What is Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)? Definition from SearchSecurity (2023)

FAQs

What is the meaning of CISA? ›

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA ) leads the national effort to understand, manage, and reduce risk to our cyber and physical infrastructure.

Certified information systems auditors are a foundational piece in successful IT departments. These IT professionals perform audits of technology governance structures, data application controls, data integrity, and system security.

The candidate's raw score is converted onto a scale of 200-800, with 450 being the passing score. Each question on the exam is weighted evenly. Questions must be answered correctly to receive credit, and there are no score deductions for incorrect answers. How much does the CISA Exam cost?

Most readers tend to agree: the syllabus and exam content isn't particularly tough. After all, it is a one-part exam with only 150 questions. Compared to other exams in the niche, it is lighter. That said, it requires basic knowledge on a wide variety of topics, versus specific knowledge in a more narrowed focus.

The CISA exam lasts four hours and consists of 150 multiple-choice questions.

The exam requires a $50 application fee. Once your application is accepted, there is a fee to sit the actual Exam. For ISACA members, this fee is $465. And for non-members, the fee is $595.

You can be ready to sit for the exam in three to six months, depending on your familiarity with auditing and IT security, as well as how much time you can devote. Are you a night owl or an early bird? Study at times when your brain can effectively and efficiently process and absorb information.

You're probably curious about the CISA pass rate and your chances of passing on the first go. Regardless, the ISACA does not release the exact figures on the CISA pass rates. Still, most experts claim that the pass rate is somewhere between 45% and 60%.

Most applicants with a technology background confront challenges in understanding governance and auditing topics, and they are prone to think technically. This can be a prime reason why many applicants fail in the CISA exam.

What happens if you fail CISA exam? ›

Individuals have 4 attempts within a rolling twelve-month period to pass the exam. Those that do not pass on their first attempt are allowed to retake the exam a total of 3 more times within 12 months from the date of the first attempt.

Self-Preparation

You can refer to customizable, interactive sample exams that are designed from a database of 1,000+ CISA Review questions. For gaining more detailed knowledge, you can also refer to the books provided by CISA including the CISA Review Manual book by ISACA and the CISA Planning Guide.

To qualify for CISA, you must have 5 years of information systems auditing, control, assurance or security work experience within the past 10 years of the application submission date. This experience must be in at least one CISA Job Practice Domain Area, available to view on page V-2.

Individuals can take an exam four times in a rolling year (the initial attempt and three retakes - the 365 rolling calendar date is from the date of the first exam attempt). Please note: Individuals retaking an exam are required to purchase a new exam registration for each exam attempt.

So, is the CISA certification worth pursuing? If you are a junior or mid-level IT auditor, then it most certainly is. Similarly, if you are an internal auditor, IT consultant, project manager, or any cybersecurity professional then this certification is definitely worth pursuing.

Demonstrate the Required Minimum Work Experience: A minimum of 5-years of professional information systems auditing, control or security work experience - as described in the CISA job practice areas - is required for certification.

To maintain your CISA, you must earn and report a minimum of 120 CPE hours every 3-year reporting cycle and at least 20 hours annually. CPE reporting is due by the end of each calendar year and is required to renew through the following year.

CPA and CISA Differences

While CPAs learn auditing techniques, auditing is not a primary or exclusive function of the credential, and not all CPAs are auditors. In contrast, CISAs are highly skilled auditors trained to assess policies, processes and technology systems. Also, CPAs focus on financial numbers.

Register now for a CISA, CRISC, CISM or CGEIT certification exam and you can now choose to schedule and take your exam from the comfort and safety of your home, or anywhere, at a date and time that is convenient! ! If your testing center remains open, you are welcome to take your exam in person if you prefer.

How do I clear my CISA certification? ›

The CISA exam is a one-part exam with 150 multiple-choice questions (reduced from 200 questions) that come from five domain categories.

The CISA Exam consists of five parts with 200 multiple choice questions, with one correct answer per question.

To qualify for the CISA certification, you must complete at least five years of work experience in a job related to IT auditing, control or security. You may complete this work requirement before or after the exam. You may also take the exam while part of the way through your work experience.

CISA program is accredited by ANSI and is recognised on a state level in many countries worldwide.

The CISA is by no means easy, however, it is generally considered less demanding than the CISSP. The CISA covers the following five domains: Information System Auditing and Processing. Governance and Management of IT.

The CISSP is generally considered the more difficult certification to get out of the two. CISSP is more about the technicalities, so it is more challenging than CISA.

A very good source for practice questions, I rate it 9/10. The exam was similar to the QAE, and I believe the difficulty was moderate - nothing too crazy, few curveballs here & there, and of course some bad worded questions are there.

You can see both paths have many similarities, the greatest difference is their focus. If you seek a job as an IT auditor – the CISA is a must. For most jobs in the cybersecurity field, the CISSP is your best bet first, then add the CISA to enhance future opportunities.

CISA proves your team has the technical skills and knowledge it takes to assess, build and implement a comprehensive privacy solution while enhancing business value, customer insights and trust—ultimately improving your organization's image.

