New designation recognizes ISACA members who have passed the CISA exam, but do not yet have the required experience

Ninety-two percent of independent hiring managers agree that a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) exam passer demonstrates significant skill in IT audit and possesses a hiring edge, according to a recent ISACA survey. ISACA now offers a new designation to recognize individuals who have realized this accomplishment—the CISA Associate.

The new designation is designed for those students who have passed the CISA exam, and are ISACA members at any level, but lack the required experience to become CISA certified. Candidates can demonstrate their knowledge and desire to pursue a career in IT audit by passing the challenging CISA exam. This can help enhance their job prospects while also allowing them to leverage networking opportunities through their ISACA membership.

“The CISA Associate designation was created to help students and graduates make a first big step in the IT audit profession and help organizations around the world in establishing more trust in digital ecosystems,” says Shannon Donahue, ISACA Chief Content and Publishing Officer.

Academic students who have fewer than five years of experience in IT auditing can pursue this designation when registering for the CISA exam. After passing the CISA exam, there is a US$25 application fee to apply for the designation. There are no CPE requirements, but those who receive the designation must maintain an active ISACA membership at any level to keep the designation. The designation expires after four years or after becoming CISA certified. Candidates will need the required work experience to earn the full CISA credential.

CISA has been the gold standard for IS/IT audit certification for more than 45 years, attesting that IT auditors can meet current and future challenges. More than 219,000 professionals have earned the CISA certification since inception in 1978. Leveraging the collective expertise of ISACA’s global community of digital trust professionals, the CISA exam is continuously updated to reflect the current tasks and responsibilities of today’s IS/IT auditors.

“ISACA is committed to addressing the skills gap in the audit and broader cybersecurity domains and to equipping students with the skills required to start a dynamic career in a way that can be demonstrated to potential employers. CISA has helped hundreds of thousands of professionals create or advance a career and now it is extended to students for giving them the opportunity to a bright future,” says Jeff Angle, ISACA Senior Director, Academic and Workforce Development. “This, along with the networking, resources, and community that come with being an ISACA member, can provide valuable support for professionals as they advance in their career journeys.”

Learn more about CISA Associate at www.isaca.org/credentialing/cisa-associate, and about CISA at www.isaca.org/credentialing/cisa. For more information about the CISA exam, visit www.isaca.org/credentialing/exam-candidate-guides. Those interested in becoming an ISACA academic partner can learn more here: www.isaca.org/partnerships/become-an-academic-partner.

About ISACA

For more than 55 years, ISACA^® (www.isaca.org) has empowered its community of 185,000+ members with the knowledge, credentials, training and network they need to thrive in fields like information security, governance, assurance, risk management, data privacy and emerging tech. With a presence in more than 190 countries and with nearly 230 chapters worldwide, ISACA offers resources tailored to every stage of members’ careers. Through the ISACA Foundation, ISACA also expands IT and education career pathways, fostering opportunities to grow the next generation of technology professionals.

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New designation CISA Associate recognizes ISACA members who have passed the CISA exam, but do not yet have the required experience.