New Certification Program Model - FAQ

[Jason_Tugwell]

New Certification Program Model

Starting 31 January 2021 Check Point is implementing a new Certification Model!

Core Certifications

	Check Point Certified Security Administrator This core 3-day technical certification course provides an understanding of basic concepts and skills necessary to configure and manage Check Point Security Gateways and Management Software Blades.	Exam # 156-215.80
	Check Point Certified Security Expert This advanced 3-day security engineering course provides an in-depth explanation of Check Point technology and an understanding of skills necessary to effectively design, maintain, optimize, and protect your enterprise network from aggressive cyber threats.	Exam # 156-315.80

Security Master Certifications

	Check Point Certified Security Master The CCSM certification recognizes and validates technical mastery of the Check Point Infinity architecture. It is awarded to Cyber Security professionals with advanced knowledge and expertise in configuring, deploying, managing, and troubleshooting Check Point products and services.
	Check Point Certified Security Master Elite Introducing CCSM Elite – We are happy to announce the addition of a new level of achievement to our Certification program, the CCSM Elite! This level of certification validates the highest achievement of technical mastery and consists of an elite club of Check Point Certified Security Masters.

New Certification Path to Cyber Security Mastership

Check Point Certified Security Master

With Check Point’s new path to Security Mastery, you will need to achieve
2 Infinity Specialist Accreditations after the CCSE.

Check Point Certified Security Master Elite

To achieve Check Point’s new Security Master ELITE you will need to pass
2 Infinity Specialist Accreditations after the CCSM.

Infinity Specialist Accreditations

Check Point’s Infinity Specialist Accreditations are designed to enable Security professionals to demonstrate that they understand the concepts and skills needed to administer, deploy and manage specific Security solutions within the Check Point Infinity Cyber Security Architecture.  Infinity Specialist Accreditations are also the building blocks to the Security Master and Security Master Elite certifications.

Accreditation	Infinity Specialist Courses	Exam #
CCAS	Check Point Certified Automation Specialist	156-520
CCME	Check Point Certified Maestro Expert	156-835
CCCS	Check Point Certified Cloud Specialist	156-560
CCES	Check Point Certified Endpoint Specialist	156-530
CCMS	Check Point Certified Multi-Domain Security Management Specialist	156-540
CCVS	Check Point Certified Virtual System Extension Specialist	156-550
CCTA	Check Point Certified Troubleshooting Administrator	156-580
CCTE	Check Point Certified Troubleshooting Expert	156-585

Accreditation	HackingPoint Courses	Exam #
CCPE - A	AppSec for Developers	156-405
CCPE - C	Cloud Security	156-406
CCPE - I	Infrastructure Hacking Check Point Certified PenTesting Expert	156-402
CCPE - W	Web Hacking Check Point Certified PenTesting Expert	156-403

Certification Extensions & Renewals

Pass an Infinity Specialist Accreditation (ISA) to extend a valid Core certification for 1-year.

• A CCSA may be extended a maximum of two times by passing 2 different ISAs. (CCSA must be current, not expired)
• A CCSE may be extended one time.  A second ISA will award the Accreditation and the CCSM Certification!  (The CCSE must be current, not expired)
• A CCSM may be extended one time.  A second ISA will award the Accreditation and the CCSM Elite Certification!  (The CCSM must be current, not expired)

The CCSA or the CCSE exam may be retaken as a means to recertify.

• If the CCSA or CCSE is retaken and passed before it expires, the certification will be renewed for
  2 years from the previous expiration date.
• The CCSE Update exam will no longer be the exam for recertifying a CCSE.  It will be retired on 31 March 2021. 

Certification Paths

FAQs

• If I took an Infinity Specialist Accreditation course and exam prior to 31 January 2021, will my valid certification be extended?
  • No, the extension program will start on 31 January 2021 and go forward.  No retroactive extensions will be awarded.

• I took an Infinity Specialist Accreditation (ISA) course over 2 years ago and it has now expired.  Can I take that ISA again to extend my current certification?
  • Yes as long as the ISA exam is passed after our new certification model start date on 31 January 2021.

• I passed one Infinity Specialist Accreditation (ISA) to get the 1-year extension on my CCSA/CCSE/CCSM, can I retake that ISA?
  • The Infinity Specialist Accreditations are valid for 2 years.  If you take the same exam within that 2 years, it will not be credited to extend your certification.  You should take a different ISA as long as it is valid.  If the ISA has expired, you may take it again to get an extension.

