About the CISA Exam
The Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) certification is an industry recognized standard of achievement for professionals working in information systems auditing, control and security. To achieve this certification, a candidate must pass the CISA exam, which is offered twice a year in June and December by the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA). According to the ISACA, since 1978 more than 75,000 professional in nearly 160 countries have earned the CISA certification.
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Exam Registration
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To register for the CISA exam, candidates must complete and submit the official CISA registration form and pay the appropriate registration fee. The registration form is included in the CISA Bulletin of Information (BOI), which is published every year by the ISACA and available for download at the ISACA website. Alternatively, candidates may register and pay their registration fees online at the ISACA website. Both the BOI and the ISACA website provide detailed registration information about the exam including specific information about fees, pertinent due dates and final deadlines.
Exam Preparation
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The CISA exam is comprised of 200 multiple choice questions that cover six job practice areas. The ISACA provides several resources for candidates who are preparing to take the CISA exam including a CISA exam and certification guide, various study materials, online learning courses, review courses and terminology lists. Information on obtaining preparation materials is provided in detail on the ISACA website.
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Taking the Exam
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Approximately two to three weeks before the scheduled CISA exam date, candidates will receive an admission ticket that specifies the date, location and registration time of the exam, a schedule of events for the exam day and a list of materials that candidates need to bring to the exam.
Exam Results
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Approximately eight weeks after taking the exam, candidates can expect to receive their exam results in a score report by mail. Candidates can also elect to receive their scores via email by indicating their consent on the registration form. Candidates who do not pass the CISA exam may register to retake the exam at any time in the future. The number of attempts to retake the exam is unlimited.
Work Experience Requirement
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A minimum of five years of related verifiable work experience in the field of information systems auditing, control or security is required to earn a CISA certification. The experience must have been acquired within the 10-year period preceding the application date or within five years from the date of passing the CISA exam. Candidates may still take the exam without fulfilling the work experience requirement; however, the score is only valid for five years. If the applicant fails to meet the requirement within the next five years, the passing score is voided.
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References
- Photo Credit taking test image by Petro Feketa from Fotolia.com
