Think about a digital space that’s more secure, transparent and ethical. One with enhanced consumer confidence that’s open for business growth. We think it’s possible—with IT professionals, like you, helping to lead the way. We’re ISACA. And we’re in pursuit of digital trust.
Validate your experience and know-how in IT audit, security and control. Boost your career and salary potential.
ISACA's Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT) certification is framework agnostic and the only IT governance certification for the individual.
Propel your career to senior management roles. Contribute to your enterprise from a strategic standpoint.
Advance your expertise in data privacy. Drive organizational trust by implementing robust privacy solutions.
The updated CRISC exam content outline is based on the latest work practices and knowledge to keep certification holders ahead of the game
The COBIT framework reflects current governance and management practices, enabling professionals to effectively manage, control, and align IT with overall business goals
Originally established in 1969, the acronym ISACA stood for the Information Systems Audit and Control Association. However, as the organization expanded to cover cloud security, cybersecurity, AI governance, and data privacy, the old name became too narrow. Today, the association has officially dropped the long-form name and is known simply as ISACA (pronounced eye-sah-kah).
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ISACA is Erik Prusch. Appointed to lead the global association in 2023, he brings extensive enterprise leadership and financial management background to guide the organization’s strategic expansion in digital trust.
ISACA does not offer just a single certificate. Instead, they administer a respected portfolio of specialized global credentials designed to validate expertise in different sectors of enterprise technology. These certifications include the CISA (auditing), CISM (security management), CRISC (risk assessment), CGEIT (enterprise governance), and CDPSE (privacy engineering).
The difference is the relationship between the organization and its product:
ISACA is the parent non-profit professional association that publishes frameworks, hosts global chapters, and issues credentials.
CISA is a specific professional certification offered and managed by ISACA.
You join ISACA as a professional member, but you earn a CISA to prove your individual competency in auditing IT systems.
To officially hold the CISA credential, passing the exam is only the first milestone. You must satisfy the following eligibility requirements:
Pass the CISA exam.
Submit proof of work experience: You must verify a minimum of five (5) years of professional experience in information systems auditing, control, or security.
Apply for waivers: You can substitute up to 3 years of this work requirement with university degrees or related IT certifications (e.g., a 4-year degree can substitute for 2 years of work experience).
No. CISA is not a job, it is a professional certification. Furthermore, because of its strict 5-year professional experience prerequisite, it is firmly considered a mid-to-senior-level credential rather than an entry-level one. While students can take the exam, they cannot use the CISA title until their work experience is fully verified.
Yes, the CISA exam is widely regarded as quite challenging. It features 150 scenario-based questions that test your practical application of auditing principles. The difficulty lies in the fact that questions are written strictly from an auditor’s perspective—often listing multiple answers that are technically correct, forcing you to identify the “best” or “most appropriate” first action according to ISACA standards.
No, it does not permanently expire as long as you maintain it. However, it runs on a strict 3-year renewal cycle. To keep your certification active, you must:
Complete and report a minimum of 120 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) hours over each 3-year cycle (with at least 20 hours completed annually).
Pay the annual ISACA certification maintenance fee. If you fail to meet these requirements, your credential will be revoked, and you will have to sit for the exam again.
Whether CISA is harder than CISM depends entirely on your professional background:
CISA is often harder for pure IT/technical staff because it requires a highly specific, compliance-driven “auditor mindset.” It focuses heavily on verifying controls, reporting, and looking back at system configurations.
CISM is often harder for hands-on technologists who struggle with high-level corporate strategy. CISM focuses on forward-looking risk mitigation, security program design, budgeting, and aligning security with business goals.
Navigating the landscape of IT audit, governance, and security requires more than just technical acumen, it demands a verified commitment to the highest professional standards. Earning an ISACA certification like the CISA, CISM, or CRISC is not merely about passing a difficult exam; it is a strategic investment in your long-term career trajectory. By aligning your hands-on technical skills with these globally respected, industry-standard frameworks, you transition from a functional specialist to a trusted enterprise advisor. In a world where corporate survival hinges on building and maintaining “digital trust,” holding an active ISACA credential ensures you remain at the forefront of the industry, ready to lead organizations toward a more secure, ethical, and resilient digital future.
