CISSP Cost
At a glance
- Exam fee
- $749
- Issuing body
- ISC2
- Domain
- IT, cloud & cybersecurity
- Validity
- 3 years (CPE)
Informational only — not financial or career advice. Exam fees and certification requirements change, and the figures here are accurate only as of the listed verification date. Confirm the current fee and rules directly with the certifying body before you register or budget. We report the official-body exam fee for a single attempt; it excludes prep courses, materials and retakes, and is not the total cost of certifying.
The CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) examination is administered by ISC². As of June 2026, the official exam registration fee is $749 for a single attempt. This fee covers the examination itself only and does not include third-party training courses, study materials, practice tests, or retake fees. Candidates should confirm the current fee directly with ISC² before budgeting or registering, as certification fees are subject to change.
The CISSP credential is most commonly pursued by information security professionals. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for information security analysts was $124,910. This figure represents the occupational median and does not constitute a guaranteed salary, raise, or income increase resulting from certification. Candidates should refer to ISC²'s official website for complete information regarding eligibility requirements, renewal fees, and ongoing maintenance costs associated with the credential.
Related pay (occupation median). The U.S. BLS reports a median annual wage of $124,910 (typically $69,660–$186,420 from the 10th to the 90th percentile) for Information Security Analysts, the occupation this certification most often targets. That is the occupation’s pay, not a guaranteed lift from the certificate — actual pay depends on role, employer, location and experience. Source: BLS OEWS national file.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Certification | CISSP |
| Issuing body | ISC2 |
| Base exam fee | $749 |
| Fee notes | exam registration |
| Prerequisites | 5 yrs cumulative paid experience in 2+ domains |
| Validity / renewal | 3 years (CPE) |
What this fee does and doesn’t include
The figure here is the official-body exam fee for a single attempt. It does not include third-party training, prep courses, study materials, or retake fees — those are separate and vary by provider. Membership-tiered bodies may offer a lower member rate (noted above). Confirm the live fee on the issuer’s registration page before budgeting.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the CISSP exam?
Does this include a prep course?
Exam fee compiled from issuer’s registration page →, verified June 2026. How we compile this. Confirm the current fee before you pay — bodies re-price periodically.
Prerequisites & how to register → · Prep guide → · Compare IT, cloud & cybersecurity certs →