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Global Information Assurance Certification

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Mentor FAQ

General
Portal Accounts
GI Bill
General
 What is 'SANS Welcome Letter'?

SANS Welcome Letter is auto-generated upon registering and contains some important information about your Portal Account, receiving your course books and confirms your registration information.

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 When will I get my course books?

For all SANS Mentor students paid in full, course books will be shipped directly to your SANS Mentor approximately 10 days before class begins. The Mentor will distribute your course materials to you the first day of class. About a week prior to class, your Mentor will send you a welcome email with their contact information, and location details. Your Mentor's name and email address will be provided in your Mentor's Welcome email and can make arrangements to get your books prior to the first day of class.

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 When will I receive access to the online study materials?

SANS Mentor students who are PAID IN FULL, will receive access to webcasts, study materials, practice tests, and GIAC certification information at the start of their 2nd class session.

These materials will be posted to the Portal Account associated with the EMAIL ADDRESS YOU USED DURING REGISTRATION.

All SANS & GIAC related notices will be sent directly to the email address you used when registering.

Please ensure you can receive email from sans.org, giac.org, and giac.net email addresses and that there are no spam filters preventing receipt of these communications.

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 How long do I have access to my course materials, practice exams and exam online?
Since Mentor sessions are smaller group sessions, your interaction with the instructor is hands-on and personal. You can work directly with the instructor to obtain any materials you may have missed.
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 What happens if I miss a class?
Since Mentor sessions are smaller group sessions, your interaction with the instructor is hands-on and personal. You can work directly with the instructor to obtain any materials you may have missed.
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 How many CPE’s can I receive for my course?

CPEs vary by class. Our ten week sessions are 36 CPEs. If you have questions about CPEs contact SANS for further details.

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 Is the course material the same as at a conference event?

The course material is the same that you would receive if attending a conference event. However the Mentor Program expects students to study on their own between classes and Come prepared to discuss the curriculum and any questions they may have.

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 Who do I contact if I need assistance?

Please contact SANS at 301-654-7267 or email mentor@sans.org.

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 Are there discounts for Educational institutions or college students?

Please contact Mentor@SANS.org for details regarding special pricing options.

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 Can I have a Mentor teach at my workplace?

In many cases, yes. The @Work program from SANS may be available in your area. Please contact mentor@sans.org for details and include your location, number of students and course desired.

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 Can I pay with vouchers?

Yes, however if you pay with vouchers, no other discounts apply.

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Portal Accounts
 What is a SANS Portal Account?

Upon registering, a SANS Portal Account will automatically be created for you, in the event you do not already have one.

This Portal Account is the gateway to your online study materials, and MP3?s and is associated to the email address you USED WHEN REGISTERING.

ALL SANS-RELATED CORRESPONDENCE WILL BE SENT TO THE EMAIL ADDRESS YOU PROVIDE UPON REGISTERING.

Please be certain that you can receive email from sans.org, giac.org, and giac.net email addresses to ensure you receive all correspondence.

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 How do I access my Portal Account?

To access your Portal Account, please go to: http://portal.sans.org/

To change the 'auto-generated' password or if you forgot your password, please click on 'Forgot Password' and follow the instructions provided.

Please use only ONE email address [the same one you register with] when communicating with SANS, as this email address serves as your USER NAME.

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 How do I change my password?

To change the auto-generated password, or if you forgot your password, log into your Portal Account, at: http://portal.sans.org/

Then click on 'Forgot Password' and follow the instructions provided.

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 Can I change my email address associated with my Portal Account?

If you prefer to use another email account to access your training materials, you may change your email address PRIOR to the beginning of the session by contacting SANS Registration Office at: registration@sans.org.

Be sure to include the title and location of your class along with your Invoice Number when requesting an email address change.

After you have already received access to the class materials in your portal account, you can change your email address by logging into your portal account and using the "Preferences" link at the bottom of the portal home page.

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 Can I have more than one Portal Account?

SANS Portal Accounts are AUTOMATICALLY generated EACH time you register.

Students will have several different SANS Portal Accounts, due to using DIFFERENT email address at the time of registering for training. You must use the SAME EMAIL ADDRESS used during registration to access SANS online study materials.

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GI Bill
 Are SANS courses eligible for the United States GI Bill?

The GI Bill provides financial aid for courses taken through an accredited educational institution. SANS is an independent organization, and courses taken directly through SANS do not qualify for assistance under the GI Bill.

However GIAC Certification is eligible. Details provided below.

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 Is GIAC certification eligible for reimbursement under the GI Bill?

GIAC certification is now available for VA reimbursement for Chapter 30 and Chapter 35 veterans and eligible dependents. Please note that VA reimbursement is only for GIAC certification and does not include SANS training fees. Certification may be earned in conjunction with SANS training or separately as a Challenge Certification. The reimbursement can be applied retroactively for any GIAC certifications received since November 15, 2001.

The following certifications apply for VA funds:

GIAC Security Leadership Certification (GSLC)
GIAC Security Essentials Certification (GSEC)
GIAC Certified Firewall Analyst (GCFW)
GIAC Certified Intrusion Analyst (GCIA)
GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH)
GIAC Certified Windows Security Administrator (GCWN)
GIAC Certified UNIX Security Administrator (GCUX)
GIAC Systems and Network Auditor (GSNA)
GIAC Certified Forensics Analyst (GCFA)
GIAC Information Security Fundamentals (GISF)
GIAC Assessing Wireless Networks (GAWN)
GIAC Certified ISO-17799 Specialist (G7799)


Veterans can apply using VA Form 22-1990 or a letter to the VA Regional Processing Center that handles their state.

To request reimbursement of the exam fee under LACAS, Students must include a copy of their test scores, their receipt for payment of the test fee, and sign a statement authorizing the VA to verify test results with SANS.

Information about the program is at the VA website under Education benefits.

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