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Certification comparison

CISSP vs Security+ — Certification Comparison

Compare CISSP and Security+: exam cost, requirements, renewal, salary evidence and career-path fit.

Historical planning data unless explicitly verified. Unknown is not zero; confirm eligibility and current pricing with the issuer.

CISSP

Certified Information Systems Security Professional · ISC2

Exam cost
$749
Questions · time · passing score
100–150 questions · 180 minutes · Pass: 700/1000
Prerequisites
Not verified — check issuer eligibility
Domains covered
** Security and Risk Management · Asset Security · Security Architecture and Engineering · Communication and Network Security · Identity and Access Management (IAM) · Security Assessment and Testing · Security Operations · Software Development Security · Security Governance · Risk Management Frameworks · Incident Management · Business Continuity Planning
Estimated salary premium
Not established by comparable evidence
Renewal · CPE / CEU
120 CPE credits per three-year cycle; annual maintenance fee $135; comply with code of ethics.
Difficulty
Not rated
MyCyberPath metro lines
Chief Security Architect · CISO/Board Advisor · Federal CISO · Security Manager/IT-to-Cyber · AI Security Architect · IoT/OT Security
Best for
Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) · Chief Information Officer (CIO) · Director of Security · IT Director/Manager

Catalog review: 2026-10-29. Only cited fields were reviewed; other values are historical planning data.

Security+

CompTIA Security+ · CompTIA

Exam cost
$425 (historical)
Questions · time · passing score
Maximum of 90 questions, mix of multiple-choice and performance-based questions, 90 minutes duration, passing score 750 (on a scale of 100-900)
Prerequisites
| CompTIA Network+ and two years of experience working in a security/systems administrator job role | | Renewal Period | Every 3 years | | Renewal Fee | $150 (covers three-year certification) | | CPE Requirements | 50 CEUs over 3 years | | Study Hours | 40-80 hours | |
Domains covered
** Threat identification · vulnerability assessment · security technologies utilization · secure network architecture design · identity and access management · risk analysis and mitigation · cryptography application · compliance and operational security · security posture assessment · hybrid environment monitoring · incident response · digital forensics
Estimated salary premium
Not established by comparable evidence
Renewal · CPE / CEU
3-year cycle · CPE/CEU requirement not verified
Difficulty
Not rated
MyCyberPath metro lines
SOC Director · Red Team Director · Cloud Security Architect · GRC Director→CISO · DFIR Director · Chief Security Architect · Network Security Architect · CISO/Board Advisor · Federal CISO · Security Manager/IT-to-Cyber · AI Security Architect · Application Security · Foundations — Career Changers
Best for
Security specialist · Systems administrator · Security administrator · Security analyst

Historical catalog data — verify exam details and pricing with the issuer.

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