CISA Exam Overview
The Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) exam, offered by ISACA, is a globally recognized certification for IS audit, control, and assurance professionals. Key details include:
- Tests knowledge and skills required for IT auditing, control, and security professionals
- Recognized as a standard of achievement for professionals in the field
- Exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions covering 5 job practice domains
- 4 hours to complete the exam
- Exam available via computer-based testing at PSI locations worldwide or online proctored
Exam Dates and Registration
- Exam offered during 3 testing windows each year: May 1-June 30, August 1-September 30, November 1-December 31
- Registration typically opens 2-3 months before each testing window
- Exam fees: $575 for ISACA members, $760 for non-members
Eligibility Requirements
To earn the CISA certification, candidates must:
- Pass the CISA exam
- Adhere to the ISACA Code of Professional Ethics
- Agree to comply with the CISA Continuing Education Policy
- Submit verified evidence of a minimum of 5 years of professional IS audit, control, assurance or security work experience
Substitutions and waivers of experience may be obtained through:
- A maximum of 1 year of information systems experience OR 1 year of non-IS auditing experience can be substituted for 1 year of the experience requirement
- 60 to 120 completed university semester credit hours (the equivalent of a 2- to 4-year degree) can be substituted for 1 or 2 years of the experience requirement
- A master’s degree in information security or IT from an accredited university can be substituted for 1 year of the experience requirement
- 2 years as a full-time university instructor in a related field can be substituted for 1 year of the experience requirement
Exam Content Outline
The CISA exam covers 5 domains:
- Information System Auditing Process (21%)
- Governance and Management of IT (17%)
- Information Systems Acquisition, Development and Implementation (12%)
- Information Systems Operations and Business Resilience (23%)
- Protection of Information Assets (27%)
A detailed content outline is available on the ISACA website.