CISA Certification Overview
We hope this will give you the groundwork to begin your journey into the elite ranks of Certified Information Systems Auditors. Whether your in IT and would like to make a move into the realm of Auditing or your a Financial Auditor that is a "Techie" at heart and want to make the leap into IT auditing the CISA certification is perfect for you.
The best place for information is at the source. So check out ISACA at www.isaca.org/cisa. As the sponsors of this certification ISACA provides some great insights into the CISA certification.
Requirements to become CISA certified:
1. Pass the CISA Exam, which is only offered twice a year.
2. Submit an application and prove you have five years of IS auditing, control or security work experience or have valid substitutes (explained later).
3. Agree to Code of Professional Ethics.
4. Pay yearly fee and Minimum of 20 hours CPE (Continuing Education Program) and 120 CPEs every three years.
So next let us talk about passing the CISA Exam. If you have IT certifications like A+, Network+, Microsoft or Cisco Certifications you will already have 50% of the knowledge needed. Conversely if you have audit experience you will have the other 50% of knowledge needed. However you will need some additional tools to pass the CISA exam. I recommend checking out Exam Matrix CISA questions and workbook although it is expensive now so check CISABooks.com for cheaper copies.
I would also recommend that if you do not have a lot of experience an instructor led class like CISATraining.com offers. Unfortunately in my area Washington DC their are only 3 or 4 options for an instructor led class so you may need to travel to take it. If the company will pay for it or re-imburse your expense for the class then definelty take the class. If nothing else it forces you to take the time to study for the exam. Classes can cost around $3,500 and the exam was $350 last I checked.
Registering for CISA Exam:
Register for CISA Exam and pass the exam. Please note that the CISA exam is only offered twice a year and you must register almost 2.5 months ahead of the test date. Registration can be done through the ISACA.org web site. The exam is 4 hours and has 200 multiple choice questions you must score at least a 450 out of a scale of 200-800. Unfortunately, you will not know your score until 2 months later.
Passed the Exam now what:
Once you have passed the exam you will need to fill out an application that includes a detailed list of your experience to meet the 5 year requirement of IS auditing, control or security work experience. If you do not meet the requirement you can substitute the following experience for the years experience requirement:
1. One year of Financial Audit or One year of IS experience for One year of experience.
2. 60-120 College semester credit hours (AssociateBachelor degree) for one year of experience.
3. Two years as university instructor in IS or accounting for one year of experience.
I am now CISA Certified, now what?
You passed the test, applied for membership and have now been accepted. What is left to do, just maintain your professional standing by paying yearly fee and completing a Minimum of 20 hours CPE (Continuing Education Program) and 120 CPEs every three years.