What Happens If You Don't Pass
Let's be honest about the thing sitting in the back of your mind. You've put months into this, and somewhere in there is the question you don't say out loud: what if you sit the exam and don't pass?
Here's how it goes with most programs. You get the materials, a login, and a "good luck." If exam day doesn't go your way, you're on your own to figure out what went wrong and pay to try again.
That's not how we do things. We’re not done until you’re certified.
When we hear that one of our students didn't pass, we don't wait for you to raise your hand. Our team reaches out first, to understand what happened and how you're feeling about it. From there, we connect you with a mentor who works with you one-on-one to build a plan around exactly what you struggled with. And if your situation calls for it, Rob and John, our co-founders, step in personally.
This doesn't happen often, because nearly all of our students pass on their first attempt. And this hands-on support is a big reason why nearly 100% of the few who do need a second attempt go on to pass it. When you need that kind of help, we're glad to give it.
What you get, at no extra cost
Alongside the personal support, everything that got you this far stays open to you:
A recovery plan built around your results
Your mentor looks at exactly where you fell short and maps out where to focus, so you're not guessing at what to study next or wasting time on topics you already know well enough.
Free, flexible retakes
You don't have to start from scratch. If you studied through a MasterClass, you can go straight to the specific areas you need to shore up instead of sitting through the whole course again. If you trained in a Bootcamp, you can use the MasterClass to focus on just the topics you need, or rejoin a live Bootcamp and work through it in real time if you'd rather. Premier MasterClass students can join a live Bootcamp too. It's all free, as many times as you need, though almost no one comes back more than once.
Extended access
If passing takes a little longer, we keep your access open for as long as you need it. No rush, no fees.
Direct instructor access
Bring your toughest questions to our weekly Q&A calls and get them answered live by the same instructors who taught you the first time.
And you get all of this no matter which plan you're on, whether that's Essential, Preferred, Premier, or Bootcamp. This isn't a premium perk reserved for the top tier. It's how we treat every student.
How to activate your Success Partnership
Share your results.
Email a copy of your official score report to our support team.
Meet your mentor.
We'll schedule your 1:1 recovery session to review your results and map out the path forward.
Jump back in.
You'll get immediate access to upcoming live sessions, weekly Q&A calls, and everything else you need to pass.
You're closer than you think
The vast majority of our students never need any of this. But it's here, in full, for the rare case you do. And if it comes to that, Rob and John, our co-founders, will personally step in to help get you over the line if needed. Pass or retake, you have a team in your corner until the day you're certified.
“The CISSP bootcamp and training videos were really helpful. Another great thing about the recorded videos was that they were not boring! They were really engaging! I also really liked the flashcards, as Rob says “They were surprisingly helpful”. I also really appreciate the personal time Rob took to talk to me when I couldn’t clear the exam on the first try.”
ForamCISSP “I’m happy to share that I passed the CCSP exam on my second attempt! I’m grateful to Destination Certification for extending my access to the online course materials and app-it made a real difference. This is my second ISC2 certification with Destination Certification after CISSP. I’m looking forward to my next challenge!”
AleksanderCCSP “I passed the CCSP on my second attempt! It’s been a long journey but Destination Certification’s materials and application quiz questions helped me develop the right mindset for the exam. Identifying the key words in each question was critical. Thank you for all your support!”
ChrisCCSP
Frequently asked questions
Does this cost anything extra?
No. It comes with every MasterClass and Bootcamp at no additional cost. There are no retake fees and no upsell.
Who is it available to?
Every DestCert student, on every plan and across every certification. It isn't a premium tier or an add-on.
How long can I use it?
For as long as you need. Your access to materials, mentoring, and live support stays open until you're certified.
Do I have to reach out to you first?
Usually not. If we have your scheduled exam date, we'll check in with you after it as a matter of course. But things do slip through: sometimes we don't have your exam date, and sometimes our email lands in a spam folder. So if you sit the exam and don't hear from us, please reach out. One message to our support team and we'll get you set up right away.
What if I need more than one retake?
You're covered. You can retake the full MasterClass or join another Bootcamp as many times as you need, though in practice almost no one needs more than a second attempt.