How to prepare for the CISA Exam?

Are you looking to pursue a career in information security (IS)?

Auditing, quality assurance, and information security are some of the rewarding roles within IT’s security that you can consider. For this, you need to plan to undertake and pass the CISA certification. CISA stands for Certified Information Systems Auditor. This certification demonstrates your knowledge of information systems auditing, control, assurance, and security. As the world becomes more connected, security and governance in the technology space have become critical. For this reason, CISA certified professionals are in higher demand now more than ever because they are relied upon to develop innovative solutions to secure an organization’s information system from security threats.

CISA certification is offered by the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA). It is a globally recognized credential that targets IT and IS professionals in auditing roles. ISACA also issues CISM, CRISC, CGEIT, and CSX certifications all of which cover concepts within the information security domain.

Requirements for the CISA certification

You should possess the below eligibility criteria to take CISA certification

At least five years experience in an information systems auditing, control, and security role within the last 10 years. However, you may have:

Up to three years waived off the above requirement if you have at least one year IS or non-IS auditing experience
One to two years experience substituted for a two-year or four-year degree in the information security field.
One year of experience substituted with a bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a university that offers an ISACA-Sponsored curriculum.
One year of experience substituted with a Master’s qualification in IS or IT from an accredited learning institution.
One year of experience substituted for two years of university instructorship in a related field.

The CISA certification exam

The CISA certification exam comprises 150 multiple choice questions to be answered in 4 hours. These questions cover the following areas and are weighted as follows:

Information System Auditing Process (21%)
Governance and Management of IT (17%)
Information Systems Acquisition, Development, and Implementation (12%)
Information Systems Operations and Business Resilience (23%)
Protection of Information Assets (27%)

The examination is administered three times a year between:

February and May
June and September
October and January

The exam can be taken at PSI test centers and the preliminary scores are availed immediately.

How to prepare for the CISA exam

An important point to note when preparing for the CISA exams is that you need to understand and not memorize concepts. This is because the exam will test your ability to practically apply the theory you have acquired. For professionals with a background in information systems, integrating these concepts with the knowledge they have already acquired may prove a little easier than those who are just launching their careers. This, in essence, means that you need to put in more time and effort preparing for the exam if you do not have audit practice experience.

Here are some guidelines to help you with your exam preparation.

Consider enrolling in a prep course

If learning in a more structured environment under the guidance of an experienced instructor favors you, consider enrolling in a CISA exam prep course. You’ll learn the concepts and practice them within a structured curriculum and this will save you the time it would have taken to prepare a study plan and resources.

Prep courses will typically take you through the concepts of IS, standards, best practices, as well as the information system audit process in all the five domains that the exam covers.

Go through the CISA review manual

Whether you are enrolled for a prep course or have opted for the self-study route, be sure to have the latest CISA review manual. This manual is extensive but very resourceful during your exam preparation. It is, in fact, the best resource for those who are just starting a career in IS and have not yet acquired the necessary experience to earn a certification but prefer taking the exam.

As a beginner, you are bound to come across technical terms that will need a further reference from supplementary books. Part of understanding the concept is looking them up immediately and connecting the knowledge you acquire with that in the CISA certification in Jeddah review manual.

CISA supplementary books and online resources

As mentioned above, even with the CISA review manual you will need to arm yourself with supplementary resources for reference. The technical terms are better understood by referring to books, blogs, online tutorials, podcasts, and others. Just make sure you are selecting credible resources. While at it, organize your studies in a way that you are covering the concepts in a systematic manner. The review manual will have given you bearing therefore this should be difficult for you.

The official ISACA website is rich with resources that you can take advantage of including the CISA planning guide, CISA terminology lists, and the CISA study materials.

The CISA Review QAE Manual or the Questions

The CISA question, answers, and explanations database are a must-have. Once you’re done learning the concepts, doing practice questions is a good way to test your understanding. Apart from covering five knowledge areas extensively, this database provides detailed explanations to the questions and answers. The database also has a mock exam at the end that you can do to gauge yourself. It is important to note that the questions in the QAE database are purely for revision and thus different from those in the actual CISA certification exam.

Familiarize yourself with the exam structure

The CISA certification exam consists of two sets of questions, conceptual and practical questions. While the former tests your knowledge of IS concepts and fundamentals, the latter tests your ability to apply knowledge. This will help you to plan your revision and your time on the day of the exam.

Conclusion

The process of becoming a CISA certified professional can be simplified into three main steps including

Passing the CISA exam
Gaining the relevant work experience before the CISA certification exam or within five years after the exam.
Complying with the code of ethics and professional standards laid out by ISACA.

A professional is then required to accrue 20 hours of continuing education per year after passing the exam, meeting the above requirements, and earning the certification.