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