ISC2 CC Exam Fees and Total Cost

The basic CC exam price

ISC2’s current exam-pricing table lists a standard CC registration at US $199 in the Americas, Asia Pacific and other regions not listed separately. EMEA prices are shown in euros and UK prices in pounds. The amount and tax are based on the location where the exam is administered, and Pearson displays the amount due during registration. Treat the displayed checkout total for your actual test location as the amount that matters.

The fee purchases an exam attempt under the product terms. It is not the same as ISC2 Candidate dues, a training course, a certification maintenance fee or a guaranteed pass. A voucher or bundle can change how and when the fee is paid, but the included attempt count and expiration still matter. The old One Million pledge is closed to new enrollments; a candidate should not assume a free exam code is available unless one was previously issued to that candidate.

Budget for the post-exam certification step

A passing result is not the only amount to include if your goal is an active CC credential. Candidates submit the certification application, agree to the ISC2 Code of Ethics and pay the initial US $50 Annual Maintenance Fee. A simple first-attempt budget in a US-dollar region is therefore US $199 for the exam plus US $50 for the first AMF, or US $249 before any tax or optional preparation expense.

Candidate dues can affect the first year. ISC2 says that a Candidate who has paid US $50 Candidate annual dues and earns CC may have those dues cover the CC AMF for that same year. That is a same-year account treatment, not a permanent waiver. Candidates should check their account to see what is owed rather than adding Candidate dues and AMF twice or assuming future years are covered.

Retakes, bundles and cost scenarios

If you buy separate standard attempts and do not pass, expect to pay the exam price again for a retake. ISC2’s waiting rules apply: after the first attempt, wait 30 test-free days; after the second, wait 60 days; after the third, wait 90 days. Up to four attempts are allowed in a 12-month period. A purchased exam bundle with Peace of Mind Protection includes a second attempt in its bundle price, subject to its 180-day period and the retake policy. Compare the bundle total rather than assuming it costs exactly two single exams.

The scenarios are planning arithmetic, not an offer or guarantee. A Peace of Mind bundle may reduce the cost compared with separate attempts, but only if the candidate completes attempts within its terms. The first AMF is due after passing and completing the certification application. Optional courses, books or practice tools are separate purchases and are not required by ISC2 for eligibility.

Rescheduling, cancellation and no-show costs

Pearson’s standard listed charges are US $50 to reschedule and US $100 to cancel an ISC2 exam. Appointments cannot be rescheduled within 24 hours of the start time. Eligible first-time participants in the One Million pledge have a limited reschedule-fee exception through December 31, 2026. This does not waive every cancellation fee or apply to new candidates generally. Check the appointment terms in Pearson before confirming a change.

A missed appointment can forfeit the full exam fee. A late arrival who is refused entry may be recorded as a no-show. If the exam code expires unused, it is generally not refunded. Keep travel, childcare and work-calendar costs in view, because these may be real expenses even though they are not ISC2 charges. If something changes, use the official change process early enough to avoid the 24-hour cutoff.

Training costs are optional and product-specific

ISC2 offers self-paced and instructor-led training products, sometimes with exam attempts bundled. An online self-paced course may provide 90 or 180 days of access; training and exam validity periods can differ. A product that includes two attempts can have a 180-day exam window. Review the product row and checkout terms for the exact expiration and number of attempts before purchase.

A candidate who already has good study resources may buy only the exam. Another candidate may value structured lessons or instructor access. Compare what is actually included: course duration, exam attempt count, access window, practice materials and refund or change terms. Do not attribute optional training or third-party prep costs to a mandatory ISC2 certification fee.

An international candidate budget

The price depends on exam location, not simply the candidate’s citizenship. A candidate in EMEA may see euros; a candidate in the UK may see pounds. Taxes are location based, and currency or tax can change the checkout total. Add a potential trip to another city separately if the language or preferred date is unavailable locally. Ask whether a paid voucher is fixed to a region or currency before purchasing it.

Use a three-line budget: exam product and tax; first AMF after passing; optional preparation and travel. If you want to protect against a possible second attempt, include either a second standard registration or the price difference for an eligible two-attempt product. This makes the possible total clear without assuming everyone needs a retake.

The standard price is US $199 in the Americas and Asia Pacific regions shown in ISC2’s pricing table. Other regions use local prices and tax based on exam location.

Add the US $50 first AMF after passing and submitting the CC application. A first attempt plus the first AMF is $249 before tax and optional study costs in a US-dollar region.

A separate retake generally requires another exam fee. A Peace of Mind product may include two attempts, subject to its terms and expiration.

Standard published fees are US $50 to reschedule and US $100 to cancel. Limited pledge exceptions may apply to eligible first-time participants.

