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CISA Exam Locations: Find the Closest Test Center in your Area!
Do you know how to find CISA exam locations near you? When you are ready to take the CISA exam, it is a pencil and paper test that is given at certain designated testing locations. Therefore, you have to find a testing location near you and sign up in order to take it. In this post, I am going to tell you how to do that.
But first, we’re going to talk a bit about what you can do to prepare for the exam. Part of preparing is knowing where to go, but more than that, it’s important to study and to arrive prepared. Do you have questions about things like what to bring on exam day? Well, don’t worry. You’ve come to the right place.
When preparing for the CISA exam, there are several important things you need to know.
These include:
- How to register
- Where to test
- What study guides are available
- How to create a study plan
- How much it costs
- Prepping for the exam day
- What to bring on exam day
In order to prepare to proceed, let’s look at these in more detail.
How to Register for the CISA Exam
If you are registering for the CISA, you need to go to the ISACA website. Exam candidates can register for continuous testing for the CISA certification exam on the updated 2019 job practice. There will be other information about continuous testing exams, exam registration fees, and finding your exam location.
The online registration process allows you to register for the exam of your choosing at the window/opening you choose. It will also allow you to purchase an ISACA membership if you choose (more on that later), and you can purchase study aids. If you become a member, you get immediate discounts on other purchased made online, including your exam fees. Once you choose all the registration fields, the final step will be to pay with a credit card or indicate that your payment will be sent by check or wire transfer.
All payments for exam registration fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. Be sure you are positive you want the exam date you choose because if you don’t show, it is not refunded and you’d have to register and pay all over again.
How Much Does the CISA Exam Costs
The following refers to online registration. Mailing and faxing your registration will incur an additional cost of $75. This is because ISACA, like many places today, is trying to go all digital as much as possible. You’ll save on fees if you register online and most people find it easier, anyway.
How much will you pay?
| 2019 CISA Exam Fee |
Member
|
Non-Member
|
| Early-bird registration |
$525
|
$710
|
| Standard registration |
$575
|
$760
|
The CISA exam fee itself has not increased since 2017, at least, so this is good news. If you want to save as much as possible, go for the early bird registration. It will save you $50 off whichever registration you choose (member or non-member) and that $50 really adds up.
Now, should you get the membership? This is a commonly-asked question. In short, I’d say yes. But let’s break down all the benefits so you can decide for yourself.
About ISACA Membership
You may be considering signing up for ISACA as a member. In fact, you will see this when you spend time on the website, and likely will be prompted for it when you try to register for CISA. Membership is not required to take the exam, but there are a lot of reasons why you may want to.
Membership to ISACA is optional, but there are some reasons you may want to consider it. CISA membership fees consist of international dues, local chapter dues, and new member fees. Here is the level in 2019:
- International dues: $135
- Local chapter dues: range from $0 to 140
- New membership fee: $10 if online; $30 if faxed
Although you don’t need to be a member to take the CISA exam, the membership discount to exam fee ($185) is enough to offset this membership fee in the majority of cases. And the benefit doesn’t end there.
In addition, there are also some added benefits to the membership over time (such as free CPE classes/credits) so many people decide to go for membership. In the long term, it benefits you the most.
Other Benefits to ISACA Membership
There are also other benefits to getting your ISACA Membership. For example, you have access to over 70 free CPE credit courses. Since you’re going to need the CPE in the future, it can’t hurt to get the membership now, take advantage of the reduced exam costs, and reap additional benefits later.
Now, what if you made a mistake on your registration, or need to make some changes to it before exam day? You should always proofread before sending and try to avoid any mistakes. However, it is possible to correct a mistake. The sooner you do it, the better.
Exam Registration Changes
Mistakes and changes need to be corrected as soon as possible. If an error with your name was made when registering for the exam, please update your profile by following these steps.
