What is CISA Certification?

As a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), you’re tasked with tremendous responsibility: You’ll audit, control and provide security of information systems for a multitude of industries throughout the business and IT sectors.

To become the very best cyber security professional possible, you first need to start with a strong academic background. There are many traditional and online programs that can prepare you for your career path. However, if you want to take your career to the next level, you will likely need an additional certification from a professional organization.

As a rule, professional organizations and technology companies have led the tech as far as career advancement credentials, and there have been organizations for computer security professionals since the 1960’s. The ISACA is one such organization. Formed in 1967, the association now claims over 140,000 members worldwide. The membership is organized by 200 chapters in 80 countries.

As an educational resource, the ISACA publishes a regular journal and maintains databases of research and other documents to help cyber security professionals stay at the front of the industry—and their specialty. They also offer a certification program, the Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), that gives members high-status credentials.

What Is a Certified Information Systems Auditor?

Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) refers to a designation issued by the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA). The designation is the global standard for professionals who have a career in information systems, in particular, auditing, control, and security. CISA holders demonstrate to employers that they have the knowledge, technical skills, and proficiency to meet the dynamic challenges facing modern organizations.

KEY TAKEAWAYS :

• Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) is the global standard for professionals who have a career in information systems, in particular, auditing, control, and security.
• CISA candidates must pass a comprehensive exam and satisfy industry work experience requirements.
• CISA candidates must have a minimum of five years of professional experience and must undertake 20 hours of training per year to keep their designation.

WHY GET CERTIFIED TO BECOME A CISA

When you can add “Certified” to the Information Systems Auditor title on your resume, other professionals will see that you are a qualified and acknowledged expert who has been tested, proven and who continues to develop in the field. They will know that you have the knowledge and skills needed to provide efficient and experienced auditing services and that you have been credentialed by one of the most prestigious security associations in the industry.

When you perform an audit as a CISA, you will have an added level of confidence that academic degrees alone cannot match. Your certification will also give you an edge when it comes time to negotiate salary or a consultation fee.

The CISA designation is also accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). This third-party verification ensures that the ISACA’s programs maintain a verified level of excellence.

HOW TO GET CERTIFIED?

To become a certified CISA, you will first need to pass the certifying exam. Applicants will need a minimum of five years’ work experience as an information systems auditor. However, you can waive up to three years of that experience requirement if you’ve met the following criteria:

• One year of experience as an Information Systems auditor. You may also submit one year of non-IS auditing experience.
• A two or four-year degree, which can be substituted for the experience requirement, provided that your degree was earned within the previous 10 years. The associate’s degree can substitute for one year of experience, while a bachelor’s degree will substitute for two years.
• Hold a master’s degree in Information Security, Information Technology, or the equivalent. A graduate degree can count for one year of experience.
• Two years’ experience as a university professor of computer science, accounting or information systems auditing can be substituted for one year of experience in the field.

Once you have met the experience criteria, you will then need to agree to the ISACA code of professional ethics. Finally, you must adhere to the continuing professional education (CPE) program, which ensures that you continue to develop as a professional. You must maintain your membership fees to the ISACA and complete at least 20 CPE hours per year.

Finally, you must agree to maintain the auditing standards of the ISACA and of all CISA holders. If it is found that a CISA’s work is not in compliance with the association’s standards, that professional might lose credential standing or otherwise face disciplinary measures.

THE CISA EXAM

The CISA exam is comprised of five domains or sections. There are 150 questions on the exam and you will have four hours to complete it. For each domain there are items which will test your procedural skills and then a set that evaluates your knowledge.

If you are currently working in the field as an IS auditor, or are envisioning IS auditing as a career, consider taking the CISA exam and enhancing your career with this potent credential. Every resume in the IS field needs to reflect continual growth in terms of learning and knowledge, and the CISA standards provide assurance that your work adheres to high standards. Consult the ISACA’s website today and start on the road to the next level in your career.

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Understanding Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) :

To receive a Certified Information Systems Auditor certification, candidates must pass a comprehensive exam and satisfy industry work experience requirements. Candidates must also undergo continuing education and professional development and adhere to ISACA’s Code of Professional Ethics and Information Systems Auditing Standards.

Certified Information Systems Auditor Exam :

The CISA exam lasts four hours and consists of 150 multiple-choice questions. The exam tests candidates’ knowledge of five job practice domains: The Process of Auditing Information Systems; Government and Management of IT; Information Systems Acquisition, Development, and Implementation; Information Systems Operations, Maintenance and Service Management; and Protection of Information Assets. Candidates must score 450 to pass the exam. The exam scores on a scale between 200 and 800.

Candidates have the option to sit the exam in June, September, or December in testing centers worldwide. The exam is also available in multiple languages including Chinese Mandarin (simplified and traditional), Spanish, French, Japanese, and Korean.

Certified Information Systems Work Experience Requirements :

CISA candidates must have a minimum of five years of professional experience in information systems auditing, control, or security. There are several work experience substitutions and waivers up to a maximum of three years that candidates can satisfy.

• A maximum of one year of information systems experience OR one year of non-information systems auditing experience. (Substitutes one year of work experience.)
• Sixty to 120 completed university semester credit hours. (Sixty credit hours substitutes one year of work experience, while 120 credit hours substitute two years of work experience.)
• A master’s or bachelor’s degree from a university that sponsors ISACA programs. (Substitutes one year of work experience.)
• A master’s degree in information security or information technology from an ISACA accredited university. (Substitutes one year of work experience.)

University instructors who have two years of experience in a related field, such as computer science, information systems auditing, or accounting, can substitute that experience for one year of work experience.

Certified Information Systems Auditor Continuing Professional Education :

To ensure professionals who hold the CISA designation keep their knowledge of information systems, auditing, and control updated, they are required to undertake 20 hours of training per year and a minimum of 120 hours in a three-year period. ISACA charges an annual maintenance fee to renew the CISA certification. ISACA members pay $45, and nonmembers pay $85.

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