The Ultimate CERTIFIED in

Guide to CYBERSECURITY
The entry-level credential for tomorrow’s cybersecurity leaders
Begin your journey
to an exciting and
rewarding career
Careers in cybersecurity allow you to work
where life lands you with near limitless
employment opportunities. ISC2 is here
to help you discover the right path to
enter the field, create your plan and
thrive throughout your career.

The Ultimate Guide to Certified in

Cybersecurity (CC) covers everything
you need to know about the entry-level
credential recognized by organizations
worldwide. Inside, learn how CC and ISC2
can start you on your path to advanced
cybersecurity certifications and future
leadership roles.

Inside…
» Is CC right for me?
» ISC2 Candidate
» CCs in the community
» CC fast Facts
» Benefits of CC certification
» Benefits of ISC2 membership
» Exam overview
» Official training
» Pathway to certification
» Free CPE opportunities
» Continuing professional development
Is CC right for me?
As cyberthreats continue to escalate worldwide, the need for security experts is at an all-time
high. Yet talent is scarce. Research shows the cybersecurity workforce needs an influx of 3.4
million professionals to meet global demand.1

That’s where the ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) certification comes in. From the global
leader in information security credentials, this new certification creates a clear pathway to an
exciting and rewarding career in cybersecurity. It breaks down traditional barriers to entry,
enabling you to build confidence and enter your first cybersecurity role ready for what’s next.

CC candidates include:
• IT professionals • College students or recent graduates
• Career-changers • Board-level executives seeking
foundational knowledge in cybersecurity

As a first step – become an ISC2 Candidate

Begin your journey by joining ISC2, the world’s leading cybersecurity professional organization.
As a Candidate, you’ll access many of the benefits our certified members enjoy, including 20% off
online training and 30% - 50% off textbooks to help you on your path to CC certification.

Sign up now. Your first year is free — no cost to you.*

*If you choose to renew after the first year, U.S. $50 due annually.

What experience is required?

There are no specific prerequisites to take the CC exam. Simply sign up to become an
ISC2 Candidate to get started.

No work experience in cybersecurity or any formal educational diploma/degree is

required. If you’re a problem-solver with an analytical mindset, the entry-level cybersecurity
certification is right for you.

Discover your path

See “Pathway to certification” for more information.

1
2022 Cybersecurity Workforce Study
ISC2 Candidate benefits
To access free Official ISC2 Online Self-Paced Training for CC and one free CC exam
registration, you must become an ISC2 Candidate. You’ll also enjoy these benefits
and more:

• 20% off online certification training courses

• Discount passes for ISC2 Security Congress annual conferencece
• Industry event discounts
• ISC2 Local Chapter – join or start one
• Discounted learning resources
• Volunteer opportunities
• Peer-to-peer networking and exchange of best practices
• Professional recognition and award programs
• And more!

Sign up now to become an ISC2 Candidate. Your first year is free — no cost to you.*

*If you choose to renew after the first year, U.S. $50 due annually.

ISC2 Candidate is open to non-members only. Members, explore your benefits.

Entry-level cybersecurity
job roles include:
• Security analyst • Junior penetration tester
• Security specialist • Security engineer
• Security architect • IT auditor
• Security auditor • IT security manager
• Forensic specialist/analyst • Systems administrator
CCs in the community
“Foundational topics are covered really well in the Certified in
Cybersecurity course. When you’ve gone through the material and
understand the information, it’s more than enough as a starting point.”
Rickhard Alén
Security Solutions Lead
Norcloud, Helsinki, Finland

“The information in the ISC2 entry-level cybersecurity certification can be

applied to real-life scenarios. I appreciate that the body of knowledge is
so current.”
Brian Whitsett
Chief Technology adn Operating Officer
Life Journey Psychological Services, Grand Rapids, MI

“I’m shifting careers from product management to information security.

