Who Owns CompTIA?

The Computing Technology Industry Association formed in 1982 through the merger of two computer dealer associations, functioning as a conventional trade group for its first decade. The CompTIA name became synonymous with certification after the 1993 launch of A+, a vendor-neutral credential for PC technicians created because employers needed a common hiring benchmark.

A+ rode the 1990s IT hiring boom to become the industry's entry-level standard. Network+ and Security+ followed, and Security+ became the program's flagship after the US Department of Defense approved it for its cybersecurity workforce under Directive 8570 (later 8140), mandating it for hundreds of thousands of defense positions.

The certification catalog broadened through the 2010s into cybersecurity (CySA+, PenTest+, CASP+), infrastructure (Cloud+, Server+, Linux+) and data credentials, accumulating more than four million certifications awarded. The association created the Creating IT Futures foundation and acquired rival bodies including TechAmerica functions and the Association of Information Technology Professionals.

The 2025 private equity acquisition by H.I.G. Capital and Thoma Bravo marked the brand's transition from nonprofit credential to commercial product. Under the new owners the company has expanded AI-era certification roadmaps, apprenticeship programs and employer partnerships while maintaining ANSI/ISO 17024 accreditation and DoD recognition.