After you’ve taken your Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) exam, you may be wondering what to do next. After all, you’ve been focusing on your exam for some time now and may not have had a chance to consider what to do once you leave the exam center. But don’t worry, we’re here to help!

In the wake of your exam results, staying proactive is essential. If you passed the CC exam, congratulations! Take a little time to celebrate and then start thinking about the next steps for your cybersecurity career. If you didn’t pass, hit the books and schedule a retake to keep on track. 

After You Pass

Passing your CC exam means your hard work paid off and you’re on your way to becoming a fully-fledged cybersecurity professional. But you may be asking yourself: what now?

Become a Member
To become a CC holder and a certified ISC2 member with access to key benefits, you’ll need to keep an eye on your email inbox for instructions on how to complete your CC certification and become an ISC2 member. You’ll receive the email within a week of passing.

Once you receive the email:

  • Complete the short online certification application form and confirm you’ve read and agree to the ISC2 Code of Ethics.
  • Pay your first U.S. $50 Annual Maintenance Fee (AMF).
    • If you are an ISC2 Candidate and have paid your annual dues of U.S. $50 in the past 12 months, those funds will be used to cover your first CC AMF. Then you won't need to make any payments until your next AMF is due.

With those steps completed, here are some of the benefits from your hard-earned CC certification and ISC2 membership. 

Expand Your Network
Your CC certification and ISC2 membership grant you access to our global network of cybersecurity professionals. Connecting with them is invaluable for advancing your career and continuing your career journey. 

Joining your local ISC2 chapter is a great way to connect with like-minded individuals and learn more about how to improve your skills and advance your career. With more than 150 chapters in 50-plus countries, find a chapter near you.

ISC2 also hosts a variety of cybersecurity events for ongoing learning. Whether you attend in person or virtually, these events allow you to connect with colleagues, learn new skills and earn Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits to maintain your certification.

Join thousands of cybersecurity experts at ISC2 Security Congress 2025 and help lead the future of our connected world.

Advance Your Career 
Passing your CC exam and becoming an ISC2 member brings a wealth of opportunities to advance your career. With the CC certification under your belt, you can develop new skills, earn new certificates, take part in exclusive workshops and much more. Here are some of the development opportunities that will become available to you: 

  • Build new skills. ISC2’s Express Courses, fast learning created by industry experts, will help you stay on top of the hottest cybersecurity topics and trends and build on the knowledge you gained during your CC exam training. 
  • Learn more about the industry. ISC2 offers a series of on-demand webinarshosted by experienced cybersecurity experts to help you break into the industry and pursue different career paths. 

Now that you have the CC certification and foundational cybersecurity knowledge, check out ISC2 Certificates as a way to investigate more specific cybersecurity subjects. Continue your learning journey by branching out into risk management, healthcare security, leadership and more. Then, when you have a bit more experience, you can start thinking about advanced certifications. ISC2 certifications, such as the renowned Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP®), are among the industry’s most recognized and acclaimed achievements. What’s more, as an ISC2 member, you’ll save 20% on all online certification training and exam bundles for the lifetime of your membership.

Need a Retake? 

If you didn’t pass your CC exam, keep your head up. It doesn’t mean you won’t pass in the future. 

Book a Retest 
To keep your momentum going, it’s important to book a retest as soon as possible. Here’s some vital information for booking your exam retake: 

  • If you don’t pass the exam on your first attempt, you may retest after 30 test-free days.
  • If you don’t pass the exam on your second attempt, you may retest after 60 test-free days from your most recent exam attempt.
  • If you don’t pass the exam on your third attempt and for all subsequent retakes, you may retest after 90 test-free days from your most recent exam attempt.
  • You may attempt an ISC2 exam per each certification (e.g., for the CC, up to 4 times within a 12-month period).

Please note that if you don’t pass after taking the free CC exam through the One Million Certified in Cybersecurity initiative, you must pay for your next exam sitting. 

How to Prepare
Once you’ve booked your retake exam, start studying immediately. Take advantage of our study resources, which are enormously helpful. 

If you didn’t pass, you’ll receive a printout outlining your performance in each domain (above, at or below proficiency). Use this information to inform your studying, along with the following resources:

  • The CC Exam Ready Booklet provides a breakdown of the exam domains so you can take a methodical approach to studying. It also provides tips for how best to approach your exam day.
  • The CC Study Pack is a comprehensive review of the Official ISC2 Training Course topics. Use it to recap the areas you did well in and improve in those that need more work. 
  • CC Adaptive Training allows you to adapt your training to your needs. It will enable you to focus more on the areas you struggled with without wasting time on those you didn’t. 
  • If you think you could benefit from a more traditional learning experience, CC Online Bootcamp would be perfect for you. The sessions are led by an ISC2 Authorized Instructor and cover the five CC domains in the exam outline.

Remember, the work you’ve already done will be invaluable for your retake. If you passed, take advantage of all the benefits an ISC2 membership has to offer. Either way, you’re well on your way to breaking into the cybersecurity industry.

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