Certification Journal

It begins again!!!

After multiple starts and stops in my goal to certifying my career, I finally have the motivation to start for the final time!!!

Background: Been an IT consultant for over the past 18 years. Worked mostly in the Messaging/Active Directory/VOIP space going from contract to contract. Started in New Jersey. Moved to California in 2000. Back to NJ in 2003. Moved to Louisiana in 2013. Finally moved to Baltimore/Washington DC area back in October. I've seen 43 states and 7 countries. But through all this time, I have never held a certification of any kind.

Current status: Just started full time salaried role working as a DoD contractor in the Washington DC area only 4 months after having major back reconstruction surgery. The reason I am finally jumping on the certification bandwagon? It is a DoD requirement. Need to take my Security+ and CCNA-Security Exams over the next 3 months. Otherwise, no job. I figure after passing these two exams, I will be in the zone, so I will begin my journey to my Exchange, Lync (skype), and Office 365 Exams.

Also found out that my company may be putting me through F5, VmWare, and a bunch of other CyberSecurity certs as well. I guess it pays to have worked as an architect in multiple areas. Only catch is that now I have to back it up with certifications.

I will use this as my main page for logging my progress. I will also create individual study posts for my progress on each individual cert as I study for and take them. Good way to keep myself honest. Wish me luck. Going to be a crazy next 6 months.

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Comments

scaredoftests

Welcome to Maryland! Where in the area (you can just say county--)? Ah yes, the DoD requirement.. Good luck!

cknapp78

Howard County. About 10 miles SW of Baltimore. Commuting to Ft. Belvoir, VA twice a week. Fun fun...

scaredoftests

Cool (I am in Frederick County). At least it is twice a week.

coffeeluvr

Good Luck!!

dustervoice

Wish you all the best.

Kreken

cknapp78 wrote: »

Need to take my Security+ and CCNA-Security Exams over the next 3 months. Otherwise, no job. I figure after passing these two exams, I will be in the zone, so I will begin my journey to my Exchange, Lync (skype), and Office 365 Exams.

You mean three exams. You need to pass CCNA before going for CCNA:S.

Danielm7

I think you can take that after the CCENT, but yes, three exams still.

cknapp78

Fantastic. Still waiting for the FSO to get back to me and let me know. So now I have 3 exams that are completely unrelated to my career