The (ISC)² Pittsburgh Chapter is seeing great success by providing study sessions for both the CISSP and CCSP exams.

While participating in a study group does not guarantee passing the exam, it does; however, help to connect with others, put learning into practice and implement study tips. We asked the Pittsburgh Chapter about their recipe for success in hosting study groups and having a high pass rate.

If other chapters would like to replicate their success, they need to:

• Have a passionate leader run the sessions.
• Invite many people to join, even outside of the local geography.
• Offer both in-person and online study sessions.
• Be open and inclusive; allowing people of all skillsets and career levels to be involved.

The most successful study groups have a leader who guides the group and manages the session making sure the group stays on track. The chapter has found it works best if students pick and teach a domain to the entire group. That way, each student is vested and accountable to learn their domain thoroughly enough to help the other students.

These teaching sessions can be replicated on video-conferencing platforms if in-person meetings are not feasible.

Join the (ISC)² Pittsburgh Chapter for a free webinar on July 20 at 11:00 a.m. ET to hear how they created these successful study groups.

We asked the Pittsburgh chapter for some additional insight, and here’s what they said:

How many attendees have completed your five study group sessions so far?

Over the five study groups, we have had approximately 200 different students. We have had at least 60 people pass. Some of the students participated in more than one session. Many of the students were invited by current CISSP holders.

Did they all pass the certification exam?

We found that 100% of the people that presented a domain passed their test for the first four cohorts. We are hoping to see the same results for the fifth session that we just completed. Not everyone passed YET; however, there are several individuals who have attended that are very close to passing. Due to other commitments such as small children, some have not taken the exam yet but are close to finishing and we hope to see the letters CISSP after their names shortly.  

Which certifications do you hold study sessions for?

Most of our sessions have been focused on the CISSP. We did hold one for the CCSP, but we were only able to recruit about five people for that one. We are planning to have a study session for the entry-level certificate and inviting many of the college students around our area. We want to network with individuals that are joining cybersecurity and make sure that we add in underrepresented groups, such as women and minorities. Our goal is to have a culture where everyone feels included.  

What would you say is the recipe for success that has helped the students help each other?

It’s two-fold.  If you can learn a topic well enough that you can teach it to someone else, you generally know it fairly well.  Also, the open forum where you can chat with others to help build your understanding of the concepts really helps as well.  

How can other chapters host similar sessions? What do you recommend as a template for success?

Go to local security events/meetups and tell others about what you are planning. Set up an email account that is used specifically for the purpose of the study group. Pick a date when you will start your sessions. Try to reach security professionals in non-traditional ways. We post on several Facebook groups geared to women in cybersecurity as well as on LinkedIn and Twitter. Try to partner with local colleges and universities to bring in entry-level individuals as well. Also, ask your current members to recruit co-workers and friends no matter where they live. You can also post study sessions on the (ISC)² Community Study Group page for each certification.

Do you have any feedback from those who have participated in the study groups?

“These study groups are fun. It is a way for me to keep current on new security topics since I received my CISSP years ago.” – Diana Planton, CISSP

“My main reason for participating is to give back to the community. Individuals do not always have the money to go to boot camps and pay for training sessions. I did much better studying with a group than doing it on my own.” – Anna Cotter, CISSP, CCSP

“As a former teacher with 22 years working in public education, you can’t teach a subject unless you know it. There is no better experience for a student than to step into the shoes of their teacher for a lesson or two. The group has been blessed to have former students and current CISSP holders teach the content. In the words of this one-time CISSP candidate, “it was humbling and motivating to learn from those that went successfully before me. The Pittsburgh Area CISSP study group provided motivation and pacing to keep me going through the study material at a good rate. The dialog before and after the sessions was as much help as the sessions themselves and the good peer pressure to schedule and take the test helped me to set a date and continue to study diligently towards that date.” – Ron Reyer, Jr., CISSP

“Presenting to the study group was a great way to engage with the community and help others accomplish their goals.” – Jon Zeolla, CISSP (founding presenter and supporter) 

“I had been planning on taking my CISSP for a few months. I had already done an independent study and applied much of the CISSP domain-focused items to my daily work. However, I needed a push to cross the finish line. Through community posts, I found this study group run by the local (ISC)² chapter and joined out of curiosity about how others were preparing for their exams. Above the content reviews and conversation, I found it useful to have a group of people supporting my process and being available to bounce questions off them before exam time. Anyone can read the content but having experienced individuals describe how they approached the exam simplified the process for me and I took that mindset into exam time. This study group provided more simplistic insight than simply working through the materials or lectures. It also provided real-world connections to the industry and to the vast network of (ISC)² professionals. Even prior to passing my exam, I was invited to give a briefing on the Solarwinds compromise for the (ISC)²Pittsburgh Chapter – a connection I made through this study group.” – Eric Lansbery, CISSP

How can others (inside or outside of Pittsburgh) join these study sessions you host?  

Include everyone who has an interest: from entry-level to retirees. We all can learn from each other.  

We have been able to grow by word of mouth and we post frequently on a wide range of social media including Facebook , Twitter, LinkedIn, Meetup , and Pittsburgh Slack. Another place for others to find study groups is the (ISC)² Community Study Group page for each certification.