertise and career progression.
Instead of viewing certifications as one-offs, CompTIA’s stackable credentials let you combine certs to showcase mastery in a particular area of IT, whether you're just getting started or building toward an advanced role.
These stackable certifications align with CompTIA’s infrastructure and cybersecurity career pathways and are categorized by experience level:
Specialist: Early-career IT pros (0–2 years of experience)
Professional: Mid-level IT pros (2–5 years of experience)
Expert: Established IT pros (5+ years of experience)
Stacking your certs not only helps you market your skills more effectively but also shows employers that you’re committed to continued learning and advancement.
Examples of Stackable Certification Paths
Here are just a few common combinations:
CompTIA A+ + Network+: CompTIA IT Operations Specialist
CompTIA A+ + Linux+: CompTIA Systems Support Specialist
CompTIA Network+ + Server+: CompTIA Network Infrastructure Professional
CompTIA Network+ + Cloud+: CompTIA Cloud Admin Professional
CompTIA Network+ + Linux+: CompTIA Linux Network Professional
CompTIA A+ + Network+ + Security+: CompTIA Secure Infrastructure Specialist
CompTIA Security+ + Cloud+: CompTIA Secure Cloud Professional
CompTIA Security+ + CySA+: CompTIA Security Analytics Professional
CompTIA Security+ + CySA+ + CASP+: CompTIA Security Analytics Exper
Not sure which CompTIA cert to get? Check out our Complete CompTIA Certification Guide.
How to Get a CompTIA Stackable Certification
To earn a stackable certification, your individual CompTIA certifications must be active and current through the Continuing Education (CE) program. If you hold older "good-for-life" certs, you’ll need to recertify to qualify for a stackable credential—this ensures your skills reflect current industry standards.
If you already hold CompTIA certifications, log in to your CompTIA certification account to check your eligibility for stackable credentials.
Next Steps
If you're new to CompTIA, consider starting with a foundational cert like A+, Network+, or Security+ and begin your journey toward building a stacked credential that opens doors in IT. If you're ready to start studying, CBT Nuggets is here to help.
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