CISSP For Dummies

You can register for the CISSP exam online, via mail, or via fax.

First, you need to find a suitable exam date and location. It’s given throughout the year at various locations (typically at colleges, community centers, or convention centers) worldwide. You can find exam schedules on the (ISC) ² Web site at www.isc2.org.

 Remember   Unlike many other certification exams, the CISSP examination isn’t conveniently available at Thomson Prometric or Pearson VUE testing centers.

Some travel may be necessary, which requires planning in advance for travel arrangements . . . possibly including airline, rental car, and hotel reservations. If you’re traveling to another country for your CISSP examination, visa requirements may apply.

After you find a suitable exam date and location on the (ISC) ² Web site, complete the online registration form or download a copy of the form so that you can mail or fax it back to (ISC)2. If you’re registering online or via fax, you need to use a MasterCard or Visa for payment. If registering by mail, you can pay for the exam via MasterCard, Visa, personal check, or money order. The current fee to take the test is $499 if you register more than 16 days in advance. The mailing address for registrations is:

(ISC) ² Services2494 Bayshore Boulevard, Suite 201,Dunedin, FL 34698 U.S.A.

The number for fax registration is 727-738-8522.

When you register, you’ll be required to quantify your work experience in information security. You’re not required to have experience in all the ten domains, but the cumulative total of your work experience must be at least four years.

 Tip   We recommend that you register early, for several reasons:

• The total charge of $499 for early registration and the $100 rescheduling fee is exactly the same as the fee for normal registration: $599.

• By committing to a specific testing date, you’re more likely to stay focused and avoid procrastination.

• Registering early allows you to better plan your travel arrangements and possibly save some money by booking reservations well in advance.

• Space is limited at all test centers. Reservations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis; in the case of registrations by mail, the date of the postmark is used. If the test date fills up before you register (and this is a hot certification), you may be hard-pressed to find another test date and location that suits you this year.

 Tip   Great news! If you’re a U.S. military veteran and are eligible for Montgomery GI Bill benefits, the Veteran’s Administration will reimburse you for the full cost of the exam, pass or fail (the VA doesn’t cover exam preparation costs).