The best cybersecurity certifications for most people are CompTIA Security+ to start ($439), then a specialty such as CySA+, CEH or OSCP, and the CISSP ($749) or CISM once you have five years of experience. ISC2's Certified in Cybersecurity ($199) requires no experience at all. For AI, the main options are cloud exams from AWS, Google and Microsoft and governance credentials such as the IAPP AIGP.
Cybersecurity certifications at a glance
| Certification | Issuer | Level | Exam fee | Experience to certify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CC | ISC2 | Entry | $199 | None required |
| Security+ | CompTIA | Entry | $439 | None required |
| Network+ | CompTIA | Entry | $399 | None required |
| GSEC | GIAC | Entry to intermediate | Not listed publicly | None required |
| CySA+ | CompTIA | Intermediate | $439 | None required |
| CEH | EC-Council | Intermediate | $950 | 2 years of information security experience, or official EC-Council training |
| OSCP | OffSec | Intermediate, hands-on | $1,699 | None required |
| CISSP | ISC2 | Advanced | $749 | 5 years of paid, full-time experience in at least 2 of the 8 CISSP domains |
| CISM | ISACA | Advanced, management | $760 | 5 years of information security management experience across at least 3 of the 4 CISM domains |
| CISA | ISACA | Advanced, audit | $760 | 5 years of IS auditing, control or security experience |
| CCSP | ISC2 | Advanced, cloud | $599 | 5 years in IT, including 3 in cybersecurity and 1 in a CCSP domain |
| SecurityX | CompTIA | Advanced | $544 | None required |
Fees and requirements from each issuer's official pages, October 2026. "None required" means you can certify without documented experience, though the issuer may recommend some.
Which certification should you get first?
- No experience: ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity or CompTIA Security+.
- One to three years in IT or a SOC: CompTIA CySA+ for defense, CEH or PenTest+ for offense, or GIAC GSEC.
- Hands-on offense: OSCP or PNPT. See our pen testing certifications guide.
- Five or more years: CISSP for broad security leadership, CISM for program management, CISA for audit and CCSP for cloud.
Certification guides
Entry
CompTIA Security+
CompTIA's core security certification.
Read guide → OffensiveCEH
EC-Council's Certified Ethical Hacker exam.
Read guide → Hands-onOSCP
OffSec's practical penetration testing exam.
Read guide → AdvancedCISSP
ISC2's senior security credential.
Read guide → ManagementCISM
ISACA's security management credential.
Read guide → RoundupPen testing certifications
Eight ethical hacking certs compared.
Read guide → RoundupDigital forensics certifications
Seven forensics certs compared.
Read guide → AIAI certifications
AWS, Google, Azure, Databricks, NVIDIA and AIGP.
Read guide → AI · BeginnerGoogle AI Essentials
Google's self-paced beginner AI course.
Read guide → AI · PromptingPrompt engineering certifications
Google, Vanderbilt, Columbia, GSDC and more compared.
Read guide →Certifications vs. degrees
Certifications prove a specific skill and are quick to earn; degrees build the broad foundation and often count toward experience requirements. A relevant degree can waive one of the five years the CISSP requires. Compare programs in our online cybersecurity master's and online AI master's rankings. Information security analysts earned a median $129,180 in May 2025, and BLS projects the field to grow 21% from 2025 to 2035.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best cybersecurity certification for beginners?
CompTIA Security+ ($439) is a widely used first certification, and ISC2's Certified in Cybersecurity ($199) requires no experience.
Which cybersecurity certification pays the most?
BLS does not report pay by certification. Senior credentials such as CISSP and CISM require five years of experience, so holders tend to be further along in their careers.
How much do cybersecurity certifications cost?
Exam fees on this page run from $199 for ISC2 CC to $1,699 for the standalone OSCP exam, before training. Most also carry renewal or maintenance fees.
What is the best AI certification?
See our AI certifications guide: AWS, Google Cloud and Microsoft offer the main cloud AI exams, and the IAPP AIGP leads for AI governance.