CISSP Exam: Cost, Format, Number of Questions, Passing Score and Requirements (2026)
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The CISSP exam costs $749 and uses Computerized Adaptive Testing: 100 to 150 questions in up to 3 hours, with no going back. You pass at 700 out of 1000. To be certified you need five years of paid work in two or more of the eight domains (four with a qualifying degree), an endorsement, and then 120 CPE credits every three years plus a $135 annual maintenance fee. Without the experience, passing makes you an Associate of ISC2.Checked against ISC2's exam outline and member policies on 12 October 2026.
In this guide
CISSP exam facts at a glance
ISC2 list price in the US, checked October 2026. A retake is another full fee.
Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT): the exam stops between 100 and 150 items.
Whether you finish at item 100 or item 150.
A scaled score, not a percentage of items answered correctly.
Paid work in 2 or more of the 8 domains; a degree or approved credential can waive 1 year.
Annual maintenance fee, plus 120 CPE credits every 3 years.
From ISC2's CISSP exam outline (effective 15 April 2024) and member policies, checked 12 October 2026.
How the CAT format works
- The exam adapts. Each answer changes the difficulty of the next item. It ends as soon as the system is confident you are above or below the passing standard, or when you reach 150 items or 3 hours.
- No going back. You cannot review or change an answer once you move on, so there is no second pass to catch mistakes.
- Finishing at 100 tells you nothing. Candidates who pass and candidates who fail both stop at 100. Why: CISSP CAT explained.
- Languages: Chinese, English, German, Japanese and Spanish. Chinese sittings run only in select windows in March, June, September and December.
- Delivered by Pearson VUE; book through ISC2.
The eight domains
Eight domains under the outline effective 15 April 2024, from Security and Risk Management to Software Development Security, with weights between 10% and 16%. Every domain and weight, and what each one asks: CISSP domains and weights.
Experience, endorsement and the Associate route
- Pass the exam. You can sit it before you have the experience.
- Prove five years of cumulative, paid work in two or more of the eight domains. A four-year degree or an approved credential waives one year.
- Get endorsed by an ISC2-certified professional who confirms your experience.
- No experience yet? Passing makes you an Associate of ISC2, with six years to earn the required experience. Associates pay a $50 annual maintenance fee.
What the CISSP really costs
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Exam fee | $749 | Per attempt |
| Annual maintenance fee | $135 a year | $405 over a 3-year cycle |
| First certification cycle | $1,154 | Exam plus three years of maintenance fees |
| One retake | +$749 | After a 30-day wait |
| FigigExams CISSP pack | $39 once | 3 full-length exams, 306 questions, lifetime |
CPE credits can cost nothing: webinars, reading, conferences and volunteering all count. Many employers pay the exam fee; ask before you book.
Retakes and renewal
- Retakes: wait 30 days after a first attempt, 60 days after a second and 90 days after a third, with a maximum of four attempts in 12 months. Every vendor's rules side by side: exam retake rules.
- Renewal: 120 CPE credits every three years, at least 90 of them Group A (directly security-related), plus the $135 annual maintenance fee.
Practising for an adaptive exam
Practice papers cannot reproduce CAT exactly, and ours do not try: they are fixed-length and timed, so you see every domain and get a score per domain afterwards. What transfers is judgement on manager-style questions and the habit of committing to an answer. The free CISSP paper has 126 questions with an explanation on every item; the rest of the stack is in best CISSP study resources.
See where you stand across all eight domains
126 questions with an explanation on every item and an Exam Coach report ranked by the marks each domain costs you. Free, no credit card.
Try a free CISSP examThe full CISSP pack is $39 once: 3 exams and 306 questions, lifetime, future outline versions included.
Frequently asked questions about the CISSP exam
How much does the CISSP exam cost?
$749 at ISC2's US list price, checked October 2026. Once certified you also pay a $135 annual maintenance fee, so the first three-year cycle costs about $1,154 before any retake.
How many questions are on the CISSP exam?
Between 100 and 150. The CISSP uses Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT), so the exam ends as soon as it is confident of the result, or at 150 items or 3 hours.
What is the CISSP passing score?
700 out of 1000. It is a scaled score, not a percentage of questions answered correctly.
Can I take the CISSP without five years of experience?
Yes. You can sit and pass the exam first. Without the experience you become an Associate of ISC2 and have six years to earn the five years of paid work in two or more domains (four years with a qualifying degree or credential).
How long do I have to wait to retake the CISSP?
30 days after a first attempt, 60 days after a second and 90 days after a third, with a maximum of four attempts in any 12 months.
How do I keep the CISSP once I have it?
Earn 120 CPE credits every three years, at least 90 in Group A, and pay the $135 annual maintenance fee.