ISSEP certification: exam, cost and requirements
ISSEP — Information Systems Security Engineering Professional, long known as CISSP-ISSEP — is ISC2’s advanced certification in security engineering, developed with the U.S. National Security Agency. The exam has 125 multiple-choice questions in 3 hours, you need 700 out of 1,000 to pass, and it costs US$599 at a Pearson VUE test center. You qualify as a CISSP with two years in the ISSEP domains, or with seven years of experience without CISSP.
- Certification
- ISSEP — Information Systems Security Engineering Professional, issued by ISC2 (formerly CISSP-ISSEP)ISC2 ISSEP page, checked 10 October 2026
- Exam fee
- US$599 (EUR 575.04 in EMEA, GBP 485.19 in the UK), plus local taxesISC2 exam pricing, checked 10 October 2026
- Questions
- 125 multiple-choiceISC2 ISSEP Exam Outline, checked 10 October 2026
- Duration
- 3 hoursISC2 ISSEP Exam Outline, checked 10 October 2026
- Passing score
- 700 out of 1000 pointsISC2 ISSEP Exam Outline, checked 10 October 2026
- Delivery
- Pearson VUE testing center, in EnglishISC2 ISSEP Exam Outline, checked 10 October 2026
- Experience
- CISSP in good standing plus 2 years in the ISSEP domains, or 7 years in two or more domainsISC2 ISSEP Exam Outline, checked 10 October 2026
- Current outline
- Effective 1 August 2025ISC2 ISSEP Exam Outline, checked 10 October 2026
- Maintenance
- Three-year cycle with CPE credits; AMF US$135 for membersISC2 advanced certifications page and AMF overview, checked 10 October 2026
Know if you're ready for ISSEP — before you book.
Certsqill measures your ISSEP readiness across every official exam domain — one 0–100 score from coverage, accuracy and consistency that tells you whether to book, keep studying, or sit.
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Why you can trust these ISSEP questions
What is the ISSEP certification?
ISSEP stands for Information Systems Security Engineering Professional. ISC2 describes the ISSEP as a security leader who specialises in the practical application of systems engineering principles and processes to develop secure systems: analysing organisational needs, defining security requirements, designing security architectures, implementing system security and supporting security assessment and authorisation for government and industry.
ISC2 states that the ISSEP was developed in conjunction with the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA). It is ANAB-accredited under ISO/IEC 17024 and listed by ISC2 as approved under U.S. DoDM 8140.
Source: ISC2 — ISSEP certification. Checked 10 October 2026.
CISSP-ISSEP or ISSEP? The name and the 2025 update
For years the credential was a CISSP concentration and was published as CISSP-ISSEP; ISC2’s older exam outline from November 2020 still carries that name. ISC2’s current pages and the exam outline effective 1 August 2025 call it simply ISSEP.
The name reflects a real change in eligibility. Besides the CISSP route, ISC2 now lists a route for candidates with seven years of experience who do not hold CISSP. If you search for the CISSP-ISSEP certification, this is the same credential under its current name.
Source: ISC2 — ISSEP Exam Outline (effective 1 August 2025). Checked 10 October 2026.
ISSEP certification requirements
The ISSEP exam outline gives two routes. Either you are a CISSP in good standing with two years of cumulative, full-time experience in one or more of the five ISSEP domains, or you have at least seven years of cumulative, full-time experience in two or more of the domains.
On the seven-year route, a bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, IT or a related field, or an additional credential from ISC2’s approved list, may satisfy one year. ISC2 adds that part-time work and internships may also count. ISC2’s overview page summarises both routes as “CISSP + 2 years or 7 years cumulative”.
Source: ISC2 — ISSEP Exam Outline (effective 1 August 2025). Checked 10 October 2026.
How much does the ISSEP exam cost?
ISC2 lists the ISSEP exam at US$599 for the Americas, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, EUR 575.04 in EMEA and GBP 485.19 in the United Kingdom. Pricing and taxes depend on where the exam is administered.
An exam-only purchase must be scheduled and taken within 365 days. ISC2 also sells Peace of Mind Protection: two exam attempts at a lower cost than two single exams, both to be used within 180 days of purchase. After you certify, ISC2 members pay an annual maintenance fee of US$135, a single fee regardless of how many ISC2 certifications they hold.
Source: ISC2 — Exam pricing. Checked 10 October 2026.
ISSEP exam format and passing score
The ISSEP exam has 125 multiple-choice questions and lasts three hours — about 1 minute 26 seconds per question. It is offered in English at Pearson VUE testing centers.