• I’ve passed the CCSA exam, what are my next steps to maintain an Active certification status?
  • Option 1 – You may extend the CCSA certification while the certification is still valid by passing an Infinity Specialist Accreditation exam for a 1-year extension (You may do this 2 times with a valid CCSA)
  • Option 2 – You may proceed to the CCSE to continue in the certification path.
    • This will not extend the CCSA.
  • Option 3 – You may retake and pass the CCSA exam for another 2-year extension.

• I have a CCSA and have passed 2 Infinity Specialist Accreditations to extend my certification for an additional 2 years.  Can I take a 3^rd for another 1-year extension?
  • No, 2 years is the longest extension.  You may recertify by passing the CCSA again for another 2 year certification.

• My CCSA has expired.  Can I still extend the certification for 1 year by taking an Infinity Specialist Accreditation?
  • Extensions are only awarded on valid certifications.  It is important to be aware of certification expiration dates.
    • Recertify your CCSA by passing the CCSA certification exam again.
      • You are still eligible to take the CCSE to advance in the certification path if your CCSA is expired.

• Where can I go to check on the expiration date of my certifications?
  • Login to the User Center
  • Click “MY CHECK POINT”
  • Click “My Certifications” under the “My Info” option to see a list of your certifications and their expiration dates.
  • Note: Starting at 60 days before a core certification expires, our system will notify you by email several times on a regular interval to remind you of your expiring certification.

• I passed one Infinity Specialist Accreditation (ISA) to get the 1-year extension added to my CCSA and now the CCSA has since expired.  If I pass an ISA exam now, will my CCSA be extended?
  • No, you will need to pass the CCSA again to get recertified.  Extensions are only awarded on valid certifications.

• I have a valid R80 CCSE, what are my next steps to maintain an Active certification status?
  • Option 1 – You may extend the CCSE certification while the certification is still valid by passing one Infinity Specialist Accreditation (ISA) exam for a 1-year extension (You may do this one time for a 1-year extension on a valid CCSE)
    • Passing a second ISA exam will award you the CCSM certification.
  • Option 2 – You may retake the CCSE for another 2-year extension.

• I received the CCSM after getting my second Infinity Specialist Accreditation while CCSE certified.  How long will the CCSM be valid?
  • The CCSM certification will be valid 2 years.

• My CCSE has expired.  Can I still extend the certification for 1 year by taking an Infinity Specialist Accreditation?
  • Extensions are only awarded on valid certifications. It is important to be aware of certification expiration dates.
    • Recertify your CCSE by retaking and passing the CCSE exam.

• I had the 1-year extension added to my CCSE but not my CCSE has expired.  Will I still get the CCSM if I take another Infinity Specialist Accreditation?
  • No, extensions are only awarded on valid certifications. You will need to recertify your CCSE again and pass 2 more Infinity Specialist Accreditations to attain CCSM status.

• I have a valid R80 CCSM, what are my next steps to maintain an Active certification status?
  • You may extend the CCSM certification while the certification is still valid by passing one Infinity Specialist Accreditation (ISA) exam for a 1-year extension (You may do this one time for a 1-year extension on a valid CCSM)
    • Passing a second ISA exam will award you the CCSM Elite certification.

• I received the CCSM Elite certification after getting my second Infinity Specialist Accreditation while CCSM certified.  How long will the CCSM Elite be valid?
  • The CCSM Elite certification will be valid 2 years.
  • The CCSM Elite can be extended once for 1 year by passing another Infinity Specialist Accreditation. (A recertification path for the CCSM Elite will be announced at a later date)

• My CCSM has expired.  Can I still extend the certification for 1 year by taking an Infinity Specialist Accreditation?
  • Extensions are only awarded on valid certifications. It is important to be aware of certification expiration dates.
    • Recertify on the CCSM exam until we retire the CCSM exam on 31-March-2021.  After the CCSM exam is retired the path to CCSM status will be through a valid CCSE. 

• I have a valid CCSM Elite, CCSM or CCSE.  Do I need to maintain the lower certification(s)?
  • Your goal is to maintain your highest certification or progress to the next level. You are not required to recertify on the lower certifications.  You will only recertify on a lower certification if you allow your highest level of certification to expire.

http://www.checkpoint.com/certifications

More FAQs are posted to our Certification FAQ SecureKnowledge article - SK163417

For Account-related questions please contact our Account Services team by opening a Non-Technical Ticket

Additional questions can be directed to the Certification Team at certification@checkpoint.com

[Danny]

• I have a valid CCSE R80 + three completed ISA's in 2020.
  
