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CCSP Experience Requirements

Candidates must have a minimum of five years cumulative, full-time experience in information technology. Three years must be in information security, and one year must be in one or more of the six domains of the current CCSP Exam Outline. Earning a post-secondary degree (bachelors or masters) in computer science, information technology (IT) or related fields may satisfy up to one year of the required experience. Earning an additional credential from the ISC2 approved list may be substituted for one year of experience in one or more of the six domains of the CCSP Exam Outline. An active CISSP credential may be substituted for the entire CCSP experience requirement. Part-time work and internships may also count towards the experience requirement.

A candidate who doesn’t have the required experience to become a CCSP may become an Associate of ISC2 by successfully passing the CCSP examination. The Associate of ISC2 will then have six years to earn the five years required experience.

Part-time work and internships may also count towards your experience.

Domain List

  • Domain 1. Cloud Concepts, Architecture and Design
  • Domain 2. Cloud Data Security
  • Domain 3. Cloud Platform & Infrastructure Security
  • Domain 4. Cloud Application Security
  • Domain 5. Cloud Security Operations
  • Domain 6. Legal, Risk and Compliance

Full-Time Experience: Your work experience is accrued monthly. Thus, you must have worked a minimum of 35 hours/week for four weeks in order to accrue one month of work experience

Part-Time Experience: Your part-time experience cannot be less than 20 hours a week and no more than 34 hours a week.

  • 1040 hours of part-time = 6 months of full-time experience
  • 2080 hours of part-time = 12 months of full-time experience

Internship: Paid or unpaid internship is acceptable. You will need documentation on company/organization letterhead confirming your position as an intern. If you are interning at a school, the document can be on the registrar’s stationery.

One Year Prerequisite Pathway

CSA’s CCSK certificate can be substituted for one year of experience in one or more of the six domains of the CCSP Exam Outline.

Full Prerequisite Pathway

ISC2's CISSP credential can be substituted for the entire CCSP experience requirement.