PRIVO Information for Students
This article explains how PRIVO works for students who are minors and what to expect when creating or accessing a CompTIA account.
What is PRIVO?
PRIVO is a privacy solutions provider that CompTIA uses to collect Verifiable Parental Consent (VPC) for students under the age of 18.
PRIVO is an FTC-approved COPPA Safe Harbor organization that helps protect minors’ personal information and ensures compliance with privacy laws.
Why am I being asked for parental consent?
CompTIA must obtain parental or legal guardian consent before allowing minors to create accounts or access learning and certification services.
This helps protect your personal information and ensures compliance with child data privacy regulations.
Can I create a CompTIA account if I am under 18?
Yes. Minors can create a CompTIA account, but access is limited until parental, guardian, or authorized instructor consent is approved through PRIVO.
What happens when I create an account as a minor?
When you create an account and are identified as a minor:
- You will be asked to enter your parent or legal guardian’s email address (or an authorized instructor’s email, if applicable)
- Your account will be placed on hold
- You will not be able to log in until consent is granted
What happens after my parent, guardian, or instructor gives consent?
Once consent is approved:
- You will receive a confirmation email
- You will be able to log in to CompTIA Central
- You can access learning resources, exams, and certifications, as applicable
What if consent is denied or not completed?
If consent is denied or not completed:
- Your account will remain inactive
- You will not be able to access CompTIA Central or related services
- For existing accounts, if consent is not granted within 90 days, a record deletion workflow may be triggered
What happens if consent is revoked later?
If consent is revoked:
- Your access to CompTIA Central and all related services will immediately stop
- You will no longer be able to use learning, exam, or certification features
Can my account be deleted?
Yes. A parent, guardian, or authorized instructor can request account deletion. This is a permanent process:
- All personal data, learning progress, and certifications will be deleted
- Deleted data cannot be recovered
- The process may take up to 2 weeks
Who can students contact for help?
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For questions about parental or instructor consent and verification:
PRIVO Support at support@privo.com -
For CompTIA account access or platform issues:
Contact CompTIA Customer Support