Nothing quite takes the wind from your sails of passing the CISSP exam like a long CISSP endorsement process. To be clear, I don’t hold this against ISC2, 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.
Table of Contents
CISSP Exam Cleared
Update 9/26: Woohoo, I just got the provisionally passed email. Now, onward to the endorsement process. It’s easy enough, almost like applying for a job.
ISC2 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 been 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 assemble 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 – I emailed ISC2 Endorsement Services, letting them know I received their audit notice and have complied with their request. The mailer contains all the paperwork and is delayed. I also provided the tracking number and that I would be contacting USPS to sort this out.
- 12/3 – I heard back from a Customer Service Coordinator. She was very friendly and assuring.
- 12/6 – I replied to the Customer Service Coordinator and told her 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 follow up with the ISC2 team 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, but the badge is automatically issued to your ISC2 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 ISC2, 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.
Hi Roy,
first I congratulate you on achieving your CISSP goal.
Would you please care to elaborate of which documents your “experience-proof-package” was assembled?
Thank you,
Neven
Hi Neven, Thank you for your kind words.
The documents that made up my experience package included 2 personal references, 2 professional references, an up-to-date resume with contact information for previous employers, college transcripts, and other certification transcripts.
They were vague on whether I needed all of this supporting information since I met the experience requirements, but I sent all of it anyway. This is mostly why I opted to mail the experience proof package.
Thanks for reaching out!