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aakhtar3
aakhtar3

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Stack Cloud/Network/Security Certifications

I recently went on a certification binge to get 12 certs in 5 months (Nov/4/23 - Apr/20/22). Below are some strategies to stack multiple certifications to stack your resume and LinkedIn profile.

Scrum

Scrum Path

ScrumMaster

Foundation -> Advanced -> Professional -> Elevated

Developer

Foundation -> Advanced -> Professional

Product Owner

Foundation -> Advanced -> Professional

My journey started back in 2016 when I first got my Certified ScrumMaster certification through scrumalliance.org. The certification needs to be renewed before the two-year renewal date. Typically, I would obtain the scrum education units (SEU) and pay the renewal fee. However, in late 2020, I wanted to pick up a new Scrum Developer certification. I plan on getting Product Owner and then moving onto the Advanced level where the certs start to stack on renewal.

Scrum Pass

Scrum Resources

AWS

AWS Path

DevOps

Cloud Practitioner -> Developer Associate -> DevOps Engineer Professional

Cloud Practitioner -> SysOps Administrator Associate -> DevOps Engineer Professional

Solution Architect

Cloud Practitioner -> Solutions Architect Associate -> Solutions Architect Professional

Speciality

Speciality

I skipped the Cloud Practitioner and plan on taking the Speciality certs at some point. I had already taken the three Associate and two Professional certifications through aws.amazon.com in early 2020, but they needed to be renewed before the three-year renewal date. Luckily, these certifications stack, so I only needed to take two Professional exams to receive all five certifications in late 2022.

AWS Pass

AWS Resources

CompTIA

CompTIA Path

Comptia.org was new to me but they offer a few tracks to allow stackable certifications. I skipped A+ and Server+ but instead went straight for Infrastructure and Cyber Security certifications.

Infrastructure

A+ -> Server+

A+ -> Network+ -> Security + -> Linux+ -> Cloud+

Cloud+ can be renewed by either retaking the test before the three years renewal date or obtaining 50 Continued Education Units (CEU). The cloud renew list has the AWS certifications that I already obtained. Going forward I will only need to take an AWS exam to recertify the CompTIA infrastructure certifications.

Cyber Security

A+ -> Network+ -> Security+ -> CySa+ -> CASP+

A+ -> Network+ -> Security+ -> PenTest+ -> CASP+

CASP+ can be renewed by either retaking the test before the three years renewal date or obtaining 75 Continued Education Units (CEU). I plan on taking college courses, working, and writing blogs to renew this certification. Down the road, I will start taking other non-CompTIA certs on the CASP renew list.

CompTIA Pass

CompTIA Resources

Course Time Practice Exam
Network+ 26 Hours n10
Linux+ 21 Hours xk0
Cloud+ 10.5 Hours cv0
Security+ 21.5 Hours sy0
CySa+ 32.5 Hours cy0
PentTest+ 32.5 Hours pt0
CASP+ 31.5 Hours cas

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