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Why recertify?

Peter Bagley
Gregory Childers said:
I've been a technical trainer for 25+ years. I've taken more than 16 different cert exams from CompTIA and re-certified in many of them two, three, four, five, or even six times. I've even re-certified in two CompTIA certs that were "good for life" certifications. Mostly, this was due to requirements from end clients who wanted me to hold the most recent version of the cert exam that they wanted me to teach. It doesn't matter that I've passed Security+ in 2005, 2010, 2019, 2021, and 2023. They don't trust that my 25+ years of technical training experience, list of certs, and continuing education make me qualified to teach the latest version of the exam. Because they think that the exam is different now, since the version number changed.

Honestly, I never studied for recertification exams. By teaching the courses on a regular basis, I drilled the information into my long-term memory. Every time an exam versions, only 10%-15% of the exam objectives change, mostly because they gradually add new content. But the evolution of the exams is extremely slow. There are lots of topics on my first Security+ exam that are still on the most recent Security+ exam.

It's strange because the same clients don't seem to care that I've only taken the ISC2 CISSP, ISC2 CCSP, ISACA CISM, or any other exam only one time each. They only seem concerned that I've passed THE MOST RECENT version of the CompTIA exam, apparently because passing a previous version doesn't matter in their eyes.

CompTIA doesn't print the version number on the certifications. And they don't care if you renew the cert by taking the new version, or by racking up CEUs, or by passing a different industry cert. That's what I've been doing the last few years.

Out of all my current active CompTIA certs, the one that expires the soonest is in 2027, and the one that expires the furthest out is 2031.

I really have to thank CompTIA for all the free certs and the free and discounted Beta exams over the years. Honestly, if it weren't for them, I probably wouldn't have taken as many exams as I have over the years. The costs add up quickly. Students complain nonstop about voucher costs, when CompTIA is one of the most affordable options on the market. Go check the cost of ISC2, ISACA, OffSec, and GIAC exams if you don't believe me.

I have chosen NOT to take new versions of the exam for certs I already hold. I don't learn anything new by studying for a cert that I've already passed multiple times. I'm completely fine renewing my certs by getting different certs or by racking up CEUs from webinars, conference attendance, and other educational opportunities.

I've got vouchers for Linux+. DataAI, and I'm still waiting on a voucher for Data+ (which I let expire). I'm attending the SecAI TTT, and am looking forward to taking a crack at that exam to see if there's anything new for me on that exam. Mostly, I'm looking for new challenges, not just repeating old challenges.

For those who choose to pass version after version of the CompTIA exams, I wish you the best. If that works for you, I will not disparage it. It just doesn't work for me any more.
Click to expand...
Greg, I can appreciate your view of this subject because you are saying what all of us feel. I like that you are just maintaining the CEUs for the certs I have and moving on to other certs from different organizations. The plus to our field is that there is always something to learn, and the minus is that there is always something to learn. It is a double-edged sword.

Peter
Click to expand...

Why recertify?

Gregory Childers
Meh, I'm just old. If you do anything long enough, it should get easier. But I still have occasional pangs of imposter syndrome to this day.

I've always been a voracious learner. Even in college, high school, and before that. I get bored if I'm not learning something new. My company just granted me access to CrowdStrike University, so I'm going to see if I can run the table on their certifications, in addition to the other vouchers I've acquired.
Click to expand...

If You Had to Restart Security+, What Would You Do Differently?

BrianFord
Kristina N said:
I think Roger Whyte has it. I don't have much to add to it. Just the following thoughts.
  1. You can do too many practice exams ... do not to memorize a bunch of answers - focus on what you don't already know - look up and be able to explain wrong answers.
  2. labs, labs, labs - comptia devleoped some really great labs. Do as much as you want with those Kali linux machines and what they have installed on them. Labs help develop your muscle memory
  3. Sorry. Didn't agree.
  4. I don't mind hearing the same information from two different sources, but usually I just stick with a really good reference book and AVOID wikipedia.
Click to expand...
My thoughts are inserted into Kristina's response.
Click to expand...

Why recertify?

BrianFord
Thanks for that post, Greg.

Reading this and your other postings, I believe you are (at least in my opinion) an alpha lifelong learner. I'm close, but I think you have me beat in terms of technical diversity. I see that Jason Eckert liked your post, and in my book, he's an alpha too.

I'm confident that the testing strategy you describe works for you, given where you are in your career. I'sd suggest that you describe a place where many CINers want to get to.
Click to expand...
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CIN TTT Series SecAI+ V1

S
KatBrown said:
I am also curious about that if anyone knows.
Click to expand...
I asked directly and got this answer:(
At this time, the detailed schedule (including the exact number of days) for the new Security AI (SecAI) training has not been publicly finalized/shared in the same way as our established courses. Because of that, I’m not able to confirm whether it will be a 3 day course or a different duration yet.

