Prepare for certification success! Save yourself from being overwhelmed. Learn proven strategies our students use to get ready for an industry certification and succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Have you read the details of our post Industry Certification Explained<\/a>? Are you curious about how to successfully earn certifications too? Guiding students in our workforce programs<\/a> through the certification process, I have learned tips that lead to success. Most students who achieved certification have the same prep strategies in common.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When working toward a goal, it is important that you approach the process with self-reflection. You should know what supports your personal success, or inhibits it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Play to your strengths. Utilize study methods that support how you gather and retain information. The way we learn is as unique as we are. Consider these type of study strategies: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you know how you learn best, ask yourself a few questions about your environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are not a night owl, do not plan to study late in the evening. If you hate early mornings that is not a good fit either! Define where you will study and stick to this space when possible. If you cannot focus in a messy space, organize your study area (but do not get distracted elsewhere, procrasticleaning<\/a> is real.) Eat a healthy snack before your study session to fight off another potential distraction. If studying at home turns into an uphill battle for your attention, make a plan for where and when you will prep. If you cannot make it to your favorite study space, consider using earplugs, noise canceling headphones, or playing low-volume instrumental music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key is to figure out what works\nbest for your life, attention span, obligations, and schedule. Determine when\nyou will take breaks and set a timer to ensure you do. Most students I surveyed\nset study sessions for themselves that were between 30 to 90-minutes long, but almost\nnever longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some exams are over three hours long and do not allow for scheduled breaks. It is difficult for even the best-prepared candidate to thrive when tired and hungry. So, please, do not forget to meet your basic needs during this process:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Next commit to an exam date, and keep it. Having a set test date helped many of testers stay engaged and motivated. Students who do not choose an exam date, but want to pursue certification, rarely take the next step. Develop a 30-day study plan in a physical or online planner, and work backwards from your exam date. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Visit your certification vendor\u2019s\nwebsite and download a copy of the official certification competencies. These\nlists include all topics you might be questioned on during your exam, and\ntypically remind you of any vocabulary or acronyms unique to the certification\nyou are pursuing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Pre-plan what competencies you will focus on, when, and for how long. Build in buffer-time. In reality, we do not work as well under pressure. Procrastination causes anxiety! Make use of practice exam questions to check your understanding of the material. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many of us need deadlines and accountability to be successful and achieve our goals. Seek a support system at the beginning of the process, not the end. How do you meet expectations? Do you need an accountability partner? Choose a friend, a family member, or a weekly appointment with a Learning Resources Tutor. How about a social media post to family, or an alarm for a reminder? Choose someone or something that will keep you accountable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “The reason for this is that it gives you fresh perspective and exposure to different wording in test questions.” Jacob Leffew, Oracle Certified Associate Java Programmer <\/p>\n\n\n\n Our next strategy focuses on resources. It is not uncommon for our students to arrive on exam day with no further preparation than their knowledge from the classroom. Our 8-week modmester courses cannot cover the same depth of competency areas you will experience on a certification exam. Certifications are not only knowledge based, but also closely examine your practical skills. They test your ability to understand a topic, perform an action, and provide a solution or result. <\/p>\n\n\n\n After surveying a group of students who got certified, nearly all of them spent more than 20 hours <\/strong>preparing. Many spent over 30 hours. Some study more frequently the week leading up to their exam, and some found they were productive with 2-3 hour study sessions. They all have persistence and discipline in common. If you create a 30-day study plan, and commit to 90-minute preparation sessions, you will only need to schedule 20 days of focused study. You will find other times to sneak in small study-sessions, too. CompTIA A+ Tutor, Bill Wantling, found low-cost apps with practice questions helpful when he had limited time, and access to only his phone. Repetition and review is essential. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Mastering your mindset is key. Let go of your fear of being unsuccessful and focus on how you will feel when you earn your certification. What will you do once you are certified? For most of our students, they start planning for their next certification. Do the work now and be steadfast in your process of preparing to certify. You will be better equipped for each new certification opportunity and more importantly, your career. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have set yourself up properly, there is little need\nto \u201ccram,\u201d just before the exam. <\/p>\n\n\n\n With this in mind, student, German Hall, Certified Ethical Hacker, recommends planning a fun activity the day before your exam.\u00a0It is time to relax and envision your success. You are almost there \u2013 do something non-certification related and be present in the moment. This will help lower your anxiety as your exam appointment grows near. <\/p>\n\n\n\n With these certification success strategies in mind, I hope\nyou feel less overwhelmed when you begin to approach your study for an industry\ncertification. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Did you already #GetCertifiedSPC and use a tactic I didn\u2019t\ndiscuss? Share your experience with other students in the comment section\nbelow!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Need more information about industry certifications?\u00a0Contact Julia Meyer<\/a>, Certification Testing Coordinator.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Follow us on Instagram<\/a> or Twitter<\/a> at #careerspc<\/a>, #spcintern<\/a>,, #workforcespc<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Learn success strategies to study and earn industry certifications. Hear from SPC students and industry leaders. Create a plan for certification success.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":727,"featured_media":8871,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,12,7,5],"tags":[4,10],"coauthors":[43],"class_list":["post-8862","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-career-exploration","category-career-news","category-employment-preparation","category-events","tag-career-services","tag-internships"],"yoast_head":"\r\nThe Formula for Certification Success<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Know Yourself, and Take Care of Yourself<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Self-Reflection Question to Ask: How do I learn best?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Self-Reflection Questions to Ask: When, where, and how long am I most productive?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Create a Plan<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Here are three separate\nstrategies to begin the study process:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Stay Accountable<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Use Multiple Resources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Resources to Guide Your Certification Success: <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Study Often<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Envision your Success and Have Fun<\/h3>\n\n\n\n