Vault associate 003 (#2629)

* Update Vault Associate 002 content for new exam version * updated 003 text * fixed spacing * fixed typos and spacing * updated text post team review * Update vault-associate-002.mdx Format edits * Update vault-associate-003.mdx Format updates * Updated hero to include January --------- Co-authored-by: laurencknows <[email protected]>
hashicorp · Nov 14, 2024 · f4bba5e · f4bba5e
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diff --git a/src/content/certifications/exam-faqs/vault-associate-002.mdx b/src/content/certifications/exam-faqs/vault-associate-002.mdx
@@ -1,17 +1,41 @@
 <!-- Each "## Heading Two" section in this document will be used to populate an FAQ item -->
 
-## Prerequisites
+## Exam Availability
 
-- Basic terminal skills
-- Basic understanding of on-premises or cloud architecture
-- Basic level of security understanding
+The Vault Associate 002 exam will be replaced by the Vault Associate 003 exam version in January 2025. 
+
+- **November 27**: Advance scheduling for Vault Associate 003 begins.
+- **January 15**: Last day to schedule Vault Associate 002.
+- **January 17**: Last day to take Vault Associate 002.
+   - _If you take the (002) version at this time and fail, you will need to take the (003) version when you reattempt the exam._ 
+- **January 18**: First day to take Vault Associate 003. Vault 002 is now retired. 
 
 ## Which Exam to Take
 
- You can use either version of the exam to validate your Vault knowledge at the associate level. Vault Associate 002 is currently available, and the [Vault Associate 003 certification](/certifications/security-automation#vault-associate-003-details) will launch in early 2025. You can hold both the Vault Associate 002 and Vault Associate 003 at the same time.
+The new Vault Associate 003 exam accounts for how Vault has evolved since we released the (002) exam version. 
+
+Both exams are valid ways to verify your Vault knowledge at the associate level. Either should be accepted as validation of Vault knowledge until the credential's expiration date.
+
+- Take (002) if
+   - you are required by your employer to sit the exam this year.
+   - you hold a (002) credential that will expire before January and cannot have a lapse in your certification status.
+   - you are unfamiliar with the new objectives added to the (003) exam.
+
+- Take (003) if
+   - you can wait until January to get Vault Associate certified.
+
+**Exam updates summary:**
+
+- 2 new topics
+- Tests on Vault version 1.16
+- Includes HCP Vault content
+
+**New topics covered in (003):**
+
+- 8e: Differentiate between self-managed and HashiCorp-managed Vault clusters
+- 9b: Describe the Vault Secrets Operator
 
-- Vault Associate 002: Exam available now.
-- Vault Associate 003: Coming January 2025. The Vault Associate 002 exam will no longer be available to take once Vault 003 is released.
+Review the full list of objectives below. 
 
 ## Exam Details
 

diff --git a/src/content/certifications/exam-faqs/vault-associate-003.mdx b/src/content/certifications/exam-faqs/vault-associate-003.mdx
@@ -2,55 +2,40 @@
 
 ## Exam Availability
 
-- November 2024 - Scheduling opens for Vault Associate 003.
-- January 2025 - Vault Associate 003 exam is available to take and Vault Associate 002 is retired.
+The Vault Associate 002 exam will be replaced by the Vault Associate 003 exam version in January 2025. 
 
-## Which Exam to Take
-
-You can use either version of the exam to validate your Vault knowledge at the associate level. The [Vault Associate 002 certification](/certifications/security-automation#vault-associate-002-details) is still relevant and will be accepted as validation of Vault knowledge until the badge’s expiration date. You can hold both the Vault Associate 002 and Vault Associate 003 at the same time.
+- **November 27**: Advance scheduling for Vault Associate 003 begins.
+- **January 15**: Last day to schedule Vault Associate 002.
+- **January 17**: Last day to take Vault Associate 002.
+   - _If you take the (002) version at this time and fail, you will need to take the (003) version when you reattempt the exam._ 
+- **January 18**: First day to take Vault Associate 003. Vault 002 is now retired. 
 
-- Vault Associate 002: Exam available now.
-- Vault Associate 003: Coming January 2025. The Vault Associate 002 exam will no longer be available to take once Vault 003 is released.
-
-## Content Differences Between Exam Versions
+## Which Exam to Take
 
-We updated the Vault Associate 003 exam to account for how Vault has grown, and to accommodate future growth. The changes are primarily a reorganization and rewording of the 002 exam objectives. More significant changes are listed below.
+The new Vault Associate 003 exam accounts for how Vault has evolved since we released the (002) exam version. 
 
