› Certifications · compare
Compare certifications
Pick up to 3 certifications and compare them side-by-side on cost, exam format, recertification, salary signal, quality, and domain coverage.
ISC2 · expert
ISSAPInformation Systems Security Architecture Professional
ISC2 specialization for security architecture. Requires an active CISSP. Focus on GRC, Security Architecture Modeling, Infrastructure Security, and IAM architecture. For senior security architects in enterprise environments.
Official pageISC2 · expert
ISSEPInformation Systems Security Engineering Professional
ISC2 specialization for security engineering, developed in cooperation with NSA. Focus on Systems Security Engineering, Risk Management, and Security Planning. Particularly relevant in US Government/Defense context.
Official pageComparing
ISC2ISSAP
ISC2ISSEP
› Cost
Exam fee
ISSAP$599
ISSEP$599
Exam fee
$599
$599
Annual maintenance fee
ISSAP$125/yr
ISSEP$125/yr
Annual maintenance fee
$125/yr
$125/yr
3-year cost of ownership
ISSAP$974
ISSEP$974
3-year cost of ownership
$974
$974
› Exam mechanics
Pass mark
ISSAP700/1000 (scaled)
ISSEP700/1000 (scaled)
Pass mark
700/1000 (scaled)
700/1000 (scaled)
Retake policy
ISSAP$599 fee · 30d wait · 4/yr cap
ISSEP$599 fee · 30d wait · 4/yr cap
Retake policy
$599 fee · 30d wait · 4/yr cap
$599 fee · 30d wait · 4/yr cap
Study time
ISSAP150–300 hrs
ISSEP150–300 hrs
Study time
150–300 hrs
150–300 hrs
Validity
ISSAP3 yrs
ISSEP3 yrs
Validity
3 yrs
3 yrs
CPE / yr
ISSAP20 CPEs
ISSEP20 CPEs
CPE / yr
20 CPEs
20 CPEs
Delivery
ISSAPtest center
ISSEPtest center
Delivery
test center
test center
› Salary signal (US base)
Range
ISSAP$145K – $215K
ISSEP$145K – $215K
Range
$145K – $215K
$145K – $215K
Median
ISSAP$170,000
ISSEP$175,000
Median
$170,000
$175,000
Premium %
ISSAP—
ISSEP—
Premium %
—
—
Role context
ISSAPSecurity architect, US, 7+ years. Requires active CISSP.
ISSEPFederal / DoD security systems engineer, US, 7+ years. Requires active CISSP.
Role context
Security architect, US, 7+ years. Requires active CISSP.
Federal / DoD security systems engineer, US, 7+ years. Requires active CISSP.
› Quality (4-axis rubric · 0–10)
Schema quality
ISSAP8.5
ISSEP8.0
Schema quality
8.5
8.0
Practice evidence
ISSAP1.5
ISSEP1.5
Practice evidence
1.5
1.5
Maintenance
ISSAP5.0
ISSEP4.5
Maintenance
5.0
4.5
Market recognition
ISSAP5.5
ISSEP4.5
Market recognition
5.5
4.5
Average
ISSAP5.1
ISSEP4.6
Average
5.1
4.6
› Recognition & lifecycle
Recognition
ISSAPGlobal
ISSEPGlobal
Recognition
Global
Global
ISO 17024 accredited
ISSAP—
ISSEP—
ISO 17024 accredited
—
—
DoD 8140 baseline
ISSAP—
ISSEP✓
DoD 8140 baseline
—
✓
Holders worldwide
ISSAP—
ISSEP1,000
Holders worldwide
—
1,000
Current version
ISSAP2017 CBK (2017-04)
ISSEP2024 CBK refresh (2024-04)
Current version
2017 CBK (2017-04)
2024 CBK refresh (2024-04)
› Domain coverage
A1Governance, Risk & Compliance
ISSAP·
ISSEP● core
A1Governance, Risk & Compliance
·
● core
A15Cryptography
ISSAP● core
ISSEP·
A15Cryptography
● core
·
A18Security Leadership
ISSAP·
ISSEP● core
A18Security Leadership
·
● core
A25Security Architecture & Engineering
ISSAP● core
ISSEP● core
A25Security Architecture & Engineering
● core
● core
A3Zero Trust Architecture
ISSAP● core
ISSEP·
A3Zero Trust Architecture
● core
·
A6Identity & Access Management
ISSAP● core
ISSEP·
A6Identity & Access Management
● core
·
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