Did you know ISACA offers two unique ways to make sure certification exam-takers are getting the most trusted, relevant and practical training? Accredited Training Partners and ISACA’s chapters each offer distinctive benefits and support when it comes to taking the next steps in your professional career.
ISACA accredited training program
ISACA’s training partners are third-party verified organizations that provide industry-trusted, quality training through accredited trainers, ethical practices and original materials. Participants in this training can rest assured that they are receiving in-demand and flexible ISACA training experiences from Accredited Training Organizations on topics like COBIT, CMMI or certifications. In fact, eight in 10 IT professionals who use an ISACA ATO feel more confident in their ability to pass certification exams.
The training and exams for ISACA certifications and certificates are consistently updated and adapted to the dynamic professions they reflect, providing those they train with the most relevant and official educational resources available. ATOs keep pace with the evolving IT world through ISACA’s global network and support, providing training participants with the resources they need to succeed.
ISACA chapter training
ISACA chapters are smaller, more localized versions of ISACA that leverage the global resources and expertise of a multinational organization while also having specialized knowledge of the regions and communities they serve. These chapters are run by volunteers and provide members with the chance to engage in events, continuing education, social networking, job opportunities and more. Chapters allow such services to reach the people who desire them and help to bridge the gap between the association and its diverse members.
With 225 local chapters across six continents, ISACA offers these opportunities around the world. To highlight these advantages, ISACA Now caught up with some chapter leaders to discuss some of the overlooked benefits of chapter training.
The benefits of ISACA chapter training are numerous. Chapters offer support for certification candidates, including exam preparation training and allowing chapter members to work at their own optimal pace. Chapters also provide a professional community for networking, educational and job opportunities for career advancement, and numerous speaking and social events.
“ISACA Central UK has been providing high-quality ISACA exam preparation training to its members for over nine years, at a cost that is both accessible and affordable,” says Mike Hughes, the director at Prism RA, focusing on cyber and technology risk advisory services, and the past president of the Central UK ISACA Chapter.
“The chapter has also been providing 1:1 teaching, covering the same course materials as the class-based courses, but specifically tailored to the delegates’ needs. The teaching can be provided at the delegate’s pace, and most delegates spread the sessions over a 3-4 week period, giving them time to fully take in the teachings. Our courses also cover the benefits of ISACA membership and the vast amounts of thought leadership available, the majority of which is free to members. We give pointers to further study materials which will help the delegate’s exam performance and are also great reference materials for their day-job.”
Not only do chapters provide the basic knowledge and understanding of the materials for relevant certifications and exams, but they also act as a support system for professionals with shared interests, jobs, goals and aspirations. They offer a common ground for connecting over challenges faced in the field and successes achieved. For those who are just starting out in their career, chapters allow them to acclimate to their field and become comfortable establishing a network of peers.
“No matter how big the country is or where you are doing this, the field of specialists who are interested in the same things is not that broad,” says Uroš Žust, IT assurance and advisory partner at Mazars, past president of the Las Vegas ISACA Chapter and current board member and certification coordinator for the Slovenia ISACA Chapter. “So this also provides great networking opportunities, because people can meet some other people who are facing kind of the same situations, having the same dilemmas. This can be good from the potential networking standpoint of new businesses or for that peer group establishment, which I've really tried to accomplish at every training that I do.”
Why are chapter trainers so useful?
Chapter trainers have direct involvement working in their given field. These trainers are IT audit, cybersecurity, privacy, risk management and digital trust professionals who are able to utilize their personal experiences when training others.
“Our trainers are longstanding ISACA members and ISACA chapter leaders. They are also working in leading roles in the industry, and therefore can reinforce learning messages with real world examples, from their extensive experience and from a position of authority,” says Hughes. “Therefore, chapter trainers are in the unique position to bring extensive knowledge of ISACA and current industry working practices. They are also well placed to effectively respond to any questions delegates may have and provide pragmatic advice, based on their extensive working experience and practical knowledge.”
“The exams are pretty specific, right?” Žust says. “I mean these are multiple choice questions, but to somebody who has never done them—especially the first time doing them—they might have a very different experience, or they might be a little confused. And it really helps if somebody who understands the system, who has gone through the process, can teach them about the process and can also give some recommendations.”
What makes training for your exam so valuable?
Here are a few quotes from some exam training participants:
- “I enjoyed the practical nature of the learning and found that useful. Bringing in use case examples and real-world examples helped move the content away from the theoretical.”
- “The instructor delivered the course to a very high standard with a vast amount of experience demonstrated throughout. This aided my understanding of the course content and contextualized my risk journey over the week.”
- “Very engaging and resourceful contents, which were delivered in a relaxed way. The pace was right and discussion with real life experiences has been helpful. I thoroughly enjoyed the training.”