Nothing quite takes the wind out of your sails of passing the CISSP exam like a long CISSP endorsement process. To be clear, I don’t hold this against (ISC)², nor am I upset with them. I just happened to be a little unlucky. It doesn’t make it any less frustrating though. Read on to see what I mean.

CISSP Exam Cleared

Update 9/26: Woohoo, just got the provisionally passed email. Now, onward to the endorsement process. It’s easy enough, almost like applying to a job.

(ISC)² Endorsement Documentation

Update 10/7: Double woohoo, I asked one of my mentors to endorse me and she agreed! Now I wait. This is almost like the reference part of the job application process where the HR software reaches out to the reference and they verify and provide their recommendation.

Random Audit

Update 11/6: Ah crap, I just got randomly-airport-security-screened a month later. Shouldn’t this have triggered before?

Requested Materials Sent

Update 11/18: It took nearly 2 weeks for me to get organized and unbusy to update my resume and put together my proof package. This was sent first class mail with tracking.

Mailer Finally Delivered

Update 12/6: Wow, this took way too long. Even with the holiday delay, I think it slipped in between the seats somewhere. It would have been faster to fax or email the package.

• 12/2 – Sent an email to (ISC)² Endorsement Services, letting them know I received their audit notice and have complied with their request. The mailer contains all paperwork and is delayed. I also provided the tracking number and that I would be contacting USPS to sort this out.
• 12/3 – Heard back from a Customer Service Coordinator. She was very friendly and assuring.
• 12/6 – Replied to Customer Service Coordinator and let her know that USPS responded to my query, found the mailer, and delivered it today.
• 12/9 – Automated endorsement materials received and placed in queue message.

Still Not Done Yet?

Update 12/23: Christmas is right around the corner and I get another automated email about the endorsement status. Allow for the full 6 week time frame? Is the timer starting over? I’ll find out after the holiday break.

The Time Has Come

Update 1/6: It’s time to get back to work. I’ll followup with team (ISC)² to see if this means what I think it means.

Hello, I hope everyone had a nice holiday break. Does this automated message about having to wait the full six week time frame in addition to the time I have already waited? I passed the CISSP exam in September and am expecting to be certified any day now after the audit. If this is additional time, this means I should adjust my expectations to be mid-February. Please let me know.

Thank you.

Roy

3 Hours Later

Coincidence? I think not. The CISSP endorsement process is now over.

I didn’t waste any time. I immediately followed through to completion by paying the first AMF.

Now I’m good from February 1, 2020 to January 31, 2021. Nice, this delay may have been a wonderful thing.

I’m looking forward to getting the Acclaim badge within the next 2 weeks and the welcome kit within the next 2 to 3 months. Woohoo, finally done!

Update 1/13: The badge came through a little early! This email didn’t have the badge link in it but the badge is automatically issued to your (ISC)² account email address so you don’t have to make a new Acclaim account if you already have one. If you use a different email for Acclaim than you do with (ISC)², then you can add additional email addresses to your Acclaim profile. It’s fast and easy.

My CISSP badge is live on my Acclaim profile! I’m looking forward to receiving the welcome kit in the mail.

CISSP Endorsement Conclusion

Again, I’d like to reiterate that I’m not mad. It just got a little frustrating when I thought everything was done, I still had more hoop jumping to do. With all the experience, education, and certifications I have, I qualify for this certification like 3 times over. Once more, my current project (short term job) was coming to a close so I would have very much liked to have been able to put this on my LinkedIn profile and resume before applying to a few key jobs. I don’t want to get gatekept by bots just because of a technicality.

There has to be a CISSP endorsement process to protect the integrity of the certification. After all, this designation is practically an information security rite of passage for pros. So it needs to be a little tough to get. Despite all the delays, this actually worked out pretty well. I skipped out on having to pay for a short year for my first AMF. That would have just added insult to injury. From the delayed exam results page to the delayed endorsement process, this was quite a ride. Now I’m good until 2021.