QuestionSolved

CISSP experience requirement — does an Associate path make sense?

Tessa LindqvistRecon

2026-05-28

I can pass but don't have the 5 years yet. Is becoming an Associate of ISC2 worth it, or hold off?

Grace NdlovuMentorContributor✓ Accepted answer2026-05-30

Associate makes sense if passing now is convenient (employer pays, you're already studying) — you get six years to earn the experience and the knowledge is banked. One caveat: some people lose momentum and let it lapse. If you're within a year or two of the experience anyway, the Associate window is comfortable. Passing while it's fresh beats re-studying the whole CBK later.

Tessa LindqvistRecon2026-05-31

Employer's paying and I'm ~2 years out on experience, so this is a clear yes. Thanks for laying out the tradeoff.

QuestionSolved

CISSP experience requirement — does an Associate path make sense?

Tessa LindqvistRecon

2026-05-28

I can pass but don't have the 5 years yet. Is becoming an Associate of ISC2 worth it, or hold off?

Grace NdlovuMentorContributor✓ Accepted answer2026-05-30

Tessa LindqvistRecon2026-05-31

Employer's paying and I'm ~2 years out on experience, so this is a clear yes. Thanks for laying out the tradeoff.

CISSP experience requirement — does an Associate path make sense?

1 answer

CISSP experience requirement — does an Associate path make sense?

1 answer