Jumping the line

[Brandon G]

A student reach out to me asking about getting the Sec+ certification. They attempted the Net+ exam and failed (scoring a 518). They asked if they can 'skip' over the Net+ and go straight for the Security +. My response was a resounding no. The student did explain that they've completed their associates degree in IT and they're not working in the profession yet.

I encouraged the student to seek their A+ first. Is it just me, or are students 'jumping the line' for higher certifications. Particularly, without the requisite knowledge, training, or real world experience that aid in learning and progressing.

To the fellow CINers, what's your take on this.

 

[Trevor Chandler]

A student reach out to me asking about getting the Sec+ certification. They attempted the Net+ exam and failed (scoring a 518). They asked if they can 'skip' over the Net+ and go straight for the Security +. My response was a resounding no. The student did explain that they've completed their associates degree in IT and they're not working in the profession yet.

I encouraged the student to seek their A+ first. Is it just me, or are students 'jumping the line' for higher certifications. Particularly, without the requisite knowledge, training, or real world experience that aid in learning and progressing.

To the fellow CINers, what's your take on this.

After looking at the objectives for a CompTIA exam, if the learner feels that he/she has enough of a knowledge foundation to pursue studies for that exam, I say let him/her have at it!!!

If we're talking about individuals at least of voting age, I have to assume that they have learned to be honest with themselves, and that they have a genuine interest in pursuing and achieving goals.

If you had sort of an informal/casual interview with the person, and your assessment is that the individual would be best served to take a certain path, then by all means I feel you should encourage the individual to follow your prescription. If the individual chooses to ignore your recommendation, you've performed your commitment as an Educator/SME, and you can sleep well at night - at least I could

Okay, I'll stop here!!!

 

[precious]

A student reach out to me asking about getting the Sec+ certification. They attempted the Net+ exam and failed (scoring a 518). They asked if they can 'skip' over the Net+ and go straight for the Security +. My response was a resounding no. The student did explain that they've completed their associates degree in IT and they're not working in the profession yet.

I encouraged the student to seek their A+ first. Is it just me, or are students 'jumping the line' for higher certifications. Particularly, without the requisite knowledge, training, or real world experience that aid in learning and progressing.

To the fellow CINers, what's your take on this.

Oh, bless their ambitious hearts! Skipping Net+ to go straight for Sec+ without a solid foundation is like trying to build a penthouse on a shaky first floor—it’s a bold move, but gravity always wins.

I would explain to the learner: A+ is your initial kit, Net+ is your strong ladder, and Sec+ is the ceiling with a fantastic perspective of cybersecurity principles. You're attempting to climb the ladder without it. Last I looked, IT professionals don't employ superpowers; they use reasoning.

 

[precious]

After looking at the objectives for a CompTIA exam, if the learner feels that he/she has enough of a knowledge foundation to pursue studies for that exam, I say let him/her have at it!!!

If we're talking about individuals at least of voting age, I have to assume that they have learned to be honest with themselves, and that they have a genuine interest in pursuing and achieving goals.

If you had sort of an informal/casual interview with the person, and your assessment is that the individual would be best served to take a certain path, then by all means I feel you should encourage the individual to follow your prescription. If the individual chooses to ignore your recommendation, you've performed your commitment as an Educator/SME, and you can sleep well at night - at least I could

Okay, I'll stop here!!!

Sure, they might finish, but they’ll probably wish they had the right gear and preparation by mile 5.

 

[Gregory Childers]

I see it all the time on Reddit, and in training classes. I've seen students take Security+ and then CISSP with less than two years of IT experience and zero cybersecurity experience. They feel entitled to a high-paying mid-career job without putting in the work to build foundational knowledge and experience. They want to cut corners, and move to the penthouse with minimal effort.

It doesn't work like that. It never has, and it never will. You've got to build your experience and skills one step at a time, one day at a time, one year at a time. There are no shortcuts.

