Exam Details
Exam CodeCISA
Exam Cost$575 USD
Duration240 minutes
Questions150
Passing Score450/800
ProviderISACA
Difficulty8/10
Salary Data
Professionals holding the ISACA CISA certification earn between $95,000 and $175,000 annually, with an average of $130,000.
Job market demand trend: Strong Growth (+12% YoY)
Prerequisites
- 5 years of professional experience in IS auditing, control, or security
- Substitutions available: up to 3 years for education or certain certifications
Skills Covered
Information Systems AuditingIT Governance & ManagementInformation Systems Acquisition & DevelopmentInformation Systems Operations & Business ResilienceProtection of Information AssetsCompliance & Regulatory FrameworksRisk Assessment
Best Study Resources
Official
ISACA CISA Review Manual
OfficialISACA CISA Online Review Course
CourseHemang Doshi — CISA Certification Course (Udemy)
Comparisons Featuring ISACA CISA
CISA vs CISM
CISA vs CISM: two elite ISACA certifications for different career trajectories. CISA validates expertise in IT auditing ...
CISM vs CISA: Security Management vs IT Audit
ISACA's two flagship certifications target distinct but complementary career paths — information security management and...
Career Paths With ISACA CISA
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CISA certification worth it in 2025?
Absolutely. CISA is one of the highest-paying cybersecurity certifications, with an average salary of $130K. It is widely required for IT audit and GRC roles in regulated industries including finance, healthcare, and government.
How hard is the CISA exam?
CISA is considered a challenging exam with a difficulty rating of 8/10 and a pass rate around 50%. It covers five domains and requires 200+ hours of dedicated study. Real-world audit experience significantly improves pass rates.
CISA vs CISM — what's the difference?
CISA focuses on auditing, assurance, and compliance, while CISM focuses on information security management and strategy. CISA is better for audit professionals; CISM is better for security managers and CISOs. Many professionals eventually earn both.
Data Sources
- Salary data — Aggregated from job postings and salary surveys (US median)
- Job listings — Active postings across major job boards
- Pass rates — Community-reported estimates (not official vendor data)
- Exam details — ISACA official documentation