Long time reader first time poster.
I First heard about CISSP in March 2009. My employer offered to send coworkers and myself to a Private Official ISC2 Bootcamp in April 2009. We only had five weeks to study before the bootcamp. Eighteen of us took the test in a private test environment and waited the usual 4+ weeks. We all received our results on the same day. Five of my coworkers passed, thirteen of us did not.
Since then I have acheived several technical certifications, but always planned to go back for the CISSP. February 2012 I started studying again for the test planning to take it in April 2012 (three years after my first attempt). I found this site (TechExams.net) and used it as a mentor to point me in the right direction toward my goal. My resources were the Conrad books, CISSP for Dummies and CISSP Flash Cards. I took the test on April 14, in a room full of other hopefuls. Two other coworkers from my original Bootcamp tried retaking the test before my second attempt, both did not acheive the Certification. I waited five weeks and 3 days after the test to get my score of 673.
I felt I knew the material the second time, but I did not like the Proctored walk-around test environment. This was not like the Computer Tech Certification Tests I was used to and didn't feel like the environment I originally took the CISSP test in. I rushed my attempt and felt I should have taken more time.
It took a little while to get my footing back to stand-up to the Test and was looking forward to taking the CBT. I Used the previously mentioned resources plus the Shon Harris mp3 Audio Lectures
https://www.logicalsecurity.com/CISSPQuizBook_Thanks.html (this helped me to understand a concept or two and let me cram during the long drives). I did not tell my coworkers when I was taking my third attempt, but took it August 17. I liked the fact that I could take breaks and wasn't huddled into a small overcrowded room. I will say the CBT is just as difficult as the PBT. My plan was to take breaks every 100 questions, I marked 30 questions for review within the first 100, but after the first 100 was settled into the test enough to not leave a question until I was comfortable with my choice. Took the 5-hour Energy/Protein bar break and as needed bathroom break. Clicked the End Exam button and picked it up from the Proctor. She folded it like a letter and I did not have it in me to look, but by the time I got in the elevator read the word "Congratulations".
This became the most important piece of paper in my life and words cannot explain the feeling of accomplishment.
I submitted my Endorsement Paperwork on August 20 (knew a few coworkers who were CISSP's from a few years back
and one Endorsed me). Received the "Got your paperwork, wait 6-weeks" email on August 22.
September 7, I received the email from ISC2 confirming I was a CiSSP.
September 24 (today), received my ISC2 package in the mail with my Cert.
Just wanted to thank everyone here for their experiences and let others know, it takes as long as it takes to achieve your goal. I will try to get some of the original thirteen back on the path (at least the other two who retook it before me).
