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CISSP 
SSCP 
CCSP 
CAP 
CSSLP 
HCISPP 
CISSP Concentrations 
Associate of (ISC)² - Purpose
This policy establishes the requirements for (ISC)² certified members and associates of (ISC)² to maintain their membership, certification and associate status.
- Revision History
Version 4.0
- Scope
This policy applies to all certified (ISC)² certified members and associates of (ISC)².
- Policy
In order to maintain membership, certification and associate status, certified members and associates of (ISC)² must earn a minimum amount of continuing professional education (CPE) credits for each of their one year or three-year certification cycles, as well as pay an annual maintenance fee (AMF). Both requirements are needed to ensure your membership, certification and associate status remain in good standing.
4.1 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Requirement
4.1.1 Certified members are required to earn and submit CPE credits over their three-year certification cycle. All CPE activities must be earned and completed no later than 90 days after the certification expiration date (end of three years certification cycle) For more information on CPEs, download the CPE Handbook.
|
Certification |
Type |
Suggested Annual |
3-Year Total |
|
CISSP |
Group A |
30 |
90 |
|
Group A or B |
10 |
30 |
|
|
Total Required |
40 |
120 |
|
|
|
|||
|
CSSLP, CCSP |
Group A |
20 |
60 |
|
|
Group A or B |
10 |
30 |
|
|
Total Required |
30 |
90 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
SSCP, CAP, HCISPP |
Group A |
15 |
45 |
|
|
Group A or B |
5 |
15 |
|
|
Total Required |
20 |
60 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
CISSP-ISSAP, ISSEP, ISSMP |
Group A |
N/A |
20* |
|
|
Total Required |
|
20* |
|
Concentrations |
*If you hold a CISSP concentration, 20 Group A CPE credits in the CISSP three-year cycle must be directly related to your concentration. If you hold more than one concentration, you must earn 20 credits in each concentration. CPEs required for a concentration are automatically counted toward the CISSP CPE requirement.
|
||
|
Associates Program |
Type |
Required Annual |
3-year Total |
|
Associates of (ISC)² |
Group A |
15 |
N/A |
4.1.2 Associates of (ISC)² are required to earn and submit 15 CPE credits within their one year cycle. All CPE activities must be completed or earned no later than 90 days after the expiration date (last day of the one-year associate cycle). For more information on CPEs, please download the CPE Handbook.
4.1.3 (ISC)² allows certified members and associates of (ISC)² a 90-day grace period after the cycle expiration date to earn and submit required CPEs earned within their 1-year or 3-year cycle. CPEs earned during the 90-day grace period may be submitted and accepted for certification or associate status maintenance. After the 90-day grace period expires and the certified member or associate fails to submit the required CPEs earned during their 1-year or 3-year certification cycle, the certified member or associate will be placed in suspended status.
4.2 Annual Membership Fee (AMF) Requirement
4.2.1 Certified members (single certified or multi-certified) are required to pay an AMF in the amount of U.S. $125 which are due on the member’s start date of their certification cycle and due on the same date each year. A member’s start date for their certification cycle is the anniversary of their certification. Associates of (ISC)² are required to pay an AMF in the amount of U.S. $50, which is due on the anniversary date of the associate’s cycle and due on the same date each year.
4.2.2 Candidates who pass their exams and whose endorsements have been approved for (ISC)² certification must pay their first AMF of U.S. $125 before certification is granted. Once a certified member, AMFs will be due each year on the anniversary date of their certification being awarded.
Candidates who pass their exams and are applying for associate designation must first pay their first year’s AMF of U.S. $50 before their associate designation is granted. Once an associate, AMFs will be due each year on the anniversary date of their associate status being awarded.
4.2.3 For certified members with multiple certifications on multiple cycle dates, the earliest certification anniversary will be the start date for all of your certifications and due date for their AMFs. For example, if a member obtained the CISSP certification on September 1, 2010, and a CAP certification on January 13, 2012, the member’s certification anniversary would be September 1 each year.
4.2.4 (ISC)² allows certified members and associates of (ISC)² a 90-day grace period from the cycle start date to pay in full a past due AMF. After the 90-day grace period expires and they fail to pay the past due AMF, the member’s certification or associate designation will be suspended. This applies for each year of the three-year certification cycle. Once suspended, individuals may no longer be allowed to use the certificate designation, display the certificate itself or imply in any way that they are currently certified.
4.2.5 Once paid, the AMF is non-refundable.
4.3 Failure to Meet Requirements
4.3.1 In order to be reinstated once a certification or designation is suspended, certified members and associates of (ISC)² are required to submit all outstanding CPE credits and pay all past due AMFs. Certified members and associates of (ISC)² are given a 90-day grace period from the end of their certification cycle to fulfill outstanding CPE credits and past due AMFs. After the 90-day grace period, suspended certified members and associates will also be responsible for a U.S. $600 reinstatement fee. Suspension status may be maintained for up to two consecutive years. After two years, certified members and associates of (ISC)² will be terminated, and all membership rights will be revoked. Terminated certified members and associates wishing to be reinstated will be required to retake and pass the examination and pay the U.S. $600 reinstatement fee.
4.4 Hardship
4.4.1 (ISC)² does not waive the CPE requirements or Annual Maintenance Fees.
4.4.2 (ISC)² understands that occasionally there are certain extenuating circumstances that occur preventing members from completing all their recertification requirements by their expiration date. Some examples for such extenuating circumstances are the following:
- Personal/Immediate family, or household person’s medical issues
- Extended involuntary unemployment
- Military deployment
- Natural Disaster
- Unexpected personal calamity
- Death of Immediate Family Member (For purposes of this policy, “immediate family” is defined as the member’s or the member’s spouse’s parents, siblings, children, grandparents, grandchildren, the member’s spouse, and/or any other relative who resides in the member’s household)
4.4.3 Extension of the 90-day grace period will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis as it relates to a medical or military issue that prevents the cetified member or associate from fulfilling the AMF and CPE requirements on time. If certified members and associates have experienced hardships throughout their three-year certification cycle, they need to contact Member Services at membersupport@isc2.org.
4.5 Retired Status
4.5.1 (ISC)² allows a certified member who wishes to retain his/her affiliation with (ISC)² to be granted a retired designation upon his/her retirement from the security profession. To confer retired designation, a member must meet the following minimum qualifications, pay retired status application and any outstanding AMFs. For complete information on the retired status, please see the Retired Status Policy.
4.5.1.1 Minimum Qualifications for Retired Designation
- Currently a member in good standing
- Should be 60 years of age or older, or is medically unable to continue to practice
- No longer practices or employed as an information security professional (including consulting, private and public sector work)
- Has been a credential holder (for credential seeking retired status for) in good standing for at least 10 years. For the following newer credentials, the first year of eligibility will start in the years stated below:
- CISSP, SSCP, CSSLP and CAP: credentials currently eligible
- HCISPP: 2023
- CCSP: 2025
4.5.1.2 Should not currently be the subject of an (ISC)² ethics action/investigation
4.5.2 Member must complete a Retired Designation Application Form and submit to (ISC)² Clearwater Office via mail or email.
4.5.3 Member must pay U.S. $100 Application Fee. Fee payment may be made by check, bank wire, money order drawn on a major U.S. bank or via a major credit card. Checks or money order should be made payable to (ISC)².
