CompTIA Security+ is TOO EXPENSIVE - (Un)ethical ways of dealing with the price

[@JoshMadakor]

🔒 Josh's Hands-On Cybersecurity Course + Internship 🔒 joshmadakor.tech/cyber

[@LeekTech]

You can also do the CompTIA Academic Store which gives you like 40% off if you have a school email. A+ is $115 and Security+ is $262. You could also use things like affirm to pay in payments.

[@906lane]

Thank you, I did not know that was and options.

[@GlorifiedGremlin]

Just a school email? I knew they had student discounts but I thought you'd need proof of enrollment somehow.

[@darod850]

Dude thanks so much! Didn’t even know this was a thing

[@aquariusnelson397]

Microsoft certification also do this by providing your school email.

[@Suhhwagger]

Requires a tuition receipt, copy of school ID or copy of current transcript.

[@shoot210]

My sister has been buying my vouchers through the academic store. Took both parts or A+, Sec+, CySA+, and CASP+ for a little over $1000

[@NativeAmericanSwag]

Thank you so much for this information!🥹🫡

[@shoot210]

@@NativeAmericanSwag No problem!

[@joanebaptiste-cummins3207]

Where do I find the academic store? Is that from a school directly or just a name for a company?

[@shoot210]

@@joanebaptiste-cummins3207 its the comptia academic store

[@shoot210]

@@joanebaptiste-cummins3207 Sorry for the late response but its the comptia academic store website

[@justinwilliams7595]

There are many potential ways to get the security+ as a possible discount. Like someone else mentioned in the comments, the Comptia academic store gives you almost 50% off the exam voucher if you are a student currently enrolled. Another option is using community colleges because they often have certification classes from CompTIA, Cisco, etc, where you can enroll literally to take that one class (not the whole degree) and possibly use financial aid to cover some or all the expenses for the cert. The third option is buying an exam voucher close to expiring as they are discounted the more they are close to expiring.

[@justinwilliams7595]

and to Josh's point, just listing the cert in progress on your resume will help the algorithm pick up your resume. I had cyber interviews before I got the security+ cert.

[@jeremygreenwood8127]

You’re awesome Josh! Love your perspective!

[@tharealwilliam]

I definitely don't recommend lying about having a certification, but you can always put "In progress" on your resume and supplement that with hands-on projects. Some employers will typically hire you and the give you anywhere from 60-180 days to obtain that certification and then reimburse you for the exam fee.

[@tharealwilliam]

Also, while searching for jobs, search for "ability to obtain Security+"

[@cancerianblue85]

Luv u Josh! I'm looking forward to this video now!

[@hyper3cube]

I took the corresponding class at Community College and if you pas with an A or a B you get vouchers for the cert test and a voucher for a retake. cost 500 bucks plus you get the college credit toward your degree. Bonus that my company has tution assistance so if you can, take advantage of that. $50 out of pocket.

[@theplatinumcaraudio]

My company paid $2500 for me to do a bootcamp. They have a 98% pass rate or something like that. It was 8-4 Monday-Thursday and tested Friday morning. I passed, barely....but I passed.

[@nathan_richie]

I just failed the Network+ yesterday by 20 points. I know the pain 😭

[@nathan_richie]

@@User_2051 True. I have always used the academic store option. Its normally half the price. Ill be retaking the Network+ once im in WGU

[@akeemjackman9582]

Ouch!!!😊

[@1BeardedGuy]

I know that level of stress well. I literally spent my last 600 bucks buying the sec+601 retake package. The pressure to pass and have something to show for the investment was real. I passed the retake on the last day July 31st

[@ThatFlyGuy98]

Just buy it w a credit card and then dispute it 😂

[@akeemjackman9582]

Facts

[@MorrisandApril]

I agree with you assertions regarding the need for certs. A lot of times there are knowledge tests anyway, even if it’s just interview questions or an actual test. BUT… I’d just say that if they find out, lying on your resume is grounds for dismissal. Some employers may very much care. Thank you so much for your content because it’s helped me a ton. Once I run through the basics I’m taking your course. I need all the help I can get.

[@GoGoHaBin]

I am so in ❤ with this man, his intellect, his dedication to the underdog, his moral stance, and the face card is a solid 10. Also, has anyone noticed those gym arms? I know I'm not the only one--I cant be the only one. Nothing better than a fine a$$, beefy computer nerd, with a potty mouth.... And he's so brilliant!!!! 10's across the board.

[@Matt-m3y-r4u]

It's getting hard to even score an entry level IT job, like help desk. Certifications will most likely get you an interview, but if you don't have actual experience, most employers won't hire you! Sure, it's not as bad as programming jobs, but the market isn't great right now. And again, I am talking about entry level, relatively low pay jobs; not administrators or other more advanced roles.

