ISACA CISA Certification: Exam, Cost, Requirements & Online Training

ISACA CISA certification is a globally recognized credential for professionals who audit, control, assure, secure, and govern information systems. The path requires passing a 150-question, four-hour exam, paying the application fee, documenting five years of relevant experience or approved waivers, and meeting ISACA’s ethics, auditing standards, and CPE rules. The current exam fee is US$575 for members and US$760 for nonmembers. It suits IT auditors, risk professionals, compliance specialists, and security practitioners seeking stronger credibility and career mobility across markets.

If you are comparing isaca cisa certification options, remember that CISA is more than an exam. It combines a risk-based certification exam, verified professional experience, an application process, and continuing education. Candidates searching for reliable cisa certification training can review the learning options available throughPassYourCert, including structured preparation for the current exam objectives.

What Is ISACA CISA Certification?

The Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) credential is issued by ISACA for professionals who audit, monitor, assess, and improve information systems and business technology controls.

CISA is especially relevant to professionals working in:

• IT audit and internal audit

• Information security and assurance

• Governance, risk, and compliance

• Cybersecurity assessment

• IT control testing

• Privacy and regulatory compliance

• Systems implementation and business resilience

A CISA-certified professional is expected to understand how technology supports business objectives, how risks should be assessed, and how controls can be evaluated. The certification does not focus only on tools or technical configuration. It tests professional judgment, audit planning, evidence, governance, risk, resilience, and information asset protection.

ISACA describes CISA as a standard of achievement for auditing, monitoring, and assessing IT and business systems. The certification also reflects modern topics such as cloud environments, data governance, automation, artificial intelligence, and emerging technology risks.

Who Should Pursue CISA?

CISA can suit both experienced professionals and candidates building a long-term career in audit, assurance, risk, or security. You may consider it if your work involves reviewing controls, investigating weaknesses, supporting compliance, or advising management about technology risk.

The certification is useful for:

• IT auditors

• Information systems auditors

• Cybersecurity analysts

• Risk and compliance professionals

• Internal auditors

• Security consultants

• IT control specialists

• GRC professionals

• Audit managers

• Systems and technology managers

You do not need to complete all experience requirements before taking the exam. However, you must meet the professional experience requirement before receiving the CISA designation.

CISA Exam Domains and Weighting

The current cisa exam contains 150 multiple-choice questions based on five job practice domains. Domains 4 and 5 together represent more than half of the exam, so candidates should not divide study time equally without considering the official weighting.

CISA Domain

Exam Weight

Main Areas

Information Systems Auditing Process

18%

Audit planning, evidence, testing, reporting, quality assurance

Governance and Management of IT

18%

IT governance, policies, risk, privacy, vendors, resources

Information Systems Acquisition, Development and Implementation

12%

Business cases, development methods, controls, migration, implementation

Information Systems Operations and Business Resilience

26%

IT operations, incidents, change management, continuity, disaster recovery

Protection of Information Assets

26%

Access control, network security, encryption, cloud, monitoring, response

The blueprint is based on the official CISA exam content outline. Domain 1 and Domain 2 establish the audit and governance foundation. Domains 3 and 4 connect technology controls with system development, operations, and business continuity. Domain 5 focuses on security controls and the protection of information assets.

CISA Exam Format and Registration

The cisa certification exam is computer-based and can be taken at an authorized PSI testing center or through remote proctoring. The exam has a four-hour time limit, and scores are reported on a scaled range from 200 to 800. A minimum score of 450 is required to pass.

Questions usually provide four answer choices with one best answer. Some items may use short scenarios. This means candidates should learn how to apply audit and control principles instead of memorizing definitions alone.

The general cisa exam registration process is:

1. Create or access your MyISACA account.

2. Ensure your registered name matches your government-issued identification.

3. Check PSI test-center availability or verify your device for remote testing.

4. Pay the exam registration fee.

5. Schedule the appointment through the PSI dashboard.

6. Complete the required identity and security checks on exam day.

CISA registration is continuous, so candidates can register throughout the year. After registration, the eligibility period is six months. ISACA states that candidates may schedule an appointment as early as 48 hours after paying the registration fee, although appointment availability depends on the testing system and location.

CISA Certification Cost and Exam Cost

The cisa certification cost includes more than the exam fee. The following are the current published ISACA fees:

Cost Item

ISACA Member

Nonmember

CISA exam registration

US$575

US$760

Certification application processing fee

US$50

US$50

Annual maintenance fee

US$45

US$85

Optional six-month exam extension

US$75

US$75

The cisa exam cost depends on your membership status when you register. Training, books, practice databases, and other preparation resources are separate expenses. Exam fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable, so confirm your schedule and readiness before booking.

After passing the exam, candidates must pay the US$50 application processing fee and submit their certification application. Fees can change, so check the official ISACA page before making payment.

CISA Certification Requirements and Eligibility

The main cisa certification requirements are:

• Pass the CISA examination.

