Quick Answer
CISSP certification requires 120 CPE credits over three years (minimum 40 per year) plus an Annual Maintenance Fee of $135. Credits come from training, conferences, publishing, teaching, and professional activities.
The Three-Year Certification Cycle
CISSP operates on three-year certification cycles. During each cycle, you must earn 120 CPE credits with at least 40 credits per year. You also pay the $135 Annual Maintenance Fee each year.
CPE Credits Explained
One CPE credit roughly equals one hour of professional development activity. ISC2 categorizes activities into Group A (directly related to CISSP domains) and Group B (general professional development). You need at least 90 Group A credits per cycle.
CISSP maintenance is the cost of keeping a valuable professional asset.
✓ Reviewed against official ISC2 sources. The exam facts on this page are checked against ISC2’s official CISSP Exam Outline and other primary sources. Last verified August 2026. certifiedcissp.com is an independent resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by ISC2.
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