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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
CISSP-ISSAPCISSP Information Systems Security Architecture Professional
Architecture concentration on top of CISSP — trust boundaries, identity / crypto / network composition, defense-in-depth design.
Official pageComparing
ISC2ISSEP
ISC2CISSP-ISSAP
› Cost
Exam fee
ISSEP$599
CISSP-ISSAP$599
Exam fee
$599
$599
Annual maintenance fee
ISSEP$125/yr
CISSP-ISSAP—
Annual maintenance fee
$125/yr
—
3-year cost of ownership
ISSEP$974
CISSP-ISSAP$599
3-year cost of ownership
$974
$599
› Exam mechanics
Pass mark
ISSEP700/1000 (scaled)
CISSP-ISSAP700/1000 (scaled)
Pass mark
700/1000 (scaled)
700/1000 (scaled)
Retake policy
ISSEP$599 fee · 30d wait · 4/yr cap
CISSP-ISSAP$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
ISSEP150–300 hrs
CISSP-ISSAP150–300 hrs
Study time
150–300 hrs
150–300 hrs
Validity
ISSEP3 yrs
CISSP-ISSAP3 yrs
Validity
3 yrs
3 yrs
CPE / yr
ISSEP20 CPEs
CISSP-ISSAP30 CPEs
CPE / yr
20 CPEs
30 CPEs
Delivery
ISSEPtest center
CISSP-ISSAPtest center
Delivery
test center
test center
› Salary signal (US base)
Range
ISSEP$145K – $215K
CISSP-ISSAP$145K – $210K
Range
$145K – $215K
$145K – $210K
Median
ISSEP$175,000
CISSP-ISSAP$170,000
Median
$175,000
$170,000
Premium %
ISSEP—
CISSP-ISSAP—
Premium %
—
—
Role context
ISSEPFederal / DoD security systems engineer, US, 7+ years. Requires active CISSP.
CISSP-ISSAPSecurity architect, US, 7+ years. Requires active CISSP.
Role context
Federal / DoD security systems engineer, US, 7+ years. Requires active CISSP.
Security architect, US, 7+ years. Requires active CISSP.
› Quality (4-axis rubric · 0–10)
Schema quality
ISSEP8.0
CISSP-ISSAP8.5
Schema quality
8.0
8.5
Practice evidence
ISSEP1.5
CISSP-ISSAP1.5
Practice evidence
1.5
1.5
Maintenance
ISSEP4.5
CISSP-ISSAP6.5
Maintenance
4.5
6.5
Market recognition
ISSEP4.5
CISSP-ISSAP5.5
Market recognition
4.5
5.5
Average
ISSEP4.6
CISSP-ISSAP5.5
Average
4.6
5.5
› Recognition & lifecycle
Recognition
ISSEPGlobal
CISSP-ISSAPGlobal · US · EU · UK
Recognition
Global
Global · US · EU · UK
ISO 17024 accredited
ISSEP—
CISSP-ISSAP✓
ISO 17024 accredited
—
✓
DoD 8140 baseline
ISSEP✓
CISSP-ISSAP✓
DoD 8140 baseline
✓
✓
Holders worldwide
ISSEP1,000
CISSP-ISSAP3,000
Holders worldwide
1,000
3,000
Current version
ISSEP2024 CBK refresh (2024-04)
CISSP-ISSAP2017 CBK (2017-04)
Current version
2024 CBK refresh (2024-04)
2017 CBK (2017-04)
› Domain coverage
A1Governance, Risk & Compliance
ISSEP● core
CISSP-ISSAP● core
A1Governance, Risk & Compliance
● core
● core
A12Data Security, Privacy & Protection
ISSEP·
CISSP-ISSAP○ touched
A12Data Security, Privacy & Protection
·
○ touched
A13Supply Chain Security
ISSEP·
CISSP-ISSAP○ touched
A13Supply Chain Security
·
○ touched
A15Cryptography
ISSEP·
CISSP-ISSAP● core
A15Cryptography
·
● core
A18Security Leadership
ISSEP● core
CISSP-ISSAP·
A18Security Leadership
● core
·
A2Network Security
ISSEP·
CISSP-ISSAP● core
A2Network Security
·
● core
A25Security Architecture & Engineering
ISSEP● core
CISSP-ISSAP● core
A25Security Architecture & Engineering
● core
● core
A3Zero Trust Architecture
ISSEP·
CISSP-ISSAP● core
A3Zero Trust Architecture
·
● core
A4Application Security
ISSEP·
CISSP-ISSAP○ touched
A4Application Security
·
○ touched
A5Cloud Security
ISSEP·
CISSP-ISSAP● core
A5Cloud Security
·
● core
A6Identity & Access Management
ISSEP·
CISSP-ISSAP● core
A6Identity & Access Management
·
● core
Browse the full catalog or open any one of these on its detail page for full study materials, peer comparisons, and lifecycle notes.