Planner Inputs
Example Data Table
| Current level | Target role | Hours/week | Budget (USD) | Result summary (example) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | SOC Analyst / Blue Team | 8 | 800 | Network+ → Security+ → SC-200 → CySA+; ~7.5 months |
| Intermediate | Penetration Tester | 10 | 1500 | Security+ → eJPT → PNPT; ~6.0 months |
| Advanced | Cloud Security Engineer | 12 | 2500 | AWS SAA → AZ-500 → AWS Security; ~5.5 months |
Formula Used
- ExperienceFactor = 1 − min(YearsExp × 0.03, 0.18)
- LevelFactor = 1.12 (Beginner), 1.00 (Intermediate), 0.92 (Advanced)
- TimeScore = clamp((HoursPerWeek/10)×20, 5, 30)
- ExperienceScore = clamp(YearsExp×8, 0, 40)
- DifficultyPenalty = clamp((AvgDifficulty−2.5)×10, 0, 25)
How to Use This Calculator
- Select your current level and your target cybersecurity role.
- Enter weekly study time and your exam budget.
- Pick a vendor preference if you want a focused track.
- Press Submit to generate a tailored certification path.
- Review your milestones, then export CSV or PDF.
Professional Notes
Planning Inputs That Shape Your Roadmap
The planner converts your current level, experience, weekly study time, and exam budget into an ordered certification sequence. Beginners with under one year of experience can receive an added foundation step. Vendor preference lightly rebalances estimates to keep the track consistent. Entering realistic weekly hours, such as 6, 10, or 15, prevents inflated timelines and improves milestone planning.
Time Estimation Built From Adjusted Study Hours
Every certification starts with a base study-hour estimate and applies two modifiers. ExperienceFactor reduces hours by up to 18% as practical familiarity grows. LevelFactor increases beginner effort by 12% or reduces advanced effort by 8%. Total hours are summed, then divided by your weekly hours using 4.33 weeks per month. For example, 180 hours at 9 hours weekly estimates about 4.6 months.
Cost Forecasting And Budget Fit Signals
Exam fees are aggregated across all steps to forecast total cost. The budget fit label is Good when projected cost is within your budget, Tight when it exceeds budget by up to 20%, and Over budget when it surpasses that threshold. Low budgets automatically prune very expensive steps to keep plans actionable. This makes room for labs, practice tests, and one retake reserve. Track savings when you reuse materials.
Readiness Score And Difficulty Index For Realism
The readiness score blends time commitment, experience, and current level, then subtracts a penalty based on average certification difficulty. Scores range from 0 to 100; values above 70 usually indicate strong pacing, while values below 40 suggest reducing scope or increasing weekly hours. The difficulty index combines average difficulty at 60% and total study hours at 40%. Use both metrics to compare alternative roles quickly.
Milestones, Exports, And Continuous Improvement
Steps are grouped into three phases to create measurable milestones for interviews, promotions, and quarterly goals. Use Phase 1 to build foundational credibility, Phase 2 for specialization, and Phase 3 for senior breadth. After submission, export CSV for tracking dates, hours, and costs, or export PDF for mentor feedback. Re-run the planner after each passed exam to refine duration and budget accuracy. If your job scope changes, update the role and regenerate a fresh sequence.
FAQs
How does the planner choose certifications?
It uses a role-based sequence, then adjusts hours and cost using your level, experience, study time, and budget. Very low budgets remove the most expensive steps to keep the path practical.
Can I plan for multiple roles?
Yes. Run the calculator again with a different target role and compare readiness, months, and total cost. Export each plan to CSV to evaluate options side by side.
Why is my readiness score low?
Low weekly study hours, limited experience, and higher average difficulty reduce the score. Increase weekly hours, start with foundational credentials, or shorten the sequence to improve feasibility.
Are the cost estimates exact?
No. They are planning estimates based on typical exam fees and do not include training subscriptions, labs, or taxes. Use the budget fit label as a directional signal, not a quote.
How should I use the three phases?
Treat Phase 1 as baseline credibility, Phase 2 as specialization, and Phase 3 as senior breadth. Align each phase with projects at work so the learning becomes demonstrable outcomes.
What if I already hold a listed certification?
Use the plan as a template and manually skip completed steps. The exports help you rewrite the sequence and recalculate your remaining study schedule with your preferred pacing.