Once you have Security+ or CySA+ under your belt, the next question for many career changers and mid-career IT professionals is which advanced certification to pursue. CASP+ and CISSP are the two most commonly compared, and they are aimed at slightly different careers even though job postings sometimes list them as interchangeable.
| CompTIA CASP+ | ISC2 CISSP | |
| Focus | Hands-on technical security architecture and engineering | Security management, governance, and leadership |
| Experience required | None mandated, though intended for experienced practitioners | 5 years of relevant paid work experience |
| Exam format | Performance-based and multiple choice | Adaptive multiple choice |
| Typical audience | Security engineers, architects | Security managers, CISOs, directors |
| DoD 8570 approved | Yes | Yes |
| CIAT retake policy | Unlimited | Limited, subject to ISC2’s retake terms |
CASP+ is built for people who want to stay hands-on: security architects, engineers, and senior technical analysts who design and implement security solutions, not manage teams. It does not require a specific number of years of documented experience to sit for the exam, making it more accessible to technically strong candidates who are earlier in their formal career track.
CISSP is oriented toward leadership and governance. It is often the certification that hiring managers look for in security manager, director, or CISO-track roles, and it requires 5 years of qualifying paid work experience in at least 2 of the 8 defined security domains before you can be fully certified, even if you pass the exam. Candidates who pass the exam without meeting the experience requirement earn the Associate of ISC2 designation until the requirement is met.
One important note for CIAT students: CISSP is one of only two certifications, alongside EC-Council CEH, excluded from CIAT’s Unlimited Certification Exam Policy. Retakes for CISSP follow ISC2’s own retake terms rather than CIAT’s standard policy.
If you are still hands-on and building toward a technical architecture or engineering role, CASP+ is the more accessible next step and can be pursued without a set experience minimum. If you already have five years of relevant experience and are aiming for management or governance roles, the CISSP carries more weight with hiring managers at that level. Some professionals eventually hold both.
Build toward advanced certifications with a program that covers the technical foundation both paths require.
They test different things rather than one being categorically harder. CASP+ leans more technical and hands-on, while CISSP leans more toward broad governance and management knowledge across eight domains.
You can take and pass the exam, but you will hold the Associate of ISC2 designation, not full CISSP status, until you accumulate the required experience.
CISSP tends to carry more weight for management-track promotions, while CASP+ tends to matter more for technical architecture and engineering roles. The right choice depends on which direction you’re heading.
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* Students are encouraged to take certification exams while actively enrolled in their Bootcamp, Certificate or Degree program. Unlimited certification exam attempts expire 180 days after program completion. Select exams are not eligible for unlimited retakes - see certification exam policy for details. Industry certifications and/or courses may change at any time to address industry trends or improve student outcomes.
