CISSP Exam Cost: The $749 Fee, Retakes, Rescheduling and the Yearly Fees After You Pass

The CISSP exam fee is the number everyone quotes, but it is rarely the whole bill. A reschedule, a retake or a missed deadline can add hundreds of dollars, and once you pass, ISC2 charges a fee every year to keep the credential. All amounts below come from ISC2's own pages, checked on October 27, 2026. ISC2 can change them, so confirm the price in your account at checkout.

CISSP exam fee by region

ISC2's pricing page lists standard registration for the CISSP as follows:

ISC2 shows both an EMEA row and separate Middle East and Africa rows. It adds that pricing and taxes depend on the location of the exam and that currencies vary by country, with the details given by Pearson VUE at registration. In other words, the price you see depends on where you test.

Fees that can appear before test day

ISC2's pages don't all say the same thing here. The scheduling page and the Candidate Information Bulletin block rescheduling only inside 24 hours, while the FAQ says you can reschedule up to 48 hours before your appointment without risking the fee, so plan any change at least two days ahead.

The bulletin also counts the 365 days from scheduling or your initial scheduled date rather than from purchase; sitting within 365 days of purchase is the safe plan. The step-by-step CISSP certification guide covers the booking rules that prevent most of these losses.

What a CISSP retake costs

ISC2's FAQ is direct: you pay the full examination fee for each attempt, unless you bought the exam with Peace of Mind Protection.

ISC2's Peace of Mind page lists the CISSP option at U.S. $749 + $249, and its terms say:

• You get two attempts: the first exam and one retake if needed.
• Both must be taken within 180 days of purchase, and the 180 days start on the purchase date.
• ISC2's normal waiting period applies between attempts: 30 test-free days after a first attempt.
• Purchases are final, and Peace of Mind Protection isn't refundable.

Compare that with the standard Exam Only purchase, which ISC2's CISSP page lists with a 365-day exam window and one attempt.

The trade-off is time. Peace of Mind saves money only if you end up retaking, and only if your first attempt falls early enough to leave room for the 30-day wait and a second sitting inside 180 days. If you'd rather test once, late in a longer study plan, the 365-day Exam Only window fits better. The results and retake guide explains the full retake rules, including the four-attempt yearly limit.

A full-length rehearsal before the first sitting is one way to judge whether a second attempt is likely. A timed 150-question CISSP mock exam is part of the planned full prep, alongside practice by domain.

Costs after you pass the CISSP

The exam is a one-time cost per attempt. Holding the credential has a yearly cost:

ISC2's AMF page says the fee is due each year on your certification anniversary, that tax applies in some jurisdictions, and that you can pay by card, PayPal or voucher in your dashboard. The member policies add that AMF payments are non-refundable. Over a three-year certification cycle, the AMF alone comes to U.S. $405 (3 × $135, Passy's arithmetic). Some third-party pages still show the older U.S. $125 fee, and so does ISC2's own CPE Handbook, dated February 2023, so rely on the current AMF page.

CPE credits are the other maintenance requirement: 120 per three-year cycle. ISC2 lists many ways to earn them, and their cost depends on the activity, so this guide doesn't put a number on it.

Sample CISSP budgets

Passy's arithmetic, using U.S. prices as of October 27, 2026, before taxes, training and books:

If you pass without the full five years of experience and become an Associate first, swap the $135 for $50 in year one, then add the $85 upgrade when you certify.

Study materials are the line you control most. Passy's full CISSP prep is planned at one-time prices of $19.99 for 30 days, $34.99 for 90 days or $49.99 for 180 days, with no subscription. Checkout isn't open yet and no launch date is set, so you can review the planned CISSP access periods and what each includes without paying anything today.

Paying with vouchers, employer funds or veteran benefits

• Vouchers. ISC2's voucher page explains that you enter the code at checkout and the price drops to $0. ISC2 says only ISC2 and its official training partners can offer exam vouchers.
• Avoid unofficial sellers. ISC2 warns against "unofficial" providers who ask for your Pearson VUE credentials. Sharing them violates the ISC2 non-disclosure agreement and can cost you your result or certification.
• Employers. ISC2's voucher program lets organizations buy exam and training seats in bulk.
• Veterans. If you're eligible for GI Bill assistance with the exam fee, ISC2 links to its veteran benefits page from its scheduling page.
• ISC2 Candidate. Joining ISC2's Candidate program gives 10% off Official ISC2 online training, according to the Associate page. It isn't required to register.

Where to spend first on the CISSP

Budget for the fee you can't avoid, then reduce the ones you can: book a date you can keep, so you don't pay $50 to move it, and decide on Peace of Mind before you buy, since ISC2 sells it with the exam purchase and its purchases are final. To make the first attempt count, check your weakest domains with the free CISSP practice questions, then compare what full CISSP prep at launch adds to the free 20 questions, including flashcards and a timed mock exam. The CISSP experience requirements guide helps you decide whether your first yearly fee will be the member or the Associate rate.