The Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) certification is a globally recognized qualification that emphasizes information system auditing, control, and security. It offers significant benefits today, including professional recognition and competitive salary packages. However, to achieve this certification, you must satisfy specific CISA standards.
With the CISA certification, you gain a competitive advantage in the job market and stand out among your peers. Therefore, utilize this guide I have prepared to familiarize yourself with the CISA certification requirements. By understanding and meeting these prerequisites, you can pave the way towards becoming a certified professional and boosting your career prospects.
What Is a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)?
The Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) certification is the most widely recognized recognition for information systems audit control, security, and protection professionals. With the best CISA exam prep, you can crack this certification and give yourself an edge in information systems.
CISA offers several benefits. Some of them include:
- A competitive edge in the labor market and employment development.
- Increased individual worth inside the organization.
- Increased workplace credibility. This is due to passing the test and being recognized for job and educational experience.
- Assistance in reaching high professional standards by ISACA regulations and the Continuing Professional Education program.
CISA Requirements
You must meet certain CISA eligibility to become a CISA-certified professional. Typical criteria include the following:
- Education: A bachelor's degree from an authorized university is required. The degree may be in any subject. However, it is typically in information systems, accounting, or business.
- Work Experience: For CISA certification eligibility, you must have at least five years of professional experience in information systems auditing, control, or assurance. This condition, however, has several exclusions and variances.
- Pass the CISA Exam: You must pass the CISA exam, which comprises multiple-choice questions and is meant to assess your knowledge. I recommend you get help from Cybersecurity training online, which will boost your abilities in information systems auditing, control, assurance, and security.
- Continuing Professional Education (CPE): After getting your CISA certification, you must maintain professional growth by completing CPE credits. This is a continuous need for CISA certification maintenance, and you must accrue a specified amount of CPE credits over a certain period.
CISA Certification Exam Prerequisites
Apart from CISA qualifications, there are other requirements that you need to fulfill. For CISA prerequisites, you must pass the CISA test to get the CISA certification. Previously, this exam was a pencil-and-paper exam given three times a year. However, thanks to online proctoring, the test is now accessible at any time.
Furthermore, anybody paying the registration costs can take the test. Once registered, you have 365 days to take and pass the test. If you need to change your test date after enrolling, ensure you can reschedule the CISA exam.
1. CISA Exam Content
The CISA test includes five domains, which are as follows:
- Information Systems Auditing Process
- IT Governance and Management
- Information System Acquisition, Development, and Implementation
- Information System Operations and Business Resilience
- Information Asset Protection
2. CISA Exam Format and Languages
The CISA test is usually computer-based and contains multiple-choice questions. It is provided in various languages to suit applicants from all over the globe. Some languages used are English, Spanish, and Chinese (Simplified). Specific languages and test specifics may change, so check the ISACA website for the most up-to-date information.
CISA Experience Requirement
You must have at least five years of professional job experience in information systems auditing, control, or assurance to come under CISA course eligibility. This experience must have occurred within the 10 years preceding your certification application.
If you already have IS experience on your resume, you're a step ahead of the game. The CISA test will likely be less of a challenge for you as well.
a. CISA Work Experience Waiver
ISACA permits applicants to replace up to 3 years of the CISA work experience requirement's 5 years with the following substitutes to assist them in achieving the CISA work experience criteria:
- One year of experience for a maximum of one year of information systems experience.
- One year of experience for a maximum of one year of non-IS auditing experience.
- One year of experience for two years as a full-time university teacher in a comparable discipline.
b. CISA Experience Verification Form
The last step in achieving the CISA exam requirements is to complete the CISA experience verification form. ISACA demands an independent verification of your work experience from a supervisor or management with whom you have worked. Your verifier cannot be a direct or extended family member, nor may they work in HR.
CISA Certification Application
The application procedure is usually conducted online through the ISACA website. After passing the CISA test and completing the work experience criteria, all that remains is to complete and submit the CISA application for certification.
As I mentioned, you must send in your CISA application within 5 years of taking the CISA test. At this point, you must also pay the $50 application processing fee. Please note that this is a one-time, non-refundable charge.
CISA Certification Maintenance Requirements
Getting a CISA certification requires lots of effort and years of learning. Also, this certification gives you a competitive edge over your fellow participants as your skills are more authorized and recognized. So, you must continue maintaining it. After all, losing such a prestigious certificate makes no sense by simply failing to comply with its maintenance requirements.
1. CISA Certification Professional Conduct Requirements
This contains stringent professional behaviour standards by which qualified professionals must abide. The ISACA Code of Professional Ethics outlines these obligations, which include the following essential principles:
- Integrity: In all professional actions, CISA-certified professionals must maintain high standards of honesty and integrity.
- Objectivity: CISA-certified professionals should deliver objective and unbiased evaluations and suggestions.
- Confidentiality: CISA-certified personnel are entrusted with sensitive information about organizations' systems, procedures, and data.
