Hypothetical question re: beta vs. soon-retiring exams

[Rae W]

Let's say someone takes a beta exam in January. They then take the soon-to-be retired version of the same exam in March before they even get the result of the beta in May. What are the possible scenarios? Does anyone know for sure?

(It's not entirely hypothetical. Someone on reddit said they're about to do just that w/ CySA+.)

My guesses...
Fail beta in Jan but pass retiring version in Mar? Certified as of Mar.
Pass beta in Jan but fail retiring version in Mar? Certified as of Jan.
Pass beta in Jan and pass retiring version in Mar? Certified as of Jan (and maybe renewed as of Mar date?)

 

[Rick Butler]

Well, this was close to my situation with the Project+. I took the Beta for 005 in May and the live exam for 004 in August. Passed them both, so I would be Project+ certified as of May. Since the Project+ is a forever cert, there was no renewal component.

• Had I failed the 005 beta and passing the 004, I would be certified as of August.
• Had I passed the 005 beta and failed the 004, I would be certified as of May.
• Had I failed them both, I would have not taught the TTT. (lol)

/r

 

[Esther S. Stepansky]

Signed up for CySA+ beta 003 Jan 3 just in case I failed the 002 Dec 20th. In the end I passed & am certified as of then, plus it renewed everything. Taking the beta for experience but its a lot more fun when a cert isn't hanging on it. Just want to see how different it is.

 

[Gregory Childers]

I've decided I'm no longer retaking exams over and over again. I've passed A+, Net+, Sec+, and CySA+ multiple times. There's no real ROI for continuing to retake them unless I get a free test voucher. From now on, I'm renewing all my cerrtifications by either taking a higher level certification or taking a non-CompTIA certification. It's just getting too expensive to maintain all my certs year after year. My company will pay for some of them but not all of them.

 

[Rae W]

I've decided I'm no longer retaking exams over and over again. I've passed A+, Net+, Sec+, and CySA+ multiple times. There's no real ROI for continuing to retake them unless I get a free test voucher. From now on, I'm renewing all my cerrtifications by either taking a higher level certification or taking a non-CompTIA certification. It's just getting too expensive to maintain all my certs year after year. My company will pay for some of them but not all of them.

Yeah, earning CEUs by other (less expensive) means is the way to go if at all possible.

 

[Rick Butler]

I've decided I'm no longer retaking exams over and over again. I've passed A+, Net+, Sec+, and CySA+ multiple times. There's no real ROI for continuing to retake them unless I get a free test voucher. From now on, I'm renewing all my cerrtifications by either taking a higher level certification or taking a non-CompTIA certification. It's just getting too expensive to maintain all my certs year after year. My company will pay for some of them but not all of them.

Definitely something to consider.

What's the old cliche... Cert smarter, not harder?

Or something like that.

 

[Gregory Childers]

Definitely something to consider.

What's the old cliche... Cert smarter, not harder?

Or something like that.

I'm grandfathered in with the "good for life" A+, Net+, and Sec+ so I really don't need to keep recertifying on those. I passed multiple versions of each because of client requirements. Generally speaking, the exams cover 90% of the same topics version after version. A+ still covers hardware and software. Net+ covers ports and protocols. Sec+ covers cryptography and physical security. Getting CEs or passing other exams are a more efficient way of renewing a certification than retaking the same one over and over.

 

[Rick Butler]

I'm grandfathered in with the "good for life" A+, Net+, and Sec+ so I really don't need to keep recertifying on those.

Yeah, an interesting thing about that...

So in 2010, when the GFL's were going out in favor of the CE's, we were told, "take 'em while you can still take advantage of the GFL program". But within 2-3 years, we saw employers require the CE designation for the certs, lowering the value of GFLs. Then we saw CompTIA basically say, your GFL isn't really current - so what you need to do is get your CE (a complete reversal of what the community was told about GFLs). It was interesting because one day, however, I got a bunch of stackable certs that just showed up, because of my GFLs, another quasi-reversal on the value of the GFL's.

Now, I'll say that the CE program ensures that folks are staying current on their skills - so don't rest on your laurels - go get your CEs for your GFL certs. But I just found the entire dynamic over the course of 10+ years interesting.

/r

 

[Gregory Childers]

All my CompTIA certs are good through at least 2025 with a few of them good through 2026. As soon as I get the go ahead from ISACA on the CISM, I'm submitting it to renew my CASP+ (as well as my CySA+, PenTest+, Security+, Network+, and A+) through 2026.

 

[Rick Butler]

All my CompTIA certs are good through at least 2025 with a few of them good through 2026. As soon as I get the go ahead from ISACA on the CISM, I'm submitting it to renew my CASP+ (as well as my CySA+, PenTest+, Security+, Network+, and A+) through 2026.

Game on, man! The crazy thing about having all these certs is keeping 'em active. As I said, we are some cert-hunting maniacs out here.

 

[Gregory Childers]

Game on, man! The crazy thing about having all these certs is keeping 'em active. As I said, we are some cert-hunting maniacs out here.

With the costs of exams, preparation, and CEUs, I need to be more selective on which certifications I want to keep current. There will be a few that I allow to lapse. It doesn't change the fact that I passed the exam at some point. I just won't include expired certifications on my CV any longer.

 

[Rick Butler]

With the costs of exams, preparation, and CEUs, I need to be more selective on which certifications I want to keep current. There will be a few that I allow to lapse. It doesn't change the fact that I passed the exam at some point. I just won't include expired certifications on my CV any longer.

Makes perfect sense!