CISSP vs PMI-ACP
Which certification is right for your career? Here's the full breakdown.
(ISC)²
CISSP
CISSP
Gold-standard senior security certification covering 8 domains including risk management, architecture, and cryptography.
Full guide →PMI
PMI-ACP
PMI-ACP
PMI's agile certification covering Scrum, Kanban, Lean, XP, and SAFe — ideal for PMs transitioning to agile delivery.
Full guide →Side-by-side comparison
| Category | CISSP | PMI-ACP |
|---|---|---|
| Exam cost | $749 USD | ✓$495 USD |
| Avg salary uplift | ✓+$22,000/yr | +$15,000/yr |
| Exam duration | 240 min | 180 min |
| Renewal period | Every 3 years | Every 3 years |
| Issued by | (ISC)² | PMI |
| Difficulty | Advanced | Intermediate |
CISSP — Prerequisites
5 years paid work experience in 2+ of 8 CISSP domains
PMI-ACP — Prerequisites
2,000 hours general project experience + 1,500 hours agile experience + 21 hours agile education
Get CISSP if…
- •You're aiming for senior or management roles in security
- •You want a +$22,000/yr salary boost
- •You prefer credentials from (ISC)²
Get PMI-ACP if…
- •You have 2–3 years of IT experience and want to specialise
- •You want a +$15,000/yr salary boost
- •You prefer credentials from PMI
Best CISSP courses
Best PMI-ACP courses
Frequently asked questions
Is CISSP harder than PMI-ACP?
CISSP is harder — rated advanced vs intermediate.
Which pays more — CISSP or PMI-ACP?
CISSP has an average salary uplift of +$22,000/yr, while PMI-ACP has +$15,000/yr. CISSP has the higher salary impact.
Which should I get first — CISSP or PMI-ACP?
PMI-ACP is the better starting point — it's rated intermediate and costs less. Use it as a stepping stone toward CISSP.