ProfessionalVendor-neutralCREST· issued from UK

CREST CRTSA

CREST Registered Technical Security Architect

CREST Registered Technical Security Architect

Exam fee
$700
Ongoing
Study time
150–300 hrs
Delivery
Test center
Validity
3 yrs (renewal cycle)

› Quality score

27.0 / 40

Four-axis SecProve rubric, each 0–10. SecProve editorial assessment — each axis carries a written justification so you can push back on any single call without dismissing the whole score.

Blueprint rigor
How well-defined and rigorous the exam blueprint is.
CREST publishes detailed assessor competencies; tightly scoped to security architecture.
8.5/10
Practical evidence
Hands-on labs / written reports vs pure MCQ.
Written exam plus a structured interview/portfolio review with assessors.
6.0/10
Currency & upkeep
How aggressively content is kept current with the field.
Refresh cadence is irregular but each update is meaningful.
7.0/10
Market recognition
How often this signal actually moves a hiring decision.
Strong in UK / CREST-aligned consulting; narrower in US-centric hiring.
5.5/10

› Built for these roles

Project ManagerIT Program ManagerSecurity Project ManagerScrum Master / Agile CoachIT Department Head

› Exam format

Written exam + interview. Focus on security architecture.

Retake policy
Fee: $750 per attempt
Wait: 30d between attempts

30-day wait typical. Practical components may require longer waits.

› Recertification

Valid for 3 years. Renewal through CPD evidence.

› NICE Framework work roles

The NIST NICE work-role IDs this cert maps to. NICCS lookup.

DD-WRL-004DD-WRL-001DD-WRL-002DD-WRL-006DD-WRL-007DD-WRL-008DD-WRL-009IO-WRL-001IO-WRL-002IO-WRL-004
Recognition
UKEUGlobal
Exam languages
en

› Core domains covered

The 2 domains this cert is centrally about. Passing the exam demonstrates working knowledge of each.

› Prerequisites

Experience

Several years of experience in security architecture. CREST membership recommended.

See this cert’s domains highlighted on the interactive map, or compare it against the rest of the catalog.