Originally established in 1969, the acronym ISACA stood for the Information Systems Audit and Control Association. However, as technology evolved to encompass cloud computing, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence, the old name became too narrow. Today, the association has officially dropped the long-form name and is globally known simply as ISACA (pronounced eye-sah-kah) to reflect its focus on overall digital trust.
The difference comes down to the organization versus the product:
ISACA is the parent non-profit professional association that publishes frameworks, hosts global chapters, and issues credentials.
CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor) is a specific, highly coveted professional certification offered and managed by ISACA.
ISACA offers a respected portfolio of specialized global credentials. The most popular certifications include:
CISA: Focused on IT auditing, assurance, and control systems.
CISM: Focused on strategic security program management and leadership.
CRISC: Focused on operational risk assessment and enterprise control.
CGEIT: Focused on aligning enterprise IT governance with corporate goals.
CDPSE: Focused on technical data privacy by design.
For major exams like the CISA, CISM, CRISC, and CGEIT, the registration costs depend on whether you are a member:
ISACA Members: Approximately $575 USD.
Non-Members: Approximately $760 USD. Because becoming an ISACA member costs roughly $135 USD (plus local chapter dues), it is almost always cheaper to purchase a membership first and then register for the exam at the discounted member rate.
Most core ISACA certifications are designed for mid-to-senior-level professionals and require verified, hands-on work experience:
CISA and CISM: Require 5 years of professional experience in their respective domains.
CRISC: Requires 3 years of experience across at least two CRISC domains.
CGEIT: Requires 5 years of experience in IT governance roles.
Note: ISACA allows you to apply for academic or credential waivers to satisfy 1 to 3 years of these requirements.
Yes. You can register for and take any ISACA exam even if you have zero years of experience. If you pass, you will receive a “passed” exam status. You then have a 5-year window from your exam date to gain the required professional experience and formally apply for your certification badge.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ISACA is Erik Prusch. Appointed to lead the global association in 2023, he brings extensive enterprise technology, SaaS, and financial leadership experience to guide the organization’s strategic vision.
The difficulty is subjective and depends entirely on your professional focus:
CISA is often harder for purely technical IT staff because it requires a highly specific, compliance-driven “auditor mindset” that focuses on verifying historical controls and looking backward.
CISM is often harder for hands-on technical professionals who struggle with business strategy. It tests forward-looking concepts like incident management, security program budgeting, and aligning security with business goals.
ISACA uses a scaled scoring system ranging from 200 to 800 points. To pass any of their major certification exams (including CISA, CISM, and CRISC), you must achieve a minimum scaled score of 450.
Yes. Candidates have two options when scheduling their exams through ISACA’s testing partner, PSI:
In-Person Testing: At an authorized physical PSI testing center.
Online Remote Proctoring: Taken from your home or office using a webcam, a stable internet connection, and a locked-down browser environment.
No certification permanently expires as long as you maintain it active, but they do require continuous upkeep. To keep your status active, you must comply with ISACA’s Continuing Professional Education (CPE) policy:
Earn and report a minimum of 120 CPE hours over a rolling 3-year cycle (with at least 20 CPEs completed and reported annually).
Pay the annual certification maintenance fee to ISACA.
No. Neither CISA nor CISM are entry-level. Because of the rigorous 5-year professional experience requirements, they are firmly positioned as mid-to-senior level credentials aimed at professionals looking to step into management, leadership, or specialized lead auditor roles.
To address the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence landscape, ISACA has introduced highly relevant certifications:
Advanced in AI Audit (AAIA): Designed to empower IT auditors to confidently assess AI risks, evaluate machine learning models, and ensure compliance.
Advanced in AI Security Management (AAISM): Tailored for CISM and CISSP holders to address AI-specific threat vectors and integrate AI securely into security operations.
COBIT (Control Objectives for Information and Related Technology) is a globally accepted product and methodology framework designed by ISACA. Unlike CISA or CISM, COBIT is not a personal professional credential; rather, it is an enterprise methodology that helps organizations structure, align, and control their entire IT governance system to match overarching business goals.
If you fail to submit your mandatory annual CPE hours or miss the deadline for the maintenance fee, your certification will be officially revoked. Once revoked, you cannot use the credential title. To regain your active status, you cannot simply pay a late fee, you must re-register, pay full fees, and retake the difficult exam from scratch.
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