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BrianFord · Dec 8, 2025

dlross said:
That is odd.

I am being hired by a bootcamp company that I convinced to purchase CertMaster.... except that they want to know realistically, what should be the timeline for teaching A+/Net+/Sec+. Without having that pacing plan, I can't convince them that the timeline they want to use would be realistic with CertMaster.

The pacing plans is (are or were) just a recommendation from the course developers at CompTIA. I don't recall that they published a bootcamp version of the course when last I saw a pacing guide.

dlross said:
They also are thinking about just building out the materials to match their pacing.

Problem solved? What's the client companies pacing?

dlross said:
I'd love to give them some realistic timelines, but it's just impossible to do for CertMaster Perform when there's no realistic schedules that I can show to match what they want. But I can certainly take their timeline and just build out the materials myself from scratch to match what they have.

I lead bootcamps all the time. Some data points to consider are:

Do the students have all the prerequisites?
Are these students just starting their certification studies? How much time is being allocated for students learning? Are these folks attending a week long 9AM-5PM course or are they meeting less than 5 days a week for two to three hours per meeting? Lots of variability there.
Have the students had access to the course materials for self study for several weeks already? This is a pre-exam bootcamp were the students take the exam the following week.

dlross said:
I'll kind of guessimate it out and I guess they'll decide if they want to go with CertMaster, or if they just want me to build it out.

You mentioned CertMaster Perform. You know that there are 30-odd hands on lab exercises in the Perform package. That's adding in the ballpark of 20 hours or more if lab completion is part of the bootcamp.

dlross said:
It's a win-win either way for me, since I'll be teaching it, no matter what they choose. I have the Instructor materials for all these certs. What I don't have is an idea of how to counsel them on if using CertMaster Perform, they'll meet their timelines.

Yeah. I'd suggest that it takes the average instructor 35-38 hours to deliver the CertMaster Learn for Security+ in a bootcamp format with demos but without the labs. That makes the labs self study for the students.

dlross said:
They have state contracts. They can't afford to fail.

As an instructor you need to be careful about that 'They can't afford to fail.' statement. Certifications are an individual skill assessment. As an instructor you can suggest things like:

Making sure that students have the prerequisites. Or require e a pre-course skills assessment. If they don't meet requirements you can add additional training upfront.
Even if they do have the prerequisite it's often helpful to offer short 'refreshers' for Network+ and Security+.
Including your own assessments into the class. Daily quizzes and / or weekly tests. I've seen some orgs tie passing assessments to receiving an exam voucher.

If this is a state funded program one idea is to have required assessments; like before lunch and at afternoon break and use timely completion (no make ups) as assessment and attendance data.

Good luck with that.

dlross · Dec 8, 2025

Mitch Garvis said:
Here is hoping and praying to whoever you pray to that you don't die over Net+/Sec+ Please let us know if your rep does provide

Lol, thanks. I really would prefer the CertMaster training. It's so good. No need to reinvent the wheel!

Mitch Garvis · Dec 8, 2025

dlross said:
I shot my CompTIA rep an email this morning asking for ONLY the excel documents. Hopefully, they provide it. I'd rather not have to build out the entire Net+/Sec+ learning material. I think that would kill me. Lol.

Here is hoping and praying to whoever you pray to that you don't die over Net+/Sec+

Please let us know if your rep does provide

dlross · Dec 8, 2025

Mitch Garvis said:
I really do empathize; I understand your frustrations, and while I know the documents are available (I just checked Security+), I also know that we as instructors are not allowed to share CompTIA's intellectual property with others. With that said, if you were to look for a CompTIA support email I am sure they would be willing to share it... THEY can do it without getting into legal binds, but we cannot. Good luck!

Thanks- I shot my CompTIA rep an email this morning asking for ONLY the excel documents. Hopefully, they provide it. I'd rather not have to build out the entire Net+/Sec+ learning material. I think that would kill me. Lol.

baylis · Dec 8, 2025

I'm curious if anyone on this site has a Data-X voucher that has no intention to use ? Please let me know

Mitch Garvis · Dec 8, 2025

dlross said:
Why do I have to buy the materials for a simple excel document that gives guidance on how their pacing would match what they have in mind for their timelines?