2. CISA CPE Requirements
ISACA requires CISA certification holders to satisfy continuing professional education (CPE) criteria yearly, as do many other professional accounting certification administrators. According to ISACA, the CPE program's objectives are as follows:
- Maintaining CISA holders' competence by forcing them to refresh their knowledge and abilities in information systems auditing, control, and security.
- Differentiating competent CISAs from those who have not made the necessary efforts to maintain their certification
- Providing a mechanism to monitor information system audit, control, and security experts' competence maintenance
- Offering staff selection and development criteria to aid top management in creating effective information system audit, control, and security functions.
Furthermore, ISACA thinks that effectively adhering to the CPE policy better prepares CISA degree holders to analyze information systems and technology and deliver leadership and value to the businesses for which they work.
a. CISA CPE Hours
As a result, to meet these objectives, ISACA has established the CISA CPE requirement of a minimum of 20 contact hours of CPE each year. The CPE hours you obtain must assist you in maintaining or enhancing your knowledge or skills to perform CISA-related responsibilities.
Furthermore, you may use the same CPE hours to complete the CPE criteria of more than one ISACA certification, provided those CPE hours develop job-related knowledge for each certification.
The yearly reporting period for CPE begins on January 1st of each year. When you submit your CPE, you must also pay the yearly CPE maintenance costs to ISACA's worldwide headquarters. The yearly ISACA CPE maintenance charge is $45 for members and $85 for non-members.
b. ISACA CPE Guidelines
ISACA has certain standards that professionals must follow to be eligible for CISA certification prerequisites, keep their certification, and remain current in the sector. ISACA worldwide headquarters will issue you a confirmation letter if you submit the appropriate CPE hours and pay the yearly maintenance costs on time. The amount of CPE hours will be revealed in this mail.
- ISACA has approved the yearly reporting period.
- Recorded thus far in your 3-year certification term.
- Necessary to qualify for the set 3-year certification term.
3. Qualifying CISA CPE Courses
ISACA specifies specified requirements for activities that qualify as CPE courses for CISA certification holders. These actions should be related to information systems, auditing, control, security, or management.
The following are the main facts for qualifying CPE courses for CISA certification holders:
- ISACA activities and meetings: Conferences, chapter programs, workshops, seminars, and associated activities are examples of ISACA Professional Education Activities and Meetings. CPE credits are awarded depending on the number of hours actively engaged, with a minimum of one hour earned.
- Non-ISACA Professional Education Activities and Meetings: This includes non-ISACA-sponsored in-house corporate training, conferences, university courses, workshops, seminars, and professional gatherings.
- Certification Review Courses: CPE credits may be awarded for courses that improve IS audit, control, security, or audit-related management knowledge or abilities. The amount of CPE hours equals the number of active participation hours.
- Self-Study Courses: Structured self-study courses that grant CPE credits must include a certificate of completion along with the CPE hours achieved.
- ISACA Journal Quiz: A passing score on an ISACA Journal quiz entitles you to 1 CPE hour for each quiz.
- ISACA-Sponsored Online eLearning Presentation Events: ISACA-sponsored virtual trade exhibitions, webinars, and similar events may be used to earn CPE credits depending on the number of hours of active participation.
4. Calculating CPE Credits
ISACA normally provides 1 CPE hour for every 50 minutes of active participation in eligible professional educational events and meetings for calculating CPE credits. Credits may also be earned in 15-minute increments rounded to the closest quarter-hour.
Requirements for Non-Practicing CISAs
Another factor for CISA eligibility requirements is for non-practicing CISAs. To maintain your position as a non-practicing CISA, you must continue to pay the yearly maintenance fees. You do not, however, must satisfy the CPE requirements.
You need to go off the grid for at least a year before you can keep this status, but once you do, you can keep it forever. Your non-practicing status will take effect on January 1st of the year for which you are seeking the change.
If you want to return to active status after being out of practice for less than two years, you must provide supporting proof for 20 CPE credits obtained in the previous calendar year.
CISA Exam Preparation and Study Tips
Now that I have explained the CISA certification eligibility criteria, you must focus on preparation tips. There are several things you may do to enhance your study process.
- Make a Study Schedule: Make and stick to a study regimen. Depending on your knowledge of auditing and IT security and how much time you can invest, you might be ready to take the test in three to six months.
- Analyze Your Existing Knowledge: Because the exam is about more than simply remembering information, you'll need a reliable technique to test yourself and ensure you know enough about the main topics to pass any questions.
- Find a CISA Test Preparation Course: Participate in a CISA review course such as KnowledgeHut's best CISA prep course that comes with a certified trainer, depending on your schedule, and will help you plan your studies effectively.
Conclusion
So, now that I have explained the Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) requirements, what are your thoughts? Is it worth becoming certified? Ultimately, the decision lies in your hands. While the certification is undeniably valuable, it's essential to determine if it aligns with your career aspirations.
If your goal is to excel as a system auditor, I strongly recommend pursuing the CISA certification. Delve deeper into the CISA certification requirements, understand the core concepts, and consider enrolling in an online training course to gain practical insights and enhance your expertise. Making an informed decision now can pave the way for a rewarding career in the future.
