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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
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 pageISC2 · expert
CISSPCertified Information Systems Security Professional
Breadth across security engineering, architecture, operations, and governance at senior-IC / manager level. The default senior-generalist signal.
Official pageComparing
ISC2ISSEP
ISC2CISSP
› Cost
Exam fee
ISSEP$599
CISSP$749
Exam fee
$599
$749
Annual maintenance fee
ISSEP$125/yr
CISSP$135/yr
Annual maintenance fee
$125/yr
$135/yr
3-year cost of ownership
ISSEP$974
CISSP$1,154
3-year cost of ownership
$974
$1,154
› Exam mechanics
Pass mark
ISSEP700/1000 (scaled)
CISSP700/1000 (CAT-derived)
Pass mark
700/1000 (scaled)
700/1000 (CAT-derived)
Retake policy
ISSEP$599 fee · 30d wait · 4/yr cap
CISSP$749 fee · 30d wait · 4/yr cap
Retake policy
$599 fee · 30d wait · 4/yr cap
$749 fee · 30d wait · 4/yr cap
Study time
ISSEP150–300 hrs
CISSP150–300 hrs
Study time
150–300 hrs
150–300 hrs
Validity
ISSEP3 yrs
CISSP3 yrs
Validity
3 yrs
3 yrs
CPE / yr
ISSEP20 CPEs
CISSP40 CPEs
CPE / yr
20 CPEs
40 CPEs
Delivery
ISSEPtest center
CISSPtest center
Delivery
test center
test center
› Salary signal (US base)
Range
ISSEP$145K – $215K
CISSP$130K – $200K
Range
$145K – $215K
$130K – $200K
Median
ISSEP$175,000
CISSP$155,000
Median
$175,000
$155,000
Premium %
ISSEP—
CISSP+12%
Premium %
—
+12%
Role context
ISSEPFederal / DoD security systems engineer, US, 7+ years. Requires active CISSP.
CISSPSenior security engineer / architect, US, 5+ years experience.
Role context
Federal / DoD security systems engineer, US, 7+ years. Requires active CISSP.
Senior security engineer / architect, US, 5+ years experience.
› Quality (4-axis rubric · 0–10)
Schema quality
ISSEP8.0
CISSP9.0
Schema quality
8.0
9.0
Practice evidence
ISSEP1.5
CISSP1.5
Practice evidence
1.5
1.5
Maintenance
ISSEP4.5
CISSP8.0
Maintenance
4.5
8.0
Market recognition
ISSEP4.5
CISSP9.5
Market recognition
4.5
9.5
Average
ISSEP4.6
CISSP7.0
Average
4.6
7.0
› Recognition & lifecycle
Recognition
ISSEPGlobal
CISSPGlobal · US · EU · UK · DACH
Recognition
Global
Global · US · EU · UK · DACH
ISO 17024 accredited
ISSEP—
CISSP✓
ISO 17024 accredited
—
✓
DoD 8140 baseline
ISSEP✓
CISSP✓
DoD 8140 baseline
✓
✓
Holders worldwide
ISSEP1,000
CISSP190,000
Holders worldwide
1,000
190,000
Current version
ISSEP2024 CBK refresh (2024-04)
CISSP2024 CBK refresh (2024-04)
Current version
2024 CBK refresh (2024-04)
2024 CBK refresh (2024-04)
› Domain coverage
A1Governance, Risk & Compliance
ISSEP● core
CISSP● core
A1Governance, Risk & Compliance
● core
● core
A10Security Operations
ISSEP·
CISSP● core
A10Security Operations
·
● core
A11Detection Engineering & Threat Hunting
ISSEP·
CISSP● core
A11Detection Engineering & Threat Hunting
·
● core
A12Data Security, Privacy & Protection
ISSEP·
CISSP● core
A12Data Security, Privacy & Protection
·
● core
A13Supply Chain Security
ISSEP·
CISSP○ touched
A13Supply Chain Security
·
○ touched
A14OT/ICS Security
ISSEP·
CISSP⚠ gap
A14OT/ICS Security
·
⚠ gap
A15Cryptography
ISSEP·
CISSP● core
A15Cryptography
·
● core
A18Security Leadership
ISSEP● core
CISSP○ touched
A18Security Leadership
● core
○ touched
A2Network Security
ISSEP·
CISSP● core
A2Network Security
·
● core
A21Malware Analysis & Reverse Engineering
ISSEP·
CISSP⚠ gap
A21Malware Analysis & Reverse Engineering
·
⚠ gap
A25Security Architecture & Engineering
ISSEP● core
CISSP● core
A25Security Architecture & Engineering
● core
● core
A3Zero Trust Architecture
ISSEP·
CISSP● core
A3Zero Trust Architecture
·
● core
A4Application Security
ISSEP·
CISSP● core
A4Application Security
·
● core
A5Cloud Security
ISSEP·
CISSP○ touched
A5Cloud Security
·
○ touched
A6Identity & Access Management
ISSEP·
CISSP● core
A6Identity & Access Management
·
● core
A7Incident Response & Forensics
ISSEP·
CISSP○ touched
A7Incident Response & Forensics
·
○ touched
A9Penetration Testing & Red Teaming
ISSEP·
CISSP○ touched
A9Penetration Testing & Red Teaming
·
○ touched
B1AI-Powered Threat Detection
ISSEP·
CISSP⚠ gap
B1AI-Powered Threat Detection
·
⚠ gap
B2AI-Driven Security Automation
ISSEP·
CISSP⚠ gap
B2AI-Driven Security Automation
·
⚠ gap
B3AI for Vulnerability Management
ISSEP·
CISSP⚠ gap
B3AI for Vulnerability Management
·
⚠ gap
C1Adversarial Machine Learning
ISSEP·
CISSP⚠ gap
C1Adversarial Machine Learning
·
⚠ gap
C11Agentic AI Security
ISSEP·
CISSP⚠ gap
C11Agentic AI Security
·
⚠ gap
C2LLM-Specific Attacks
ISSEP·
CISSP⚠ gap
C2LLM-Specific Attacks
·
⚠ gap
C5AI Red Teaming
ISSEP·
CISSP⚠ gap
C5AI Red Teaming
·
⚠ gap
D2Post-Quantum Cryptography
ISSEP·
CISSP⚠ gap
D2Post-Quantum Cryptography
·
⚠ gap
Browse the full catalog or open any one of these on its detail page for full study materials, peer comparisons, and lifecycle notes.