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 | AWS | CompTIA |
|---|---|---|
| resources | resources | resources |
Scrum
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 Resources
AWS
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 Resources
| Course | Time | Practice Exam |
|---|---|---|
| Developer Associate | 33.5 Hours | DVA |
| Sysops Administrator Associate | 26.5 Hours | SOA |
| Devops Engineer Professional | 41 Hours | DOP |
| Solutions Architect Associate | 26.5 Hours | SAA |
| Solutions Architect Professional | 70 Hours | SAP |
CompTIA
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 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 |