What I can recommend in the meantime:

• Keep an eye on the official CompTIA training and certification pages here:

CertMaster Training | CompTIA for Training

• If you receive CompTIA newsletters or partner communications, those channels will typically announce new training offerings and formats (including course length) as soon as they’re available.
•
As soon as CompTIA publishes official details on SecAI training (including duration, delivery format, and availability), that information will appear on the main site and in those communications.
Click to expand...

Why recertify?

Gregory Childers
I've been a technical trainer for 25+ years. I've taken more than 16 different cert exams from CompTIA and re-certified in many of them two, three, four, five, or even six times. I've even re-certified in two CompTIA certs that were "good for life" certifications. Mostly, this was due to requirements from end clients who wanted me to hold the most recent version of the cert exam that they wanted me to teach. It doesn't matter that I've passed Security+ in 2005, 2010, 2019, 2021, and 2023. They don't trust that my 25+ years of technical training experience, list of certs, and continuing education make me qualified to teach the latest version of the exam. Because they think that the exam is different now, since the version number changed.

Honestly, I never studied for recertification exams. By teaching the courses on a regular basis, I drilled the information into my long-term memory. Every time an exam versions, only 10%-15% of the exam objectives change, mostly because they gradually add new content. But the evolution of the exams is extremely slow. There are lots of topics on my first Security+ exam that are still on the most recent Security+ exam.

It's strange because the same clients don't seem to care that I've only taken the ISC2 CISSP, ISC2 CCSP, ISACA CISM, or any other exam only one time each. They only seem concerned that I've passed THE MOST RECENT version of the CompTIA exam, apparently because passing a previous version doesn't matter in their eyes.

CompTIA doesn't print the version number on the certifications. And they don't care if you renew the cert by taking the new version, or by racking up CEUs, or by passing a different industry cert. That's what I've been doing the last few years.

Out of all my current active CompTIA certs, the one that expires the soonest is in 2027, and the one that expires the furthest out is 2031.

I really have to thank CompTIA for all the free certs and the free and discounted Beta exams over the years. Honestly, if it weren't for them, I probably wouldn't have taken as many exams as I have over the years. The costs add up quickly. Students complain nonstop about voucher costs, when CompTIA is one of the most affordable options on the market. Go check the cost of ISC2, ISACA, OffSec, and GIAC exams if you don't believe me.

I have chosen NOT to take new versions of the exam for certs I already hold. I don't learn anything new by studying for a cert that I've already passed multiple times. I'm completely fine renewing my certs by getting different certs or by racking up CEUs from webinars, conference attendance, and other educational opportunities.

I've got vouchers for Linux+. DataAI, and I'm still waiting on a voucher for Data+ (which I let expire). I'm attending the SecAI TTT, and am looking forward to taking a crack at that exam to see if there's anything new for me on that exam. Mostly, I'm looking for new challenges, not just repeating old challenges.

For those who choose to pass version after version of the CompTIA exams, I wish you the best. If that works for you, I will not disparage it. It just doesn't work for me any more.
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CEU's for SecurityX

Gregory Childers
Any one of these other certs will give you the full 75 CEUs to renew SecurityX.

www.comptia.org

SecurityX V4 - 75 CEUs required for certification renewal

Other IT industry certifications you earn may qualify as CEUs. See what CompTIA and other IT certifications will count towards renewing your SecurityX certification.
www.comptia.org www.comptia.org

Any one of these certs will give you partial CEUs to apply against the required 75 CEUs to renew SecurityX.

www.comptia.org

SecurityX V5 - 75 CEUs Required for Certification Renewal

Other IT industry certifications you earn may qualify as CEUs. See what CompTIA and other IT certifications will count towards renewing your SecurityX certification.
www.comptia.org www.comptia.org

This page explains training options and the maximum number of CEUs you can earn with each activity.

www.comptia.org

Training and Higher Education

Pick from a number of ways to earn CEUs, including webinars, courses, and CompTIA’s KnowledgePath assignments, to earn some or all of the CEUs you need.
www.comptia.org www.comptia.org

Personally, I just study for another industry cert. It updates SecurityX and I get a new cert. The last time, I updated SecurityX with my CISM.
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If You Had to Restart Security+, What Would You Do Differently?

Gregory Childers
I'm a big documentation guy. I can read through a 500-page book and go over the material again and again until I understand it and commit it to LONG-TERM MEMORY. When I study for a certification exam, passing the exam is not my ultimate goal. It's learning the material the exam covers because it builds new skill sets I can use in a technical field. Learning the material well enough to apply it in real-world scenarios is much more challenging than prepping for an exam.

Too many students want shortcuts. They want to watch a few videos (at 1.5X speed), and then take a battery of practice exams back-to-back. They don't want to put in the hard work and effort necessary actually to learn the material. They forget 90% of it after the exam is over because they're only concerned with short-term memory so they can pass the exam and check a box for a recruiter. Most of the fail technical interviews miserably and blame the industry because they can't find gainful employment.

Aim for the stars, not for the floor.
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