I really do empathize; I understand your frustrations, and while I know the documents are available (I just checked Security+), I also know that we as instructors are not allowed to share CompTIA's intellectual property with others. With that said, if you were to look for a CompTIA support email I am sure they would be willing to share it... THEY can do it without getting into legal binds, but we cannot. Good luck!

dlross · Dec 8, 2025

Mitch Garvis said:
Those documents are available when you purchase (or the learning org purchases for you) the Instructor material. Without that it would be a violation for anyone to share it with you.

As an aside, I used to be afraid to ask the training orgs that hired me for the Instructor Material. Coming from a Microsoft background, as a MCT I always had access. I learned that when you ask for it, they are usually very quick to assign it to you... but they won't assign it automatically because there is a cost to it, and that is wasted if you as an instructor already have it. ASK

That is odd.

I am being hired by a bootcamp company that I convinced to purchase CertMaster.... except that they want to know realistically, what should be the timeline for teaching A+/Net+/Sec+. Without having that pacing plan, I can't convince them that the timeline they want to use would be realistic with CertMaster. They also are thinking about just building out the materials to match their pacing. I'd love to give them some realistic timelines, but it's just impossible to do for CertMaster Perform when there's no realistic schedules that I can show to match what they want. But I can certainly take their timeline and just build out the materials myself from scratch to match what they have.

Why do I have to buy the materials for a simple excel document that gives guidance on how their pacing would match what they have in mind for their timelines? They aren't asking for the materials- just the excel. So it kind of doesn't make sense. But ok. I'll kind of guessimate it out and I guess they'll decide if they want to go with CertMaster, or if they just want me to build it out. It's a win-win either way for me, since I'll be teaching it, no matter what they choose. I have the Instructor materials for all these certs. What I don't have is an idea of how to counsel them on if using CertMaster Perform, they'll meet their timelines. They have state contracts. They can't afford to fail.

Mitch Garvis · Dec 8, 2025

dlross said:
I don't have access to the Net+ and Sec+. Is there a means to get the Excel doc for those other two certifications?

Those documents are available when you purchase (or the learning org purchases for you) the Instructor material. Without that it would be a violation for anyone to share it with you.

As an aside, I used to be afraid to ask the training orgs that hired me for the Instructor Material. Coming from a Microsoft background, as a MCT I always had access. I learned that when you ask for it, they are usually very quick to assign it to you... but they won't assign it automatically because there is a cost to it, and that is wasted if you as an instructor already have it. ASK

Mitch Garvis · Dec 8, 2025

While I spend most of my time teaching cybersecurity, most people know me as a Microsoft guy. I was a Microsoft MVP, a Technology Evangelist with Microsoft Canada, and a Fast Track Engineer with Microsoft (both as a contractor). I have probably delivered a thousand lectures on Microsoft technologies... to over ten thousand students and event attendees.

A month ago I received an email from a company I train for asking if I would deliver Linux+. I was surprised, but if I am going to follow my own advice (you only grow when you are outside of your comfort zone) then I have to try new things. I spent a couple of weeks studying and preparing for the exam, and the Saturday before the class was scheduled I passed.

I was surprised by the class. Firstly I was surprised by how comfortable I was in Linux. But also, I was surprised by how much fun I had teaching it! I had a small class (4 students) who were all mostly new to Linux, and I realized early that by showing them 'This is what we do in Linux... compare it to X in Windows' they were able to better understand a lot of concepts that they thought were foreign.

This morning I received my Evals, and while there were a few things the students didn't love (they were unimpressed with a lot of lab glitches), the Instructor scores were through the roof. I was thrilled!

There are some topics I will likely never teach. I was told when I first got my MCT that I could probably 'fake my way' through a lot of courses, but if I was not really a SQL Server expert that I should never try to teach SQL Server because they will know. I'll never forget that. I was worried a month ago that if I was going to make it through a week of Linux+ I would likely be faking it. It turns out that I know it a lot better than I thought I did, and I was not at all faking it. I had fun because I could go off the slides and just talk through demos... a lot more interesting than Death By PowerPoint.