ISC2 publishes the passing grade: 700 out of 1,000 points.
Source: ISC2 — ISSEP Exam Outline (effective 1 August 2025). Checked 10 October 2026.
What is on the ISSEP exam?
The exam outline effective 1 August 2025 has five domains. Foundations is the largest at 24%; secure operations, change management and disposal is the smallest at 14%. Note that an ISC2 news article from July 2025 shows different weights for the last two domains; the figures below are from the official outline document, where they add up to 100%.
- Systems Security Engineering Foundations — 24%
- Risk Management — 20%
- Security Planning and Engineering — 22%
- Systems Security Implementation, Verification, and Validation — 20%
- Secure Operations, Change Management and Disposal — 14%
Source: ISC2 — ISSEP Exam Outline (effective 1 August 2025). Checked 10 October 2026.
ISSEP training, boot camp and study options
Official ISSEP training from ISC2 comes in two formats. Online self-paced training gives 90 or 180 days of access from purchase; online instructor-led training gives 180 days of access to course materials and videos, starting from your first live session. Some bundles include the exam. ISC2 also publishes an ISSEP Study Questions eBook.
If you are looking for CISSP-ISSEP training under the old name, these are the same official courses. ISC2’s ISSEP page does not mention a boot camp format; if you consider a boot camp from another provider, check that it follows the 2025 outline with its five domains, not the 2020 CISSP-ISSEP outline.
A sensible study plan follows the weights: foundations, security planning and engineering, risk management, and implementation, verification and validation together make up 86% of the exam.
Source: ISC2 — ISSEP certification. Checked 10 October 2026.
ISSEP salary: what ISC2 publishes
ISC2 shows a figure of US$136,800 next to ISSEP on its advanced certifications page. Its footnote explains that the figures represent reported median compensation, where sufficient data exists, based on the ISC2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study. ISC2 does not give the study year on that page.
Read it for what it is: a median reported by holders in ISC2’s own survey, not a promise for any role or country. That is the only CISSP-ISSEP salary figure this page uses.
Source: ISC2 — Advanced security certifications. Checked 10 October 2026.
How do you maintain ISSEP?
ISC2 certifications run on a three-year cycle and are maintained by earning continuing professional education (CPE) credits and paying the annual maintenance fee. ISC2’s member policies state that if you hold both CISSP and ISSEP, 20 of the Group A CPE credits required in the CISSP three-year cycle must be directly related to ISSEP; those credits count towards your CISSP requirement too.
Source: ISC2 — Member policies. Checked 10 October 2026.
ISSEP practice questions
Certsqill’s ISSEP practice questions are expert-developed: every question explains each answer option, and you see a readiness score for each of the five domains of the 2025 outline — so you know where you stand before you spend US$599 on an attempt.
ISSEP questions people ask
What is the ISSEP certification?
ISC2’s Information Systems Security Engineering Professional certification for security engineering, developed with the U.S. NSA. Source: ISC2, checked 10 October 2026.
Is CISSP-ISSEP the same as ISSEP?
Yes. ISC2 now publishes the credential as ISSEP; CISSP-ISSEP is the older name used when it was a CISSP concentration. Source: ISC2, checked 10 October 2026.
Do I need CISSP for ISSEP?
Not any more. You qualify as a CISSP with two years in the ISSEP domains, or with seven years of experience in two or more domains. Source: ISC2 ISSEP Exam Outline, checked 10 October 2026.
How much does the ISSEP exam cost?
US$599, or EUR 575.04 in EMEA and GBP 485.19 in the UK, plus local taxes. Source: ISC2 exam pricing, checked 10 October 2026.
How many questions are on the ISSEP exam?
125 multiple-choice questions in three hours. Source: ISC2 ISSEP Exam Outline, checked 10 October 2026.
What is the ISSEP passing score?
700 out of 1,000 points. Source: ISC2 ISSEP Exam Outline, checked 10 October 2026.
What is the ISSEP salary?
ISC2 shows US$136,800 as reported median compensation from its Cybersecurity Workforce Study. It is a survey median, not a guarantee. Checked 10 October 2026.
What ISSEP training does ISC2 offer?
Online self-paced training with 90 or 180 days of access, and online instructor-led training with 180 days of access to materials. Source: ISC2 ISSEP page, checked 10 October 2026.
How do I maintain ISSEP?
ISC2 certifications renew on a three-year cycle with CPE credits; members pay a US$135 annual maintenance fee. CISSP holders need 20 ISSEP-related Group A CPEs in the cycle. Source: ISC2, checked 10 October 2026.