• Pay the certification application processing fee.

• Demonstrate the required professional experience.

• Follow ISACA’s Code of Professional Ethics.

• Comply with ISACA’s Information Systems Auditing Standards.

• Meet continuing professional education requirements after certification.

The standard cisa certification eligibility requirement is at least five years of professional experience in information systems auditing, control, assurance, or security. The experience must be gained within the 10-year period before the application date.

ISACA allows experience waivers for a maximum of three years. Depending on your academic and professional background, approved education or general information systems and audit experience may reduce the amount of work experience required. All claimed experience must be documented and independently verified.

Candidates have five years from the date they pass the exam to apply for certification. This is useful for early-career professionals who want to complete the examination while building the remaining experience.

How to Get CISA Certification

A practical answer to how to get cisa certification is to follow this sequence:

1. Review the current exam content outline.

2. Check your experience plan and eligibility.

3. Select reliable CISA study materials.

4. Build a weekly preparation schedule.

5. Complete domain-based learning.

6. Use a CISA practice exam to measure progress.

7. Review incorrect answers and weak topics.

8. Register and schedule the exam.

9. Pass the examination.

10. Submit the application and experience verification.

Do not treat the experience application as an administrative formality. Keep clear records of your job title, employer, dates, responsibilities, audit activities, and the CISA domains connected to your work.

CISA Exam Prep and Online Training Strategy

A strong cisa exam prep plan should combine knowledge development, question practice, and decision-making review.

A useful preparation cycle is:

• First stage: Learn audit principles, governance concepts, control objectives, and security fundamentals.

• Second stage: Study each domain according to its official weight.

• Third stage: Complete timed practice questions.

• Fourth stage: Review why each option is correct or incorrect.

• Final stage: Take full-length mock exams and revise weak areas.

A cisa online course may be suitable for candidates who need flexible study hours. A live cisa bootcamp may help professionals who prefer instructor explanations, scheduled revision, and direct doubt clarification. A self-paced cisa review course can work well when you already understand audit concepts but need structured exam coverage.

Your preparation resources may include:

• Official CISA study guide

• Current ISACA review manual

• Domain notes and audit frameworks

• Scenario-based CISA test questions

• A timed CISA practice test

• CISA mock test analysis

• Flash cards for terminology

• Revision checklists

• Instructor-led explanations

Use practice questions to develop reasoning, not to memorize answer patterns. ISACA’s official practice quiz is designed to give candidates an idea of the difficulty and style of questions expected on the exam. Avoid unauthorized dumps or materials claiming to reproduce live exam content. Sharing or using confidential exam content can violate ISACA rules and place your exam or certification at risk.

CISA Certification Salary and Career Value

The value of CISA depends on your experience, job function, country, industry, and ability to apply audit knowledge at work. It can support career paths such as IT auditor, audit manager, security auditor, compliance manager, risk consultant, and GRC specialist.

ISACA currently displays an average annual salary figure of US$149,000+ and reports more than 151,000 professionals holding CISA. This should be treated as an organization-published benchmark rather than a guaranteed cisa certification salary. Your actual compensation may differ significantly based on location, seniority, sector, and responsibilities.

Maintaining the CISA Certification

Passing the exam is not the end of the certification process. CISA holders must earn and report at least 20 CPE hours each year and 120 CPE hours during a three-year reporting period.

They must also:

• Pay the annual maintenance fee.

• Follow ISACA’s Code of Professional Ethics.

• Comply with Information Systems Auditing Standards.

• Maintain records of CPE activities.

• Respond to a CPE audit if selected.

The current annual maintenance fee is US$45 for members and US$85 for nonmembers. Failure to meet the requirements can lead to certification revocation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take the CISA exam without experience?

Yes. You can take the exam before completing the required work experience, but you must satisfy the experience requirement before becoming certified.

Is CISA difficult for beginners?

The exam can be challenging for beginners because it tests professional judgment and the application of audit principles. Candidates without audit experience should allow extra time for governance, evidence, risk, and control concepts.

Is the CISA exam available online?

The exam can be delivered through remote proctoring or taken at an authorized PSI testing center. This is different from a CISA online course, which refers to preparation training.

What is the difference between a practice test and a mock test?

A practice test usually focuses on a domain or topic. A full CISA mock test is timed and designed to simulate the length, pacing, and mixed-domain decision-making required on exam day.

How long should I prepare?

Many candidates benefit from a structured preparation period of several weeks or months. Your timeline should depend on your audit experience, available study hours, and practice-test performance.

Do I need a CISA study guide?

A current study guide can help organize the syllabus, but it should be combined with the official exam outline, realistic practice questions, and detailed explanations.

Review the current domains, calculate your total cisa certification cost, confirm your experience plan, and choose preparation that helps you explain the reason behind each answer. For guided cisa certification training, visithttps://passyourcert.net/certifications/isaca/cisa.