I have long had an interest in getting some technical, privacy, or professional certifications as a way to show my abilities, improve my knowledge, and keep me competitive. I’ve spent a lot of time researching which certifications would help me the most, and that question has no definitive answer. It all depends on what you want to do with your career. IT professionals would benefit from any of the CompTIA certifications, as they demonstrate that the holder possesses the necessary technical knowledge, but non-IT professionals also stand to gain as the workplace becomes ever more reliant on technology. Anyone with an interest in management would benefit from the Certified Business Professional Leader (CBPL) certification, regardless of their field of expertise.
I have an interest in privacy, tech, and law enforcement so I settled on two certifications from McAfee University: Certified Professional Criminal Investigator (CPCI) and Certified Counterintelligence Threat Analyst (CCTA). These two certifications focus on investigative work and while they are geared towards law enforcement personnel, they are designed to provide valuable education to anyone who does investigative work in a corporate setting. To attempt the certifications you must first complete the coursework, which McAfee University expects to take roughly 100 hours per Certification. You can purchase the course work without the cost of the Certification exam, which will allow you designate yourself as “Qualified” rather than “Certified.” The coursework and Certification exam together will cost around $8,000 per Certification.
I’ve just begun the coursework, which so far I have found challenging and interesting. It’s a mix of multiple choice quizzes, videos, and short-answer writing assignments. If you score 90% or greater on every quiz McAfee University will provide a free second attempt at a Certification if you do not pass the Certification Exam.