 

[Trevor Chandler]

Oh, bless their ambitious hearts! Skipping Net+ to go straight for Sec+ without a solid foundation is like trying to build a penthouse on a shaky first floor—it’s a bold move, but gravity always wins.

I would explain to the learner: A+ is your initial kit, Net+ is your strong ladder, and Sec+ is the ceiling with a fantastic perspective of cybersecurity principles. You're attempting to climb the ladder without it. Last I looked, IT professionals don't employ superpowers; they use reasoning.

IT professionals don't employ superpowers? Speak for yourself

 

[precious]

IT professionals don't employ superpowers? Speak for yourself

Haha, well, if I had superpowers, I would be able to troubleshoot network problems while am sleeping! But when I say 'IT professionals don't employ superpowers; they use reasoning,' I mean that the real strength in IT comes from, reasoning, problem-solving and critical thinking. It's not about magic—it's about understanding systems, making informed decisions, and applying knowledge in a logical way to fix things. No cape required!......

Is Luck Enough? ​

If I were lucky, I would be receiving the 'IT Genius of the Year' award each time I encounter a segmentation error that simply disappears or a NullPointerException that miraculously resolves itself! ..........

 

[Michael Schmitz]

A student reach out to me asking about getting the Sec+ certification. They attempted the Net+ exam and failed (scoring a 518).

That is pretty bad. didn`t know you can have that less points.

They asked if they can 'skip' over the Net+ and go straight for the Security +.

Sure they can. CompTIA has no requirement to have passed N+ before Sec+. They recommend it, to have the knowledge. But they do not enforcing it.

My response was a resounding no.

Why? You did not know better or did you make a explanation. Technically you where wrong. Morally you might be on the right side.

The student did explain that they've completed their associates degree in IT and they're not working in the profession yet.

i do not know what they did to get their degree. Maybe they did not cover fundamental networking stuff there.

I encouraged the student to seek their A+ first.

Again: Why? Because CompTIA recommends that? they should read a book or so, but they to not need the Certication. I had students, they needed N+, where working in Network, but did not need the complete A+ stuff. (which is not completey needed for N+).
I would have made a different recommendation.

Is it just me, or are students 'jumping the line' for higher certifications.

i have no idea how it is in USA. But in Germany usually not.

Particularly, without the requisite knowledge, training, or real world experience that aid in learning and progressing.

then for th

To the fellow CINers, what's your take on this.

I assume you gave a wrong recommendation as you described it here.
I explain the rules and ways, but then the decision is up to the student what he does and when. His time and money.
But the Cert is only the Entrance card for the job. If they do not understood the content, then they wil fail the interview.
Mostly i have different clients in the class. Not students.

i read, that others see it different from me, but hey, each one has a differnt opion about that one.
And if someone may have the work expierence lets say with cisco or aruba. they go there for the certification, not to CompTIA.
CompTIA was always good for the Vendor Neutral stuff and a general overview (that changed a little bit for A+ till Sec+ over the latest versions).

I see it also that way: with the N+ you learn the terms and general concepts, that you need in the job role, there you also get the experience.
Most people have to start somewhere.

Again, my course students are usually no students from high school or college.

 

[Michael Schmitz]

I see it all the time on Reddit, and in training classes. I've seen students take Security+ and then CISSP with less than two years of IT experience

You may master the Training and Exam for CISSP, but they are requiring to prove the Work Experience before handing out the Certification.
Huge difference to CompTIA.

and zero cybersecurity experience.

You have to start to learn it somewhere. But i would not recommend CISSP in that case (had one student that started with CEH in here Cybers. role. i would have recommend Sec+ also first.

They feel entitled to a high-paying mid-career job without putting in the work to build foundational knowledge and experience.

That is today more a Gen Z problem, then from the IT Industry. has gotten worse in the last 10 years.

They want to cut corners, and move to the penthouse with minimal effort.

and then hit the real world in a hard way.