How many domains are there in CISA? ›

The CISA exam consists of 150 questions covering 5 job practice domains and tests your understanding of the knowledge and practical abilities an expert professional brings to the real-life job practice as it relates to information systems.

Official CISA results will be mailed to you approximately 5 weeks after the exam. If you opt-in for email notification during registration, an email indicating a pass/fail will be sent to you. The scores will also be available in your profile at the My ISACA > My Certifications page of the ISACA website.

The official CISM exam has 150 questions.

The exam itself has 150 questions from five domains and must be completed in less than four hours. Candidates are also required to provide proof of at least five years of experience in IS audit, control, assurance or security. While challenging, you can achieve CISA certification with the right preparation and effort.

Employees who graduate from Cisa Isaca earn an average of ₹31lakhs, mostly ranging from ₹13lakhs per year to ₹50lakhs per year based on 64 profiles. The top 10% of employees earn more than ₹50lakhs per year.

As data-driven and IT industries are growing, those having experience in CISA can get a job in financial institutes. With this certification, you can work in both audit and non-audit capacities including IT risk management, IT compliance, and control analysis.

The certification process might be demanding for you but, the ultimate benefits of CISA certification to you as an accountant will make you forget all the hassle you went through within a very short time- yes!!

The globally-recognized Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) certification shows knowledge of IT and auditing, security, governance, control and assurance to assess potential threats. As you can imagine, it's very much in demand.

To schedule your exam please log-in to your ISACA profile at www.isaca.org/MyISACA and click on the “Certifications & CPE Management” tab. Scroll down until you find the exam that you registered for. 4. Select Schedule Exam.

Maintaining/renewing your certification has two requirements: Pay the annual maintenance fee ($45 for members or $85 for non-members) Earn/report the minimum annual/3-year requirement of CPE hours.

Can you retake CISM exam? ›

If you need to take the exam more than once, your subsequent attempts must follow the schedule below: Retake 1: You must wait 30 days after the first attempt. Retake 2: You must wait 90 days after the date of the second attempt. Retake 3: You must wait 90 days after the date of the third attempt.

CISA enables you to be recognized, not only domestically, but at an international level, as a professional with knowledge, skills, and the credibility to offer opinions and solutions, and to audit all areas related to information systems.

The CISA Application for Certification is available at www.isaca.org/cisaapp. Note that candidates have 5 years from the passing date to apply for certification. Members of ISACA and/or holders of the CISA designation agree to a Code of Professional Ethics to guide professional and personal conduct.

CISA has more value than DISA as it is internationally recognized, although the toughness high according to the standard. CIA is a world-renowned course for the certification in Internal Audit issued by IIA (Institute of Internal Auditors).

How much does obtaining a CISA certification cost? Exam fees are based on membership standing at the time of exam registration. ISACA members pay $575.00, while nonmembers pay $760.00.

To qualify for CISA, you must have 5 years of information systems auditing, control, assurance or security work experience within the past 10 years of the application submission date. This experience must be in at least one CISA Job Practice Domain Area, available to view on page V-2.

CISA certification enjoys a stellar reputation within the IT community and will make you stand out from the rest of the pack. The level of commitment required to obtain and maintain CISA certification is highly respected. It shows you have the ambition and intelligence required of most leadership roles.

You can be ready to sit for the exam in three to six months, depending on your familiarity with auditing and IT security, as well as how much time you can devote.

Demonstrate the Required Minimum Work Experience: A minimum of 5-years of professional information systems auditing, control or security work experience - as described in the CISA job practice areas - is required for certification.

Does CISA certification expire? ›

To maintain your CISA, you must earn and report a minimum of 120 CPE hours every 3-year reporting cycle and at least 20 hours annually. CPE reporting is due by the end of each calendar year and is required to renew through the following year.

As data-driven and IT industries are growing, those having experience in CISA can get a job in financial institutes. With this certification, you can work in both audit and non-audit capacities including IT risk management, IT compliance, and control analysis.

The certification process might be demanding for you but, the ultimate benefits of CISA certification to you as an accountant will make you forget all the hassle you went through within a very short time- yes!!

The globally-recognized Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) certification shows knowledge of IT and auditing, security, governance, control and assurance to assess potential threats. As you can imagine, it's very much in demand.

Individuals can take an exam four times in a rolling year (the initial attempt and three retakes - the 365 rolling calendar date is from the date of the first exam attempt). Please note: Individuals retaking an exam are required to purchase a new exam registration for each exam attempt.

How long is the CISA certification good for? A full CISA renewal cycle takes three years. This means paying the maintenance fee three times (once every year), and also reporting on CPEs earning every year.

CISA enables you to be recognized, not only domestically, but at an international level, as a professional with knowledge, skills, and the credibility to offer opinions and solutions, and to audit all areas related to information systems.

Register now for a CISA, CRISC, CISM or CGEIT certification exam and you can now choose to schedule and take your exam from the comfort and safety of your home, or anywhere, at a date and time that is convenient! ! If your testing center remains open, you are welcome to take your exam in person if you prefer.

The CISA Exam consists of five parts with 200 multiple choice questions, with one correct answer per question.