Choose a format
Two delivery modes, different trade-offs
Classroom
In person, instructor-led
Typically a five-day intensive at a training centre or on installation. Highest cost, highest completion rate, and the format most likely to be fully funded through Tuition Assistance or an employer.
- Best if you struggle to self-direct
- Fixed dates — awkward around duty schedules
- Often bundles the exam voucher
- Frequently available on or near major installations
Virtual
Online, live or self-paced
Live-online keeps the instructor and drops the travel. Self-paced drops the schedule too, at the cost of accountability. Both are far cheaper and both survive a deployment or a PCS.
- Best if you are deployed, remote or shift-working
- Self-paced completion rates are low without a study group
- Usually the cheapest route to the same exam
- Look for labs included, not just video
Directory
Listed providers
Provider names, formats, certifications covered and funding approvals to be supplied by DefendX Academy. The structure below is how each entry will appear.
Before you enrol
Six questions that save money
- Is the exam voucher included? A cheaper course without a voucher is often the more expensive option.
- Is a retake covered? First-attempt pass rates are lower than marketing suggests. Retake insurance is worth real money.
- Are hands-on labs included, or only video? Video alone rarely gets anyone through a performance-based exam.
- Is the provider approved for the benefit you plan to use? Approval is per programme, not per company.
- How long does access last? Six months of access is very different from twelve if you deploy.
- What are the current exam objectives? Courses drift. Confirm the version number matches the exam you will sit.
Nobody can guarantee you a pass. Any provider that promises one, or claims to hold the real exam questions, is selling you a problem. Certification bodies revoke credentials for that.