- Time and Effort
- Costs
- Documentation and Paperwork
- Recertification/Maintenance
Documentation and Paperwork
In addition to time, effort, and cost, some certifications require a lot of paperwork. When you sign up for a certification program, you also sign up to meet the program requirements and to complete all of its application and verification steps and processes. For example, the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) is an advanced certification that requires credential seekers to provide documentation regarding minimum professional experience (five years), or a combination of education (four-year degree) and experience to meet the requirement. In addition, credential seekers must complete a Candidate Agreement, commit to the (ISC)2 Code of Ethics, and provide information regarding criminal history and background. Random audits are also performed to confirm that the information supplied by credential seekers is true and correct. Keep in mind that these requirements are only to obtain the initial credential and do not address future requirements to maintain the credential.