Certified in Cybersecurity gives me a starting point and a certificate I
can showcase while I work toward earning the CISSP, which is far more
complex and requires many months of preparation.”
Radhika Gopalan
Product Management Consultant
Alpharetta, GA

“I’m switching career paths to move into cybersecurity. Certified in

Cybersecurity is a great way to demonstrate my knowledge.”
Eric Turner
Cybersecurity Analyst
First Merchants Bank, Daleville, IN

Become an ISC2 Candidate

You’ll access a full range of benefits as you pursue the CC, including 20% off
online training and 30% - 50% off textbooks to help you prepare. Sign up now.
CC Fast facts

Created in 2022

Exam available
in 5 languages at
882 locations in
114 countries
CCs are part of a
network of over
365,000 cybersecurity
professionals

ANAB/ANSI
accredited

Shout-outs

CC Ranked #3 on Ranked among

‘THE NEXT BIG THING’ LIST the Top 75
as the certification most lucrative
survey respondents certifications.
plan to earn in 2023. — Certification Magazine
— Certification Magazine
Benefits of CC certification

Respect
Validate your knowledge Job offers and advancement
and build credibility. Gain the solid foundation of
cybersecurity knowledge employers
are looking for, from an association
they trust.

Pathway to cybersecurity careers

and advanced certifications.
Build a strong foundation for an
infosec career and become familiar Growth and learning
with exam formats for advanced ISC2 Develop new skills you can
certifications like CISSP®. apply in day-to-day work.

Higher salaries Community of professionals

ISC2 members report 35% Access a network of peers and

higher salaries than non-members. CPE/learning opportunities.
Benefits of ISC2 membership
Once you earn your CC, you’ll become an ISC2 member and part of a professional
community that never stops learning and growing. You’ll also gain access to a full
suite of benefits and resources for continuing education and development, many
that will help you earn CPE credits to maintain your certification:

• Free online continuing professional

development courses

• Discount on ISC2 Certificates

• Discount pricing for ISC2 events and industry

events including ISC2 Security Congress

• Discounts on CRC Press

(all certification CBK books)
• Discounts on Wiley publications (all certification
practice test books and study guides)

• Free access to ISC2 webinars on cybersecurity

topics, tools and trends

• Free access to ISC2 Security Congress webinar

channel, containing breakout sessions from
past conferences

• Invitation to join or start a local ISC2 Chapter

• Volunteer opportunities

• Access to the
Center for Cyber Safety and Education

• Professional recognition through

ISC2 Global Achievement Awards

Sign up now to become an ISC2 Candidate

Your first year is free — no cost to you.* You’ll enjoy most of these benefits as you prepare for
CC certification.

*If you choose to renew after the first year, U.S. $50 due annually.
Exam overview
The CC exam evaluates expertise across five security domains. (Think of domains as topics
you need to master based on your professional experience and education.)

10%
Business Continuity (BC), Disaster Recovery (DR)
& Incident Response Concepts

26%
Security Principles

18%
Security Operations

24%
22% Network Security
Access Controls Concepts

100 Number of items

on the CC exam
View the CC exam outline.

2
Exam availability:
Maximum amount of English, German, Simplified Chinese,
hrs. time for the exam Spanish and Japanese

Testing Centers:

700
Pearson VUE
Score you need out of 1,000
to pass the exam
Official training
Compare the CC certification training options and choose the one that’s right for you.

Learn more and register at isc2.org/cc-bundles.

1. Self-paced + exam
U.S. $0
Train at your own pace through an engaging online learning experience.
Exam included. First year U.S. $50 AMF due upon passing the exam.

2. Self paced + exam + extras

U.S. $199
Train at your own pace through an engaging online learning experience.
Exam included.
+ Bundle extras:
• Two opportunities to pass the exam
• Access to course content for180-days
• Pay no Annual Maintenance Fees for the first year

3. Live online + exam + extras

U.S. $804
Participate in live sessions led by an ISC2 Authorized Instructor and work on your
own through an engaging self-paced experience.
Exam included.
+ Bundle extras:
• Two opportunities to pass the exam
• Access to course content for180-days
• Pay no Annual Maintenance Fees for the first year
• Learn in a live virtual classroom led by an ISC2 Authorized Instructor
• Interactive peer discussions

CC self-study tools
We offer a variety of self-study tools to supplement your coursework and reinforce key
concepts. Choose from options for every schedule and learning style.
Pathway to certification
1 Become an ISC2 Candidate
Begin your journey by joining ISC2, the world’s leading cybersecurity professional organization.
As a candidate, you’ll access many of the benefits our certified members enjoy, including 20%
off training and 30% - 50% off textbooks to help you on your path to CC.
Sign up now.

