We need your input into what terminology you use when considering activities to help you prepare for an ISC2 certification. The survey (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CertificationExamSurvey) is just a couple questions and should take less than two minutes. We want to make sure we are communicating clearly with our customers. Thank you in advance for your responses.
The single best advice for clear communications is to use "Webster definitions" instead of inventing our own unique vocabulary.
Highest on this list for me is the word "Member". In (ISC)²'s dictionary, it means somebody who has achieved a certification, but formally, it means "belongs to a group".
Personally, I would redefine "member" to be as inclusive as possible (e.g., "has an account on the (ISC)² web site") and add an adjective when referring to a more specific group, like this:
Candidate => Non-certified Member
Associate => Apprentice Member
Member => Certified Member
Member in good standing => Certified Member
Emeritus => Emeritus Member
Community Member => Community Member
All/Any of the above => (ISC)² Member
I would also retire the word "associate" in favor of "apprentice" because the latter indicates a transient state, pending on-the-job-training.
Regarding the three words in the survey, I would focus on their actual definitions:
education - the process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at a school or university.
Thank you. I'll pass this feedback along!