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 Albany24%5 of 21 postings
- Information Security Analyst in Buffalo24%5 of 21 postings
- Information Security Analyst in New York16%7 of 44 postings
- Computer Network Architect (national)8%2 of 24 postings
- Information Security Analyst in Seattle8%2 of 26 postings
- Information Security Analyst (national)7%15 of 221 postings
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator in Albany6%1 of 18 postings
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator in Buffalo6%1 of 18 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.
- Information Security Analyst in Fresno5%2 of 42 postings
- Information Security Analyst in Los Angeles5%2 of 42 postings
- Information Security Analyst in Sacramento5%2 of 42 postings
- Information Security Analyst in San Diego5%2 of 42 postings
- Information Security Analyst in San Jose5%2 of 42 postings
- Accountant or Auditor (national)4%1 of 28 postings
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator in New York4%1 of 28 postings
- Information Security Analyst in San Francisco3%3 of 87 postings
- Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing in Fresno2%1 of 44 postings
- Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing in Sacramento2%1 of 44 postings
- Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing in San Jose2%1 of 44 postings
- Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing in San Diego2%1 of 45 postings
- Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing in Los Angeles2%1 of 47 postings
- Compliance Officer (national)2%1 of 49 postings
- Database Architect in San Francisco1%1 of 81 postings
- Computer and Information Systems Manager (national)1%4 of 342 postings
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator (national)1%2 of 181 postings
- Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing in San Francisco1%1 of 102 postings
- Database Architect (national)1%1 of 192 postings
- Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing (national)0%1 of 313 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 →