2 Become familiar with the topics covered in the exam

The CC exam evaluates expertise across five security domains. (Think of domains as
topics you need to master based on your professional experience and education.)

• Domain 1: Security Principles

• Domain 2: Business Continuity (BC), Disaster Recovery (DR)
& Incident Response Concepts
• Domain 3: Access Controls Concepts
• Domain 4: Network Security
• Domain 5: Security Operations
Pathway to certification
3 Study for the exam
Many self-study resources are available from ISC2 – the creator and keeper of the CC CBK
– to help you prepare with confidence. Some CC candidates pass the exam with self-study,
and many choose to attend an Official ISC2 Training to review and refresh their knowledge
before sitting for the exam.

4
Pass the exam
You have a maximum of two hours to complete the 100-item CC exam. If you’re ready for
the exam, register now and get it on the calendar.

5 Earn CPE credits

Once you are certified, you become a member of ISC2 and recertify every three years.
Recertification is accomplished by earning continuing professional education (CPE) credits
and paying an annual maintenance fee (AMF) to support ongoing development.

45 CPE credits
over 3 years

U.S. $50 AMF

Members with multiple (ISC)²

certifications only pay a single AMF.
Free CPE opportunities
The CPE credit requirement helps you maintain your competencies following initial
certification. By developing and enhancing skills through CPE activities, you make an
important investment in yourself while increasing value to customers and employers.
ISC2 makes it possible for you to earn all your CPE credits without spending a dime.

Join webinars
• Think Tanks
• Security Briefings
• Knowledge Vault
• Security Congress
• ISC2 Membership
• eSymposiums
• Solutions Summits

Read and write

• Read a book directly related to CC and submit a 150-word review
• Author an information security article published in a journal or magazine
• Review an educational white paper related to the CC

Attend trainings and events

• ISC2 Chapter meetings
• Prepare or attend an educational presentation related to the CC CBK domains
• Free ISC2 Skill-Builders – grow your knowledge with short-format learning
on demand
• Earn ISC2 Certificates – access with member discounts
• Attend ISC2 Security Congress – register with member discounts

Volunteer
• Become a Safe and Secure Online Ambassador and spread your knowledge about
cyber safety in your community
• Volunteer to help develop ISC2 certification exams
Continuing
professional development
ISC2 Certificates allow you to advance your skills in areas employers are seeking and provide
pathways toward gaining the competencies you need for the journey to ISC2 certification.

ISC2 Certificates turn a laser focus on the subject matter. And with courseware created on the
hottest topics by cybersecurity’s most respected certifying body, you’re assured the most current
and relevant content.

Current ISC2 Certificates include:

• Cloud Security
• Risk Management
• CISO Leadership
• Healthcare
• Security Administration and Operations

Additional industry subject matter certificates coming soon.

Stay in front of the hottest topics and trends impacting your current role and your cybersecurity
career with ISC2 Skill-Builders, created by industry experts and available now on demand. Grow
what you know and earn CPE credits with short-format learning designed to fit your busy schedule.

ISC2 Resource Center

Informational materials will help
you navigate our certification and
education portfolios, as well as
explore expert insights into the
latest trends and issues facing the
cybersecurity profession.

EXPLORE RESOURCES
Get in touch with us
For more information about CC certification and training, contact an Education
Consultant in your region:

Americas — Phone: +1.866.331.4722 ext. 2, Email: [email protected]

Europe, Middle East and Africa — Phone: +44 203 960 7800, Email: [email protected]
Asia-Pacific — Phone: +852.5803.5662, Email: [email protected]

About ISC2
ISC2 is an international nonprofit membership association
focused on inspiring a safe and secure cyber world. Best
known for the acclaimed Certified Information Systems Security
Professional (CISSP®) certification, ISC2 offers a portfolio of
credentials that are part of a holistic, pragmatic approach
to security. Our association of candidates, associates and
members, nearly 365,000 strong, is made up of certified cyber,
information software and infrastructure security professionals
who are making a difference and helping to advance the
industry. Our vision is supported by our commitment to educate
and reach the general public through our charitable foundation
– The Center for Cyber Safety and EducationTM. For more
information on ISC2, visit isc2.org, follow us on Twitter, or
connect with us on Facebook and LinkedIn.

© 2023 ISC2, Inc. All rights reserved. 07/2023