2025-10
I’ve decided to let some (read: all) of my certifications lapse — not because I’ve stopped caring about growth, but because I’ve stopped caring about subscriptions disguised as credentials.
When I first earned the certs, they actually felt meaningful. They showed progress, skill, and commitment — and they helped quiet the ever-present imposter syndrome. But over time, especially after the recent CompTIA restructuring, the renewal process has turned into a pay-to-maintain system with no real value-add. It feels less about keeping professionals sharp and more about keeping the revenue flowing. The “continuing education” requirements often amount to checking boxes or paying fees just to keep a logo next to your name.
I’m still learning — just not on someone else’s schedule or under their renewal plan.
Another not-so-small factor: I don’t need them in my current role. So why spend hundreds, even up to a thousand dollars, for something nobody but me cares that I have?
So with all that, I’m letting them expire. Not out of apathy, but out of principle.