I am not walking away from the Microsoft ecosystem. I have worked hard to learn it as well as I do, and frankly I think I teach it better than most of my peers. However I will definitely be spending more time in the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) that is a convenient feature of Windows 11, and will also be building a few more Linux servers in my lab environment (still built on Hyper-V). It will help not only for my Linux+, but also for my cybersecurity deliveries.

abiodun1991 · Dec 8, 2025

dwightwatt said:
I watched all of session 1 of AI essentials TTT and it was 69 minutes but certificate of attendance requires 110 minutes. Wont give certificate. How do I get it.

Watch it on demand let see

DAVID PAPKIN · Dec 8, 2025

Hi,

When I click on Linux+ Certmaster Study ( 3 dots) --> Resources , I dont see any Videos available. Where can I find the videos ? Previously I would use learn.comptia.org but doesnt seem to be available for v8.
View attachment 2481

Thanks

David Papkin

MOHAMMAD SALAH · Dec 8, 2025

Congratulations

DougBrooks · Dec 8, 2025

I think many of us are in the same boat regarding the 1202 voucher, I am sure that Stephen will distribute them when he can

Yanjanani · Dec 8, 2025

that applies to me as well

dlross · Dec 7, 2025

Hi everyone,

I'm teaching A+ right now, so I have access to the Excel doc through the Resources to see the different ways I can set up how we teach the class and the time frame we'd like to work with. Another bootcamp hired me and wants me to suggest some schedules for them. I don't have access to the Net+ and SEc+. Is there a means to get the Excel doc for those other two certifications?

Thanks!

jasoneckert · Dec 7, 2025

Great to hear!
CongratsX

Gregory Childers · Dec 7, 2025

Amelia A. said:
Thank you, CIN! I could not have passed it without the CIN sessions.

How many questions did you have? When I took the beta last year, it had 119 or something ridiculous like that.

Gregory Childers · Dec 7, 2025

Same problem here.

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GingerHacker · Dec 7, 2025

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dwightwatt · Dec 7, 2025

I watched all of session 1 of AI essentials TTT and it was 69 minutes but certificate of attendance requires 110 minutes. Wont give certificate. How do I get it.

precious · Dec 7, 2025

Congratulations

Amelia A. · Dec 6, 2025

Gregory Childers said:
SecurityX renews PenTest+, CySA+, Security+, Network+, and A+. It DOES NOT renew Cloud+, Data+, or any other CompTIA certifications.

Earn a Higher-Level CompTIA Certification

Earn or renew a qualifying higher-level CompTIA certification to meet the renewal requirements for your existing CompTIA certification.

www.comptia.org

Thank you. This is a perfect example of why AI has to be prompted to check its accuracy and why one should switch between chatbots to confirm answers. Thank you!

Gregory Childers · Dec 6, 2025

Amelia A. said:
I'm looking forward to passing this exam. If the following AI answer is accurate, this cert will renew my A+ and Network+. This is the AI Answer:

If you currently hold A+ (1101/1102) and you renew SecurityX, your A+ will be renewed to the latest active version (currently A+ 1201/1202).

You do not need to retake the newer A+ exams. The CE program automatically updates your certification status to the most recent release.

This applies across the stack: renewing SecurityX cascades down to A+, Network+, Linux+, Cloud+, PenTest+, CySA+, Data+, etc.

SecurityX renews PenTest+, CySA+, Security+, Network+, and A+. It DOES NOT renew Cloud+, Data+, or any other CompTIA certifications.

Earn a Higher-Level CompTIA Certification

Earn or renew a qualifying higher-level CompTIA certification to meet the renewal requirements for your existing CompTIA certification.

www.comptia.org

Ibrahim Mohamed · Dec 6, 2025

Shea Bennett said:
@Stephen Schneiter Is there any way possible to extend access to Certmaster for Linux+ from the TTT to like 12/31/2025? Many of us activated early (not knowing it would cut off quickly) and I want to be able to finish but the cutoff is 12/13/2025. I want to make sure I'm learning exactly what my students will experience on the Certmaster platform. I'm almost done, but need a little more time (like some others who joined the TTT session).

Is this possible at all?

Do the Linux+ vouchers seem possible before New Years?

Sometimes you get stuck in some unforeseen tasks or extra work

Really hope there is a way to extend access to courses.

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