Price differences by test location

ISC2’s table lists US $199 for the Americas and Asia Pacific, while EMEA is listed in euros and the United Kingdom in pounds. The test-center location determines the applicable region and tax. A candidate who lives in one country and travels to another should budget using the location selected in Pearson, not citizenship alone. Exchange rates and local tax can change the amount charged to a card.

For example, a candidate in Hong Kong should review the checkout amount after selecting a location rather than assuming the US-dollar list price is the final amount. If an employer reimburses the exam, save the receipt and confirm whether the reimbursement covers the later AMF or only the exam. The amount displayed for the appointment is the practical charge to budget.

Compare one attempt with two-attempt protection

ISC2 sells some CC exam products with Peace of Mind Protection. The product includes a second attempt in its price, but it is not an unlimited retake plan. The package may require both attempts within 180 days, and each sitting remains subject to the retake waiting rule. Compare the bundle total with one standard attempt plus a possible separately purchased retake. If you pass on the first attempt, the second may go unused; if you need it, the bundle can avoid another checkout within the window.

A candidate with a six-month preparation window may value a second-attempt option. Someone with a fixed reimbursement cap may prefer a single exam and decide about another attempt only if needed. Neither choice changes the passing standard or removes the post-pass application and first AMF. Read the exact product description for included attempts, course time and expiration before buying.

Maintenance charges and CPE are separate

The initial US $50 AMF is a post-pass certification cost. After certification, holders pay a US $50 annual maintenance fee and earn 45 CPE credits during each three-year cycle. ISC2 recommends 15 credits per year. These obligations do not purchase an exam attempt, and training purchases do not replace the AMF. They are part of keeping the credential active.

At the current rate, three annual $50 payments amount to $150 over a three-year cycle, in addition to the initial fee for a new award. This is an illustration, not a guarantee that future fees will remain unchanged. Candidate dues have a specific same-year relationship: ISC2 says a Candidate’s paid $50 annual dues cover that year’s CC AMF upon certification. This does not cover future years, and you should verify the account balance to avoid double-counting.

Build a full candidate budget

Separate required expenses from choices. Required for a first standard attempt and award in a US-dollar region: the $199 exam and, after passing and applying, the $50 first AMF. Optional expenses include a course, study materials, travel, time away from work, and a second attempt. Rescheduling or cancellation can add Pearson charges. A no-show or expired code can forfeit the exam value.

If you choose an exam and course bundle, include its product price and any tax. Check whether course access ends after 90 days while the exam has a longer validity period. If you choose a two-attempt bundle, confirm both attempts fit its 180-day window and that the waiting periods leave enough time to retest. The correct total depends on the actual product and your plan.

Do not include an assumed free-program exam in a new candidate budget. The One Million pledge has closed new enrollment. An existing participant may already have a valid code, but still needs to account for the post-pass AMF and code deadline. The limited rescheduling exception for qualifying first-time participants does not waive all costs.

An international candidate budget

Exam prices depend on where the test is administered. EMEA and UK candidates may see euros or pounds; taxes and currency apply according to the checkout. If your preferred language is unavailable nearby, price travel and lodging separately and make those plans only after Pearson confirms the appointment. Ask whether any voucher you intend to use is valid for the selected region.

A useful budget has three lines: exam product and tax; first AMF if you pass; and optional preparation or travel. Add a second attempt if you want a conservative estimate. This avoids presenting one universal total when different candidates use different regions, courses, vouchers and number of sittings.

Examples for different candidate budgets

A self-directed US candidate who buys one standard exam and passes should plan for $199 plus the first $50 AMF, then annual maintenance if keeping CC active. A candidate who buys a second separate attempt and passes should add the second exam price. A candidate who pays for a structured training bundle should use that package’s checkout price and not add a second exam if the bundle already includes it. In every case, add taxes and optional travel separately.

An existing pledge participant may have already received the exam without a purchase charge. That does not mean the credential has no downstream cost: the application and first AMF still apply after passing. If the code expires unused, its value may be lost. A candidate who is unsure whether a code is active should check the dashboard before budgeting for a duplicate registration.

A candidate whose employer pays should also identify which part is reimbursable. Some policies cover only exam registration; others cover training and annual membership costs. The candidate remains responsible for any amount not approved and should not assume a future AMF is part of the original exam authorization.

Plan around value, not only sticker price

A lower initial price is not always the best value if it has an expiration window you cannot realistically meet. Conversely, an expensive course is not necessary if you already have a good study routine and can learn from official content. Compare the number of attempts, course-access duration, instructor support, refund terms and exam validity. Choose a product that matches the time you can dedicate, not just the advertised discount.

Do not buy an exam attempt before checking readiness if you are likely to postpone it beyond the validity period. An exam-only purchase generally gives 365 days, but the clock starts at purchase. Bundles may give shorter access windows, and a free-program code may have a fixed deadline. A calendar reminder set immediately after purchase reduces avoidable expiration risk.