-The Vault Associate (003) tests on Vault version 1.16 and now includes HCP Vault content.
+Both exams are valid ways to verify your Vault knowledge at the associate level. Either should be accepted as validation of Vault knowledge until the credential's expiration date.
 
-|    | **NEW topics covered in (003)**                                         |
-| -- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- |
-| 8e | Differentiate between self-managed and HashiCorp-managed Vault clusters |
-| 9b | Describe the Vaults Secrets Operator                                    |
+- Take (002) if
+   - you are required by your employer to sit the exam this year.
+   - you hold a (002) credential that will expire before January and cannot have a lapse in your certification status.
+   - you are unfamiliar with the new objectives added to the (003) exam.
 
-|    | **(002) objectives now covered in other objectives in (003)**           |
-| -- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- |
-| 6  | 1 - Authentication methods |
-|    | 2 - Vault policies |
-|    | 5 - Secrets engines |                                  
-|    | 7 - Vault architecture fundamentals                                  |
-| 7  | 1 - Authentication methods |
-|    | 2 - Vault policies                                    |
-|    | 5 - Secrets engines                                         |
-| 8  | 1 - Authentication methods |
-|    | 5 - Secrets engines |
-| 9  | 1 - Authentication methods |
-|    | 5 - Secrets engines |
-|    | 7 - Vault architecture fundamentals |
-|    | 8 - Vault deployment architecture |
-|    | 9 - Access management architecture |
-| 10 | 5 - Secrets engines |
-|    | 6 - Encryption as a service |
+- Take (003) if
+   - you can wait until January to get Vault Associate certified.
 
+**Exam updates summary:**
 
-## Prerequisites
+- 2 new topics
+- Tests on Vault version 1.16
+- Includes HCP Vault content
 
-- Basic terminal skills
-- Basic understanding of on-premises or cloud architecture
-- Basic level of security understanding
+**New topics covered in (003):**
 
-This exam is a suggested prerequisite for the Vault Operations Professional exam. Intermediate and advanced topics are reserved for the Professional-level exams.
+- 8e: Differentiate between self-managed and HashiCorp-managed Vault clusters
+- 9b: Describe the Vault Secrets Operator
 
+Review the full list of objectives below.
 ## Exam Details
 
 |                     |                                                                                   |

diff --git a/src/content/certifications/programs/security-automation.json b/src/content/certifications/programs/security-automation.json
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 			"examCode": "002",
 			"productSlug": "vault",
 			"versionTested": "Vault 1.6.0 and higher",
-			"description": "Vault Associate 002 is currently available but will be replaced by Vault Associate 003 in 2025. Compare the differences between the 002 and 003 exam versions below. The Vault Associate certification is for Cloud Engineers specializing in security, development, or operations who know the basic concepts, skills, and use cases associated with Vault. You understand what Vault Enterprise features exist and can differentiate between Enterprise and Community Edition. You will be best prepared for this exam if you have professional experience using Vault in production, but performing the exam objectives in a personal demo environment may be sufficient.",
+			"description": "Vault Associate 002 is currently available but will be replaced by Vault Associate 003 in January 2025. Compare the differences between the 002 and 003 exam versions below. The Vault Associate certification is for Cloud Engineers specializing in security, development, or operations who know the basic concepts, skills, and use cases associated with Vault. You understand what Vault Enterprise features exist and can differentiate between Enterprise and Community Edition. You will be best prepared for this exam if you have professional experience using Vault in production, but performing the exam objectives in a personal demo environment may be sufficient.",
 			"links": {
 				"prepare": "/vault/tutorials/associate-cert",
 				"register": "https://cp.certmetrics.com/hashicorp/en/login"
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
 			"examCode": "003",
 			"productSlug": "vault",
 			"versionTested": "Vault 1.16",
-			"description": "Vault Associate 003 is a new version of the Vault Associate exam and will be available in 2025. Compare the differences between the 002 and 003 exam versions below. Begin preparing for this exam now, and look for registration information soon! The Vault Associate 003 will still be for Cloud Engineers specializing in security, development, or operations who know the basic concepts, skills, and use cases associated with Vault. You will be best prepared for this exam if you have professional experience using Vault in production, but performing the exam objectives in a personal demo environment may be sufficient.",
+			"description": "Vault Associate 003 is a new version of the Vault Associate exam and will be available in January 2025. Compare the differences between the 002 and 003 exam versions below. Begin preparing for this exam now, and look for registration information soon! The Vault Associate 003 is for Cloud Engineers specializing in security, development, or operations who know the basic concepts, skills, and use cases associated with Vault. You will be best prepared for this exam if you have professional experience using Vault in production, but performing the exam objectives in a personal demo environment may be sufficient.",
 			"links": {
 				"prepare": "/vault/tutorials/associate-cert-003"
 			},