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Pick up to 3 certifications and compare them side-by-side on cost, exam format, recertification, salary signal, quality, and domain coverage.
ISACA · expert
AAIAAdvanced in AI Audit
ISACA specialization for AI Audit. First certification worldwide specifically for auditing AI systems. Requires active CISA (or comparable audit certification). Three domains: AI Governance & Risk, AI Operations, AI Auditing.
Official pageISACA · professional
CISACertified Information Systems Auditor
IS audit, governance, control testing, and assurance.
Official pageComparing
ISACAAAIA
ISACACISA
› Cost
Exam fee
AAIA$399
CISA$760
Exam fee
$399
$760
Annual maintenance fee
AAIA$45/yr
CISA$45/yr
Annual maintenance fee
$45/yr
$45/yr
3-year cost of ownership
AAIA$534
CISA$895
3-year cost of ownership
$534
$895
› Exam mechanics
Pass mark
AAIA450/800 (scaled)
CISA450/800 (scaled)
Pass mark
450/800 (scaled)
450/800 (scaled)
Retake policy
AAIA$575 fee · 30d wait · 4/yr cap
CISA$575 fee · 30d wait · 4/yr cap
Retake policy
$575 fee · 30d wait · 4/yr cap
$575 fee · 30d wait · 4/yr cap
Study time
AAIA60–120 hrs
CISA120–250 hrs
Study time
60–120 hrs
120–250 hrs
Validity
AAIA3 yrs
CISA3 yrs
Validity
3 yrs
3 yrs
CPE / yr
AAIA20 CPEs
CISA40 CPEs
CPE / yr
20 CPEs
40 CPEs
Delivery
AAIAtest center
CISAtest center
Delivery
test center
test center
› Salary signal (US base)
Range
AAIA$130K – $195K
CISA$100K – $150K
Range
$130K – $195K
$100K – $150K
Median
AAIA$160,000
CISA$122,000
Median
$160,000
$122,000
Premium %
AAIA—
CISA+9%
Premium %
—
+9%
Role context
AAIAAI auditor / model assurance, US, 5+ years. Requires CISA prerequisite.
CISAIT Auditor / SOX auditor / IS audit manager, US, 5+ years.
Role context
AI auditor / model assurance, US, 5+ years. Requires CISA prerequisite.
IT Auditor / SOX auditor / IS audit manager, US, 5+ years.
› Quality (4-axis rubric · 0–10)
Schema quality
AAIA7.5
CISA9.0
Schema quality
7.5
9.0
Practice evidence
AAIA1.0
CISA2.0
Practice evidence
1.0
2.0
Maintenance
AAIA8.0
CISA8.5
Maintenance
8.0
8.5
Market recognition
AAIA4.5
CISA9.0
Market recognition
4.5
9.0
Average
AAIA5.3
CISA7.1
Average
5.3
7.1
› Recognition & lifecycle
Recognition
AAIAGlobal
CISAGlobal · US · EU · UK · DACH
Recognition
Global
Global · US · EU · UK · DACH
ISO 17024 accredited
AAIA—
CISA✓
ISO 17024 accredited
—
✓
DoD 8140 baseline
AAIA—
CISA✓
DoD 8140 baseline
—
✓
Holders worldwide
AAIA2,000
CISA165,000
Holders worldwide
2,000
165,000
Current version
AAIALaunched 2024 (2024-09)
CISA2024 job-practice analysis (2024-06)
Current version
Launched 2024 (2024-09)
2024 job-practice analysis (2024-06)
› Domain coverage
A1Governance, Risk & Compliance
AAIA● core
CISA● core
A1Governance, Risk & Compliance
● core
● core
A12Data Security, Privacy & Protection
AAIA·
CISA○ touched
A12Data Security, Privacy & Protection
·
○ touched
A13Supply Chain Security
AAIA·
CISA○ touched
A13Supply Chain Security
·
○ touched
A18Security Leadership
AAIA·
CISA○ touched
A18Security Leadership
·
○ touched
C7AI Governance & Risk
AAIA● core
CISA·
C7AI Governance & Risk
● core
·
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