Hey everyone, love this question!

As instructors, we're always walking that line between teaching solid vendor-neutral fundamentals and giving students practical insights into the actual proprietary stacks they’ll run into at work.

For me, building out my portfolio has never been about collecting badges just to have them—it’s really been about layering vendor-neutral foundations, multi-cloud depth, and eventually strategic leadership.

What I’m Holding Right Now​

My portfolio is pretty heavy on security and cloud at the moment:

• CompTIA (The Anchor): I hold SecurityX, SecAI+, and A+. CompTIA has always been my baseline for vendor-neutral concepts. SecAI+ in particular has been awesome recently for tackling AI threats and workflow security, while SecurityX keeps my engineering and architecture skills grounded.
• Google Cloud: Associated Cloud Engineer (ACE), Workspace Administrator, GenAI Leader, and Cloud Digital Leader.
• AWS: Certified Cloud Practitioner and Solutions Architect – Associate looking to pick up the AI Practitioner if time permits me later in the year

How I Pick What's Next​

A lot of it comes down to market reality and classroom value. Almost none of my clients or students work in a single-vendor vacuum anymore. Holding both AWS and GCP certs lets me bring real-world multi-cloud context into the classroom. When we cover a vendor-neutral concept in CompTIA, I can immediately pull up examples of how AWS IAM vs. GCP IAM handles it in practice. Also looking forward to having some microsoft cloud environment as it comes 2nd after AWS if you ask many - opinions vary.

My Current Roadmap​

I like to tackle things in clear phases:

1. Leveling Up the Cloud Tier: My immediate goal is to hit the Professional level for both cloud providers—targeting the AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional and GCP’s Professional Cloud Architect- have the vouchers for these and hope to take out time to trash them out.
2. The Governance & Strategy Layer: Once those are locked in, I'm heading toward PMP and CISSP( this should be next year) - That way, I have the technical implementation side fully covered, backed up by solid project management and high-level security governance.

Curious if others here teach multi-cloud as well, or if you guys mostly stick to one main ecosystem in your day-to-day work? Looking forward to reading through the thread!

I usually list my certs like this:

COMPUTER CERTIFICATIONS

• AI Certs AI+ Foundation
• AWS re/Start Accredited Instructor
• AWS Certified AI Practitioner
• AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
• AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
• Apple Certified Associate
• AT&T Systimax Structured Cabling Systems Installation
• CompTIA Security+
• CompTIA Network+
• CompTIA A+
• CompTIA IT Operations Specialist
• Dell Certified Systems Expert (DCSE 685, 702, 3028, 3016, 577)
• Google IT Support Certificate
• HIPAA Privacy & Security Awareness
• ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity
• MCP: Microsoft Certified Professional; Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012
• MCTS: Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist; Windows 7, Configuring.

I did the Microsoft, Apple, Dell, AT&T & HIPAA certs (along with A+ & N+) when I was a working tech in order to meet the perceived market demand & job requirements.
After I stepped out of the technician role & into teaching I did Sec+ as a teaching requirement, then did the ISC2 to see how they compared. I did the Google IT Supp. Cert to see how it compared to A+. I did the AWS CCP, SAA & Instructor certs as job requirements. I did the AWS AIP & the AI+ Foundation cert for fun, but a couple of months after I got the AI+ Foundation cert the job started posting it as a requirement for IT instructors.

Next on the horizon is AWS Certified Security - Specialty. AWS Certified Advanced Networking - Specialty was on the horizon but TIL that it sunsets at the end of this month. Alas,the penalty of procrastination
Both for fun.

I got the same instructions when i was writing Tech+, Beta exam for SecOT, SecurityX and SecAI.

Congrats

Hello, Can I get the link of CySA+ on-demand recorded sessions?

Steve Schofield said:

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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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

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)

I recommend that the students take the exams within a few weeks of completing each course.

I teach adult professional boot camps, so we cover both courses in a 5-day, 40-hour course. Most learners study for a few weeks and then take both exams on the same day.

Congratulations. I recommend attempting the CloudNetX next. If you have Network+ and Cloud+, you already have a solid foundation for preparation.

Mark Anthony Germanos said:

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+.

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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+.

I wish I could go. I mostly stick to conferences in the local area that don't require travel. I hope to make it to DefCon one day.

Congrats! Probably the stuff you missed will now be the easiest parts to teach because it gets burned into your brain--at least, that's what happens to me, lol.

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

Congratulations. Mitch

I'm primarily a cloud instructor, so have got all AWS and Google Cloud certs as well as many Microsoft ones. Also have the LF Kubernetes certifications. AWS and Google certs I do for fun, the rest as they are required to teach the relevant courses.

Congratulations @Mitch Garvis you did amazing work

Gregory Childers said:

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!

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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.

Hello @Stephen Schneiter, I have checked both my inbox and junk/spam folders for emails received from July 23, 2026, to the present, but I still have not received my CySA+ exam voucher. Could you please check whether my name is on the recipient list?

Hi Malik,

I have sent you my CV just now . thank you,

Rick Butler said:

Wish I could be there. Maybe one of these years, I'll get out for a DefCon.

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Same here - I always have the desire to attend these conferences, but my schedule rarely makes it work out.
Probably a good thing, because I'm always busy troubleshooting some weird cloud issue anyways

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.