Do I have to take ISC2 certifications in order?

No — there are no formal prerequisites, and you can book any exam directly with ISC2. The levels are guidance, not gates: foundational exams test broad platform literacy, associate exams test applied, scenario-based knowledge of a role, and professional or specialty exams assume years of hands-on experience.

Can I prepare for ISC2 certifications on SaveMyCert?

Yes. ISC2 Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP), ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) are fully live — revision notes, a practice question bank and full-length timed mock exams.

Is SaveMyCert affiliated with ISC2?

No. We're an independent exam-prep tool. "ISC2" and its certification names are trademarks of ISC2; we're not affiliated with or endorsed by them.

ISC2

ISC2 certifications

Every ISC2 certification we cover, mapped to its official exam guide — revision notes, explained practice questions and full-length timed mock exams.

Every ISC2 certification at a glance

The exams we cover for ISC2, with the figures each certification publishes. Levels are guidance rather than gates — ISC2 sets no prerequisites, so you can book any of these directly.

ISC2 certifications: level, exam format, pass mark and fee
Certification	Level	Exam	Pass mark	Fee	Valid for
CC — Certified in Cybersecurity	Foundational	100 Qs · 120 min	700 / 1000	$199	3 years
CCSP — CCSP	Professional	150 Qs · 180 min	700 / 1000	$599	—

Compare these with every other exam we cover, including recent and upcoming exam changes.

Where to start with ISC2

If ISC2 is new to you, begin with ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC). It is the foundational exam: no prerequisites, no hands-on experience assumed, and it teaches the vocabulary every later exam takes for granted. Skipping it and going straight to a higher-level exam is the single most common reason people fail one.

Once that is behind you — or straight away, if you already work with ISC2 day to day — take the exam that matches your role rather than collecting the set. One certification that maps to your work is a stronger signal than three that do not.

How ISC2 certifications are renewed

Renewal is the cost people forget, and it varies more between vendors than the exam fees do.

ISC2 certifications run on a three-year cycle that you maintain with continuing-education credits and an annual maintenance fee, rather than by retaking the exam.

ISC2 sets its exam fee in US dollars and has run free-exam programmes in the past. Check ISC2’s certification page for the current price and any active offer. See ISC2’s own certification page for the current terms.

Compare these exams side by side

Deciding between two of them, or weighing this platform against another? These break the choice down.

ISC2 CC vs CCSP: entry level or cloud security professional?ISC2 CC vs AWS Security Specialty: where to start in security ISC2 CC vs CompTIA Security+: which security cert first?

Reading for ISC2 candidates

Which exam to take first, what each one costs you in time and money, and how the certifications fit together.

CCSP vs CISSP: which ISC2 certification first?CCSP experience requirements explained What a good practice-question explanation looks like How to start a career in cybersecurity: an honest roadmap

ISC2 certification questions, answered

If this is your first ISC2 certification, start with ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) — it's the foundational exam, has no prerequisites, and assumes no hands-on background. If you already build on ISC2 day to day, you can go straight to the associate-level exam that matches your role.

Start studying, free.

Every revision lesson and daily practice are free on every certification — no card required.

Create your free account