[@cmartin8093]

People, please do it clean and honest. If you do not have it, don't list it on your resume. Otherwise, you re going to regret it when your employers find out

[@DakotaHoll]

I took my Exam a few weeks ago and passed by two points. Doing the internship now :D

[@cancerianblue85]

Awesome video!!! I luv ur knowledge, and I am excited about taking your cybersecurity course real soon!

[@musikhippie817]

Thanks Josh! I am Just graduated with bachelor's in IT and working on my masters in IT. Looking for some cybersec jobs passively and felt this pressure that i needed sec+ with the price being $404 i was also a little mad about that part if the industry and some certa require u to take their courses. I've slowly beem coming to the realization that I dont think i need this entry lvl certs. I love that say if u have the knowledge and can prove it then u don't really need the cert. Great video, i was literally just looking for this type of video yesterday and here u are bringing it to me lol. Thanx

[@TiPiDablju]

most ethical is of course to buy your course!

[@Dee-zy2xv]

great powerful nuggets of gold bro!!

[@nathanhudkins]

I'm 18 and currently doing everything in my power to pay as little as humanly possible to get training and experience (because I'm broke lol). I'm scheduled for my ISC2 CC and are currently studying the Coursera Google Cybersecurity course when I'm not reviewing for CC by auditing all the materials until I do the 7 day trial, complete each of the graded assignments in under a week then cancel once I have the cert. I'm on a program at my local community college for up to an AAS in cyber and start in a few weeks and basically everything is covered. Once I'm done with Google and ISC2 certs my next step is to try and get an internship somewhere for more hands-on tech experience while I take classes, and hopefully complete one or two portfolio projects in the meantime. Love your videos Josh, they've helped a lot getting me started.

[@Bilal-ys6df]

You are a problem solver, not a problem seeker. Keep doing what you are doing and orgs are going to be happy to have you.

[@nathanhudkins]

​@@Bilal-ys6df I appreciate that. I was originally planning to get a degree in computer engineering, but it just didn't feel right for me. Love working with hardware and building PCs, but engineering/design just didn't scream to me the way the rest of my interest in IT did. I spent a lot of time trying to find out what "felt right". Eventually I stumbled upon videos on topics like the silk road, opsec, and how people hide themselves online and was totally fascinated. I started learning about and implementing my own physical and digital security measures and just couldn't get enough. I absolutely despised studying before I graduated, but when I started my ISC2 CC training I realized I just love learning about this stuff.

[@-0.0]

I really would recommend getting the Sec+, it's the best way to get past HR filters. I also had the google cyber cert, as well as some really strong labs, a splunk SIEM cert, and an azure Az-900 cloud cert and could not land a single interview with those under my belt. I lack a degree, but I have 5 years as an IT support technician but still got nothing but rejection and ghosting. Unfortunately the sec+ is bare minimum these days if you don't have a 4 year cyber degree it seems.

[@Palm_Tree_Nerd]

Always love the content good sir, even after a few months on my second IT role, I'd argue that your advice helped me land these jobs. I don't recall if you've made a video on this, but could you elaborate more on the "create your own company" portion of beefing up your employability? This sounds like a fantastic way to generate not only IT experience, but add some business creds to ones portfolio. Thanks again and keep it up 😁😁🌴🌴

[@gainzovereverything7719]

After taking the CompTIA trifecta I now can say they are worthless without actually experience.

[@SalvatoreNicoFranco]

I read that compTIA is not that popular in the EU. Would you still recommend it? I am willing to get a job outside the EU, like Asia. Are compTIA certs recognized there?

[@bryanthurston3224]

I completed the Google Cybersecurity course and got my certificate. I'm supposed to get 30% off the Security + exam. Any idea how I get that discount? I don't see it offered by Google or Coursera anywhere

[@Wesjapa100]

Yeah, it is tricky. When you go to any of the courses of the program, then to the bottom of the page of the course, in "Resources", there is something about the Security+ voucher/coupon, but it does not say what the promo code is. So I'll contact Coursera Support to be sure about that.

[@dhanex]

Is system administrator a good career now. Ur opinion

[@hungry_khid1007]

What about ccna

[@ChristopherTravis-v9d]

CCNA is king 👑

[@BigG627]

What jobs is this guy fidninf that only require a security +? Im Literally an 18 year old who got one bec my school paid for it, then I also have a year of Network Engineering experience, 2 years of python and 2 years of Java, have some html experience, and im still studying for A+ and Net+ bec i have vouchers, and plan to get a CySa since i live with parents and my Financial aid can also pay for exams if there is any left over. I havent got a response from an IT internship either, and I had a Sec+ which I belive my resume was def the better ones. however,I will try to make my resumes tailored to their jobs.

[@Animejook]

Maybe Microsoft has better certs that are more affordable