certification
Certified Information Systems Security Professional
ISC2
$749
exam fee · checked 2026-08
300 hrs
300 hours — about 30 weeks at 10 hrs/wk
3 yr
renewal cycle — this is a recurring cost
Where it is actually asked for
- Information Security Analyst in Washington, DC23%7 of 30 postings
- Information Security Analyst in Austin19%3 of 16 postings
- Information Security Analyst in Albany16%4 of 25 postings
- Information Security Analyst in Buffalo16%4 of 25 postings
- Information Security Analyst in New York14%8 of 56 postings
- Computer and Information Systems Manager in Austin12%2 of 17 postings
- Information Security Analyst (national)10%40 of 400 postings
- Compliance Officer in San Francisco7%1 of 15 postings
- Computer and Information Systems Manager in Dallas–Fort Worth6%1 of 16 postings
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator in Albany5%1 of 20 postings
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator in Buffalo5%1 of 20 postings
Where it barely came up
It appeared in these samples, but rarely. If one of these is the job you want, this credential is probably not the thing standing between you and it.
- Computer Network Architect (national)5%8 of 161 postings
- Computer Systems Analyst (national)5%5 of 105 postings
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator in Washington, DC4%1 of 24 postings
- Information Security Analyst in Fresno4%3 of 80 postings
- Information Security Analyst in Sacramento4%3 of 80 postings
- Information Security Analyst in San Diego4%3 of 80 postings
- Information Security Analyst in Los Angeles4%3 of 81 postings
- Information Security Analyst in San Jose4%3 of 82 postings
- Software Developer in Dallas–Fort Worth3%1 of 29 postings
- Software Developer in Houston3%1 of 29 postings
- Software Developer in San Antonio3%1 of 29 postings
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator in New York3%1 of 33 postings
- Information Security Analyst in San Francisco3%4 of 134 postings
- Computer Network Architect in San Francisco3%1 of 36 postings
- Information Security Analyst in Seattle2%1 of 41 postings
- Project Management Specialist in New York2%2 of 82 postings
- Project Management Specialist in Albany2%1 of 44 postings
- Project Management Specialist in Buffalo2%1 of 44 postings
- Software Developer in Austin2%1 of 45 postings
- Computer and Information Systems Manager in Fresno2%2 of 114 postings
- Computer and Information Systems Manager in Sacramento2%2 of 114 postings
- Computer and Information Systems Manager in San Diego2%2 of 114 postings
- Computer and Information Systems Manager in San Jose2%2 of 114 postings
- Computer and Information Systems Manager in Los Angeles2%2 of 115 postings
- Computer and Information Systems Manager in San Francisco1%3 of 204 postings
- Compliance Officer (national)1%1 of 69 postings
- Project Management Specialist in Fresno1%2 of 144 postings
- Project Management Specialist in Sacramento1%2 of 144 postings
- Project Management Specialist in Los Angeles1%2 of 145 postings
- Project Management Specialist in San Diego1%2 of 148 postings
- Project Management Specialist in San Jose1%2 of 149 postings
- Project Management Specialist in San Francisco1%3 of 230 postings
- Computer and Information Systems Manager (national)1%5 of 400 postings
- Project Management Specialist (national)1%5 of 400 postings
- Computer User Support Specialist (national)1%1 of 87 postings
- Database Architect in San Francisco1%1 of 115 postings
- Accountant or Auditor (national)1%1 of 137 postings
- Database Architect (national)1%2 of 330 postings
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator (national)1%2 of 363 postings
- Software Developer (national)1%2 of 400 postings
- General and Operations Manager (national)0%1 of 400 postings
These percentages describe the samples we read, listed above with their sizes and dates. They are not a statement about the whole labour market, and absence from this page means we have no evidence either way — not that the credential is worthless. How we know →