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CISA preparation guide
How much does the CISA exam cost?
The CISA exam costs US$575 for ISACA members and US$760 for non-members. After you pass, ISACA charges a one-time US$50 application processing fee. Keeping the credential costs US$45 a year for members or US$85 for non-members, plus at least 20 CPE hours a year. The minimum to certify is US$625 for a member or US$810 for a non-member.
Registration opens a six-month window to sit the exam, and ISACA requires the fee in full before you can book a testing appointment. You can reschedule without penalty inside that window if you do it at least 48 hours before the appointment. Registration fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable, and a missed appointment forfeits the fee, so choose the window when you register. If you need more time, ISACA sells one six-month eligibility extension for US$75.
This page lists certification costs only: what ISACA charges to sit the exam, certify and stay certified. Study materials are optional and covered separately. Travel is left out because the exam is offered at PSI test centres and as a remotely proctored exam, so it does not require it.
Start CISA baselineCISA certification fees
| Fee (when you pay it) | ISACA member | Non-member |
|---|---|---|
| Exam registration (before you book; valid six months) | US$575 | US$760 |
| Eligibility extension (optional, one only, six months) | US$75 | US$75 |
| Application processing (once, after passing) | US$50 | US$50 |
| Annual maintenance (due by 1 January) | US$45 | US$85 |
| Each retake (in full, every further attempt) | US$575 | US$760 |
| Professional membership (optional, yearly) | US$145 plus chapter dues | Not applicable |
Worked budget example
You are not an ISACA member and plan one attempt. The exam and application cost US$810 at the non-member price. Joining first costs US$145 plus your chapter’s dues, and brings the exam and application down to US$625.
The member price saves US$185 on the exam, so membership pays for itself on the exam alone only if your chapter dues are below US$40. After certification, members also pay US$40 less maintenance each year, but the membership renews every year too. Check your chapter’s dues at checkout before deciding.
What each fee pays for
The registration fee buys one attempt within the six-month eligibility window. Membership status at the time you register sets the price, so join before registering if you intend to join at all.
The application fee is paid after your score is released, when you apply for the credential. ISACA gives you five years from passing to apply, and your qualifying experience must fall within the ten years before the application.
Maintenance has two parts: the yearly fee and continuing professional education. ISACA asks for at least 20 CPE hours each year and 120 over a three-year period, and audits a random sample of holders. If you hold more than two ISACA certifications, the fee for the third and later ones drops to US$25 for members and US$50 for non-members.
If you need another attempt
ISACA allows four attempts within twelve months of the first. Each retake is a new registration at the full fee: wait 30 days after the first attempt, then 90 days before each later one. Budget a retake at the current price for your membership status when you register again.
If you do not pass, ISACA accepts a written rescore request within 30 days of the result, for US$75. ISACA’s domain-level results are for information only; the scaled score is based on all scored items.
Optional preparation costs
ISACA sells a CISA Review Manual and a six-month Questions, Answers & Explanations subscription. Neither is required to register or certify. Choose preparation by the gap you need to close, and price it separately from the certification fees above.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the CISA exam?
US$575 for ISACA members and US$760 for non-members, based on your membership status when you register. The fee covers one attempt within a six-month eligibility window.
Is there a fee after passing the CISA exam?
Yes. ISACA charges a one-time US$50 application processing fee when you apply for certification. You have five years from passing to apply.
How much does it cost to keep CISA?
US$45 a year for members or US$85 for non-members, due by 1 January, plus at least 20 CPE hours a year and 120 over three years.
Does a CISA retake cost the full fee?
Yes. ISACA’s candidate guide requires the registration fee in full for each attempt, with up to four attempts within twelve months of the first.
Are the CISA, CISM and CRISC exam fees the same?
Yes. ISACA shows US$575 for members and US$760 for non-members for each of the three exams, so the fee does not separate them; your role and experience do.
Sources and limits
Exam scope and weights: ISACA CISA exam content outline. Certification eligibility: ISACA certification requirements. Other sources: ISACA CISA exam fees; maintenance fee and CPE; membership; candidate guide v1.26 (retakes, rescoring). Checked 26 October 2026.
Study methods and examples are independent CertArc teaching guidance. Practice results do not convert to an official score or guarantee a pass. CertArc is not affiliated with or endorsed by ISACA.