  • I'm interested to become a CCSM Elite. Will my ISA's be counted towards it? If not, will I be blocked from doing them again after January 31, 2021 before they expire?
• New badges are shown for CCSA, CCSE, CCSM and CCSM Elite.
  • Will badges that have been received already remain untouched or are they going to be revised and have their graphics changed?
• Is it required to attend an ISA course besides the ISA exam to receive rewards in form of certificate extensions and CCSM / CCSM Elite badges?
  •  I'm asking because the FAQ sometimes refers to ISA courses and exams and sometimes to ISA exams only.

[KennyManrique]

Hi Tug, thanks for the certification update info

One question regarding expired CCSM, according to image we need to recertify on CCSE; is this correct? or should be CCSM?

[Dominik_E]

Thanks for the Update, is right that I can take the course prior to the 31.01.2020 and take the exam after the 31.01.2020 so that my CCSE will be extended for one year?

[jasmine_jyothi]

I have valid CCSM and 4 ISAs (CCTA,CCAS,CCMS,CCVS) .How can I obtain CCM Elite.

[Chris_Atkinson]

ISA must be obtained after the program start in 31-JAN-2021 to qualify. 

[Magnus-Holmberg]

is it possible to get high res versions of the logos?
Similar to the corp logos that is scalable within illistrator or similar so they are sutable for printing.
https://usercenter.checkpoint.com/usercenter/portal/media-type/html/role/usercenterUser/page/default...

[Sven_Glock]

Am I right? When having a valid CCSE and passing 2 specialist exams you are getting CCSM without a specific CCSM exam or the need to visit an extra CCSM course?

[Danny]

This doesn't seem to be right. As per the FAQ the exam alone isn't enough. It might be required to take the course as well!

[Chris_Atkinson]

Hi Danny,the key here is the date of commencement...

[Danny]

Commencement of what? The course or the exam? Is the course really required or is the exam enough? I look how to advice my trainees starting from February 2021. Two of my trainees did the CCTE course last week. When are they able to sit their CCTE exam or do they have to take the course again after January 31st, 2021? Are they really required to wait with their exam until February 2021 to make it count for the new cert model?

[Chris_Atkinson]

The new program starts in Feb-2021

[Danny]

This doesn't answer my questions.

[Chris_Atkinson]

Exam completion in or after Feb-2021 is my understanding

[Danny]

In this case it seems that the course isn't required at all.

[Chris_Atkinson]

Correct, once the program commences the way CCSM can be achieved will change per above.

[Sven_Glock]

Thanks for clarification! 👍

[Balint_Elteto]

Is there a specific reason, I'm not able to download the training datasheets from the course links?

After the log in page, the browser refressing the page on and on.

[Constantin]

Hi,
 could you please clarify which Check Point Gaia version is being tested in the actual exams?
Some of the data sheets are listing different versions and some trainers are actually using the latest R80.40 version.
CCCS => Supported Versions: R80.20;
CCTE => Supported Versions: R80.30 and above
Thank you!

[LeftHandSeat]

Are the "Hacking Point Accreditations" listed above considered "Infinity Specialist Accreditations" for the purpose of extension / CCSM qualification?  As they are listed above under that header, I presume they are.  Just wanting to confirm before I go and spend some CLC's.

[Jason_Tugwell · Accepted solution]

Yes the listed Hacking Point exams qualify to extend the certifications.

Thanks

Tug

[genisis__]

Hi Jason,

I've seen R80.40 support has been extended to 2024, so does this mean anyone with a R80.x certification will not be required to recertify until 2024, rather then every two years?

[Jason_Tugwell]

The extension of the Support Life Cycle will not change the 2-year recertification period for technical certifications.  

[ndiegel]

Looking for clarification, couldn't find this scenario in FAQ. My employer has enrolled me in Maestro, however my I am not at CCSE level yet. If I take the Maestro exam before I get up to CCSE, does it count towards to two required for my CCSM? or do I need to get to CCSE before taking the Maestro exam?

[Jason_Tugwell]

You would want to get to CCSE before taking the Maestro exam.

Extensions will only apply to the current valid certification.  The ISA extensions will not be applied to Certifications achieved after the ISA.