• CIN will be sunsetting the official CIN app! The app will be turned off on Saturday, August 1st. Thank you to everyone who used the app to post updates. It just was not adopted as much as hoped. This is ONLY the mobile app. The CIN community is not being affected. :)

A+ (Core 1 and Core2) in a 15 week course.

I'm putting together a 15 week course for A+ (core 1 / core 2). The modules 1-10 are for core 1. And Modules 11-22 are for Core 2. What would CompTIA recommend for a student to take the Core 1 after modules 1-10 and Core 2 after modules 11-22. OR take both certs at end of semester.
It all depends on prior skillset of students, if there is prior knowledge they can complete the program before taking the exam as each section or core knowledge base compliments each other otherwise

I advice they take each exam after each Core

Thanks
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Exam Rules - BEWARE!

I did one exam remote during the pandemic and said no more remote certification exams. They told me to remove phone from room (tricky with wired in one on desk in vacant office by did agfter moving furniture) and I did and left everything including watch, phone etc in my office. Then told me to give them my phone number so they could call me if needed during exam, and said it was a requirement for phone turned offf and out of reach but show to them. That hassle settled it. Already had been warned on scratching itch on let or looking away from screen.

I have been know to drive over 100 miles for testing centers and will still do if needed. I have held certifications since 1984 (CDP and had to go on a Saturday to a high school cafeteria 150 miles away to take) to certifications earned in march (Certiport AI)

What Certifications Have You Added Alongside CompTIA?

Back when Bill Gates was the only computer nerd billionaire, I built my career on the MCSE. This involved passing six exams, which I pulled off within five months. I kept the Microsoft certifications alive up until about 2020. That’s when I embraced CompTIA as my primary certification solution.

I first earned Security+ in 2007. Now I hold A+, Security+, PenTest+, SecurityX and SecAI+. My certs from Microsoft and other software companies have expired.

My challenge now is marketing my training services for Security+ and SecAI+.
I earned my MCSE in November 2003 after passing six exams. I also earned a couple of MCTS certs in SharePoint. But it seemed that the market was flooded with Microsoft trainers, so I focused more on CompTIA and other vendors.

My next CompTIA cert that I'm working towards is Linux+.

What Certifications Have You Added Alongside CompTIA?

Initially, I obtained certifications like Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA), CompTIA A+, Cisco CCNA R&S, AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate, and Furukawa FCP simply to meet the requirements of the institution where I teach. However, due to some uncertainties in my current job - such as restructuring and layoffs - I began investing in CompTIA certifications, as they offered the most job opportunities (A+, in fact, outperformed even the trendier certifications in this regard). From then on, I became drawn to the nature of CompTIA certifications, and they became the core of my portfolio. &;-D

A+ (Core 1 and Core2) in a 15 week course.

I'm putting together a 15 week course for A+ (core 1 / core 2). The modules 1-10 are for core 1. And Modules 11-22 are for Core 2. What would CompTIA recommend for a student to take the Core 1 after modules 1-10 and Core 2 after modules 11-22. OR take both certs at end of semester.
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Circling Back...

There was a discussion (started by me) a few weeks ago about an MCT who inadvertently violated exam policy by using a touch screen.

I sat the Cloud+ exam yesterday and after waiting 42 minutes for the proctor, I decided to ask. According to him, if your hardware is a touch screen but you do not try to use it during the exam then it is acceptable.

I thought some of you might be interested.

What Certifications Have You Added Alongside CompTIA?

I'm curious how other instructors have built their certification portfolios over the years.

CompTIA has always had a vendor-neutral philosophy, and I think that's one of its greatest strengths. It teaches concepts and skills that apply across technologies instead of focusing on a single vendor.

But many of us also teach courses or work with clients who use specific technologies. That got me wondering how everyone balances CompTIA with other certifications. Besides your CompTIA certifications, what other certifications do you currently hold? Are you pursuing anything new?

How do vendor certifications like Microsoft, AWS, Google Cloud, Cisco, Fortinet, Palo Alto Networks, or CrowdStrike fit into your portfolio? What about vendor-neutral certifications like ISC2 or ISACA? Or more specialized certifications from organizations like OffSec or GIAC?

When you're deciding what certification to earn next, what drives that decision? Customer demand? Personal interest? Better career opportunities? Something else?

I'm not looking for a right or wrong answer. I'm just interested in hearing how other CompTIA instructors think about professional development and how you've put together a certification portfolio that works for you.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
I've added Microsoft certifications such as SC-900, AI-900 and AZ-900, and PL-900. I'm currently working on adding AZ-104. I have Cisco (CCNA) 200-301. Because my workplace will be teaching Python, I'll be adding the Python certification. I also have the SSCP planned, stemming from a WGU cybersecurity program. Primarily, my workplace focuses on CompTIA certifications.

What Certifications Have You Added Alongside CompTIA?

I've added a few AWS certs, a PMI cert, and a couple of Microsoft/Azure certs. I'm not as diligent about renewing those, though. I choose certs based on my interests and/or based on upcoming projects or classes I'm about to teach.

It's interesting to compare CompTIA exams and objectives to exams and objectives from other companies. CompTIA does a pretty good job of giving sufficient detail in their objectives so you know what you need to know on the exam. Vendor-specific certs, especially AWS, often do a good job providing free training materials or good documentation on their services, making it easier to find in one place what I need to study. But it's also a little annoying that the vendor certs are (understandably) focused on how to use their products rather than understanding the underlying concepts.

What Certifications Have You Added Alongside CompTIA?

I'm curious how other instructors have built their certification portfolios over the years.

CompTIA has always had a vendor-neutral philosophy, and I think that's one of its greatest strengths. It teaches concepts and skills that apply across technologies instead of focusing on a single vendor.

But many of us also teach courses or work with clients who use specific technologies. That got me wondering how everyone balances CompTIA with other certifications. Besides your CompTIA certifications, what other certifications do you currently hold? Are you pursuing anything new?

How do vendor certifications like Microsoft, AWS, Google Cloud, Cisco, Fortinet, Palo Alto Networks, or CrowdStrike fit into your portfolio? What about vendor-neutral certifications like ISC2 or ISACA? Or more specialized certifications from organizations like OffSec or GIAC?

When you're deciding what certification to earn next, what drives that decision? Customer demand? Personal interest? Better career opportunities? Something else?

I'm not looking for a right or wrong answer. I'm just interested in hearing how other CompTIA instructors think about professional development and how you've put together a certification portfolio that works for you.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
Back when Bill Gates was the only computer nerd billionaire, I built my career on the MCSE. This involved passing six exams, which I pulled off within five months. I kept the Microsoft certifications alive up until about 2020. That’s when I embraced CompTIA as my primary certification solution.

I first earned Security+ in 2007. Now I hold A+, Security+, PenTest+, SecurityX and SecAI+. My certs from Microsoft and other software companies have expired.

My challenge now is marketing my training services for Security+ and SecAI+.

Filter