I’ve written before about the CISSP training I’ve been doing. We’re now under pressure to actually sign up for an exam date, on the theory that if you actually have a date, you won’t put off studying. Makes sense. Two problems. The first is the fee ($549): we get to personally pay it up front; we may get reimbursed depending on our organization… if we pass. I’ve got the funds–it’s just me dealing with a head that hates to spend money. The second problem is choosing the date. First, there are a limited number of examinations offered in reasonable driving distance (i.e., Los Angeles or Santa Ana). Each of the dates have different problems (note that the exam is a 6 hour, 250 question, multiple-choice exam):
- Saturday, September 27, 2008 in Los Angeles. This date is only a few weeks away, and I’m really busy with various tasks so there won’t be a lot of study time. It’s also the Shabbat before Rosh Hashanah, and we have tickets to see “9 to 5” the next day. One plus is that I could spend the afternoon before the test studying at CSUN (I have a morning IAB meeting there).
- Sunday, October 19, 2008 in Santa Ana. I’ve got an event at camp that day, plus it seems to be associated with some form of training camp.
- Sunday, November 16, 2008 in Santa Ana. We have theatre tickets to the Pasadena Playhouse the night before (so I’ll be home around midnight — a recipe for a migraine the next day). It is also the weekend before my daughter’s birthday. This also seems to be associated with the training camp.
- Sunday, December 14, 2008 in Santa Ana. I will have lost all of the immediately prior week to ACSAC, and thus will have had no study time (although the conference, which is in Anaheim, wouldn’t be far away… I could spend Saturday studying… but have to pay for two hotel nights (over $200)). This is also associated with a training camp.
- Saturday, December 20, 2008 in Los Angeles. This is a week after ACSAC, so I could take some days off before the test for last minute studying. On the minus side, it is far away from now, so I might forget what I’m studying now.
Now, if you are trying to figure out why I’m putting myself through this… let’s just say that I need it for work.
So, although I have my leanings, I’d like your opinion. When should I take my CISSP exam:
If you have rationale for your choice, please feel free to leave it in the comments.
