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Part I: Certification Basics
The current exam fee in the U.S. is $549 if you register at least 16 days in
advance of your exam date.
We recommend that you register early, for several reasons:
✓ The normal registration fee is $599, and the rescheduling fee is $100. By
registering early, you can essentially split the difference if you need to
reschedule your exam for some reason.
✓ By committing to a specific testing date, you’re more likely to stay
focused and avoid procrastination.
✓ Registering early allows you to better plan your travel arrangements and
possibly save some money by booking reservations well in advance.
✓ Space is limited at all test centers. Reservations are accepted on a first-
come, first-served basis; in the case of registrations by mail, (ISC)
2
uses
the date of the postmark. If the test date fills up before you register (and
this is a hot certification!), you may be hard-pressed to find another test
date and location that suits you in that same year.
Great news! If you’re a U.S. military veteran and are eligible for Montgomery GI
Bill benefits, the Veteran’s Administration (VA) will reimburse you for the full
cost of the exam, pass or fail.
Preparing for the Exam
Many resources are available to help the CISSP candidate prepare for the
exam. Self-study is a major part of any study plan. Work experience is also
critical to success, and you can incorporate it into your study plan. For those
who learn best in a classroom or training environment, (ISC)
2
offers CISSP
review seminars.
We recommend that you commit to an intense 60-day study plan leading up
to the CISSP exam. How intense? That depends on your own personal expe-
rience and learning ability, but plan on a minimum of two hours a day for
60 days. If you’re a slow learner or reader, or perhaps find yourself weak in
many areas, plan on four to six hours a day — and more on the weekends.
But stick to the 60-day plan. If you feel you need 360 hours of study, you may
be tempted to spread this study out over a six-month period for 2 hours a
day. Consider, however, that committing to six months of intense study is
much harder (on you, as well as your family and friends) than two months.
In the end, you’ll find yourself studying only as much as you would have in a
60-day period, anyway.
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