Earning your ISACA certification is a milestone — but maintaining it requires ongoing Continuing Professional Education (CPE). Here's everything you need to know.
CPE Requirements at a Glance
All ISACA certifications (CISA, CISM, CRISC, CGEIT, CDPSE) follow the same CPE framework:
What Counts as CPE?
ISACA accepts a wide range of activities:
Formal Learning (Most CPEs)
University courses (up to 45 CPEs per course)
Professional conferences (up to 32 CPEs)
Training seminars and workshops
Online courses and webinars
Vendor certifications (AWS, Azure, etc.)
Self-Study
Reading professional books (max 10 CPEs/year for self-study)
Studying for additional certifications
Completing practice exams and assessments
Professional Activities
Publishing articles or papers (max 20 CPEs per article)
Speaking at conferences (max 20 CPEs per presentation)
Mentoring professionals (max 10 CPEs/year)
Serving on professional boards or committees
Teaching certification review courses
On-the-Job Learning
Attending employer-provided training
Participating in audit methodology updates
Completing compliance training
CPE Tracking Tips
•Log CPEs immediately — Don't wait until the deadline. Record activities as you complete them.
•Keep evidence — Retain certificates of completion, attendance records, and receipts for at least 3 years (ISACA may audit).
•Diversify your activities — Mix formal learning, self-study, and professional activities.
•Set quarterly goals — Aim for 10 CPEs per quarter to stay ahead of the annual 20-hour minimum.
Easy Ways to Earn CPEs
ISACA Journal — Free for members, each issue earns 1 CPE with quiz completion
ISACA webinars — Regular free webinars worth 1-2 CPEs each
Our courses — Our certification prep materials and mock exams qualify as self-study CPEs
Industry podcasts — Many qualify as self-study (document what you learned)
Local ISACA chapter meetings — 1-2 CPEs per meeting
What Happens If You Don't Meet CPE Requirements?
Your certification will be suspended if you fail to report adequate CPEs
You have a grace period of one year to make up the shortfall
After the grace period, your certification is revoked and you must re-certify
Annual Compliance Checklist
Stay sharp with our certification courses and advanced flashcard add-ons — great for both exam prep and CPE credits.