CISA Certification Cost and Eligibility: A Real Talk Guide
So, you are thinking about getting certified. I have been there. You are staring at your screen, coffee in hand, trying to figure out if the certified information systems auditor cisa certification is actually within your budget or if you are even allowed to take it. It is confusing. A lot of us start out looking at the PMP Certification because everyone talks about it. But then you realize you want to be an auditor, not just a project manager. And suddenly, the PMP Certification does not seem like the right fit anymore.
breaking down the cost
Let us talk money first. It is always about the money, isn’t it? Unlike the PMP Certification, which has its own pricing structure, the CISA Certification fee depends heavily on whether you are a member of ISACA or not. If you are a member, the exam is about $575. If you are not, it is a whopping $760. I remember when I was deciding between this and the PMP Certification, the price difference for members really stood out.
But wait, there is more. You cannot just pay for the exam. You have to think about CISA Certification Training. You might think you can self-study, but honestly, the cisa course material is dense. Much denser than the PMP Certification books I have seen. A good CISA Boot Camp is almost mandatory if you want to pass the first time. I looked at Sprintzeal’s CISA Training options, and they are pretty solid. They have this cisa training online that fits into a working schedule, which is great because we cannot all take weeks off like some people studying for their PMP Certification.
membership fees and hidden costs
You should probably join ISACA. It costs around $135 to $145 a year, plus local chapter dues. It sounds like a lot, but the discount on the CISA Certification exam pays for the membership. Plus, you get access to resources that you just do not get with a standalone PMP Certification. When you are calculating the total, do not forget the application fee. It is $50. It is a small annoyance, but it is there.
And then there are the study materials. If you sign up for CISA Certification Training, sometimes materials are included. If not, the official review manual is pricey. I have friends who spent hundreds on books for their PMP Certification, and the certified information systems auditor course materials are in the same ballpark. It adds up. But think of it as an investment. The salary bump from a certified information systems auditor cisa certification is usually higher than what you get with a basic PMP Certification in the tech world.
are you even eligible?
This is where it gets tricky. The PMP Certification has strict hours you need to log. The CISA Certification has the “5-year rule”. You need five years of professional experience in information systems auditing, control, or security. That sounds intimidating. When I first read that, I almost went back to studying for my PMP Certification.
But here is the good news: you can get waivers. If you have a 4-year degree, that knocks off one year. If you have a master’s in a relevant field, that is even more time off. It is more flexible than the PMP Certification requirements in some ways. You can even take the certified information systems auditor certification exam before you have the experience. You just cannot get the actual badge until you do the time. This is different from the PMP Certification, where you usually need the experience before you sit for the test.
the domains you need to know
To get the certified information systems auditor certification, you need experience in at least one of the five domains. It is not just general IT work. You need specific exposure.
- Information System Auditing Process
- Governance and Management of IT
- Information Systems Acquisition, Development, and Implementation
- Information Systems Operations and Business Resilience
- Protection of Information Assets
My buddy who has his PMP Certification looked at this list and said it was foreign language. That is why CISA Training is so specific. A general PMP Certification course will not teach you about “Business Resilience” in the way an auditor needs to understand it. You need a dedicated certified information systems auditor course to really grasp these concepts.
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choosing the right training
This is the part where people get stuck. “Should I do a CISA Boot Camp or self-paced cisa training online?” If you are disciplined, maybe the cisa training online is enough. I know I am not. I need a human yelling at me (politely). That is why I lean towards a CISA Boot Camp. It is intense. It is like drinking from a firehose. But it is effective. Sprintzeal’s CISA Certification Training is known for this. They drill the concepts into you.
In a PMP Certification class, you discuss stakeholders. In a certified information systems auditor course, you discuss vulnerabilities. It is a different vibe. The CISA Training environment is usually full of people who are a bit more technical than your average PMP Certification crowd.
Also, look for a certified information systems auditor course that offers practice questions. The exam questions are tricky. They are not straightforward like some PMP Certification questions can be. You need to practice the “ISACA way” of thinking. Good CISA Certification Training will have thousands of mock questions.
maintaining the credential
Once you pass, you are not done. You have to earn CPEs (Continuing Professional Education). You need 120 hours every three years. It is similar to the PMP Certification PDUs. If you let it lapse, you have to take the exam again. And nobody wants to take the CISA Certification exam twice. Trust me.
You also have to pay a maintenance fee. It is about $45 for members and $85 for non-members annually. It is a small price to keep the certified information systems auditor cisa certification active. I think the PMP Certification renewal fees are similar, but I always forget to check.
is it worth the hassle?
I ask myself this a lot. “Is the certified information systems auditor certification worth all this money and time?” Yes. The job market for auditors is hot. Everyone needs compliance. The PMP Certification is great, do not get me wrong. I have mentioned PMP Certification a dozen times because it is a good benchmark. But the CISA Certification makes you a specialist. Specialists get paid.
When you have a certified information systems auditor cisa certification, you have leverage. You can walk into a room and people know you understand risk. A PMP Certification says you can manage a project. A certified information systems auditor certification says you can protect the company.
final thoughts on the journey
If you are going to do this, commit to it. Don’t half-effort it. Sign up for a real certified information systems auditor course. Spend the money on a proper CISA Boot Camp. The cisa training online is convenient, but make sure you actually do the work.
Do not let the eligibility scare you off. If you are close to the 5 years, just take the exam. You have a window to get the experience after you pass. It is a very achievable goal. Much more achievable than I originally thought when I was obsessing over the PMP Certification.
So, check out Sprintzeal. Look at their CISA Certification Training. Compare it to your PMP Certification prep and you will see the difference in depth. The certified information systems auditor cisa certification is a beast, but it is a beast you can tame.
Get your CISA Training sorted. Book your CISA Boot Camp. And forget about the PMP Certification for a few months while you focus on becoming a world-class auditor. You have got this. It is just a test and a bank transfer, right?
Good luck with your certified information systems auditor course! I hope to see you with those four letters after your name soon. And maybe, just maybe, you will get your PMP Certification later too. But for now, it is all about the audit.