- Login to www.isaca.org,
- Click on the My ISACA tab,
- Then you can click on the myPROFILE>Account-Certification CPE-Demographic Info tab,
- As a next step, click the Edit button at the bottom of the profile to make your changes,
- Next, click Save.
If there is an error in the exam type (CISA, CRISC, CISM or CGEIT), please contact ISACA’s Customer Support Team immediately.
Choosing Your Location and Prepping for the CISA
Next, you need to know where to test for CISA. First, you need to choose your location. There are different testing locations for CISA and it will be important for you to find the test center in your area. CISA is a pencil and paper test, so it must be administered in person, in an approved testing location. The tests are always monitored.
What options are there for you if there is not a testing site near you?
ISACA and PSI, the testing vendor, work hard to offer exam test sites in high demand areas all over the globe. If you can not locate a site near you, then you can let them know and they will investigate the need.
You can report the need for new locations with their support team here.
How Many Testing Locations Are There?
There are hundreds of CISA exam locations in more than 100 countries. These exam centers are open in June and December, with selected locations also available in September (marked in blue). If you’re going to sign up for the CISA exam, you need to decide if you’re taking the test in June or in December. In order to have time to prepare, choose one that is far enough out that you can study properly.
Next, you also want to find the exam location you will be attending for your exam. When you register, you’ll register for this specific location. This is important for them to be prepared for who is coming, and because there is limited seating at each location.
Prepping for Exam Day
So what does it feel like taking your CISA exam on the day? You can’t ever know completely until you’re there and doing it yourself. However, we can give you a pretty good idea of what to expect so you’re not going in blind.
You will want to know:
- What to bring
- What NOT to bring
- How to study
- What time to arrive
- How long it will take to get there
- How long you will need to be there
We’ll try to give you as much information as we can so you can be fully prepared on the big day.
What to Bring on Your CISA Exam Day
The first thing you may notice is that the CISA exam remains to be a pencil-and-paper exam. I don’t have an answer to this, but I have read from ISACA quoting a higher cost in computerized administration. It is possible that as of now there are not enough candidates to justify a switch to a computerized exam.
Other than that, what you need to bring is more or less the same as other accounting and audit exams.
You must bring:
- Identification (with photo and signature, such as a passport). Make sure in advance that it is not unsigned or expired
- Exam ticket that you can print from “my ISACA” page
- 2B pencils and a soft eraser.
Acceptable forms of identification include:
- Driver’s license
- State identity card (non-driver’s license)
- Passport
- Passport card
- Military ID
- Green card
- Alien registration
- Permanent resident card
- National identification card
What NOT to Bring on Your CISA Exam Day
You’re also going to want to avoid bringing any unnecessary stuff with you. The test isn’t that long and you don’t need to prep like you’re going on vacation. Keep it simple. You can’t bring a bunch of extra things into the testing exam room with you anyway.
However, there will be a locker or designated area for personal items (like your purse or car keys). However, keep in mind that you will not be able to access any of your personal items until the exam is complete and submitted.
You are prohibited from bringing the following into the test center:
- Reference materials, paper, notepads, or language dictionaries
- Calculators
- Any type of communication, surveillance or recording devices such as:
- Mobile phones
- Tablets
- Smart watches or glasses
- Mobile devices
- Baggage of any kind including handbags, purses, or briefcases
- Weapons
- Tobacco products
- Food or beverages
- Visitors
In addition, if exam candidates are viewed with any such communication, surveillance or recording devices during the exam administration, their exam will be voided and they will be asked to immediately leave the exam site.
What to Expect at the Testing Center
ISACA runs a series of exams, and these candidates take the exams on the same day, at the same testing center. This means that not everyone who is there on the same day as you will be taking the CISA.
For example, you may expect to have a CISM exam taker next to you, or if your center is bigger, takers of the different exams may be assigned in different rooms. This won’t impact you in any way since you are not allowed to talk and you will simply take the test, turn it in and go on your way.
Like any other exams you may have taken at school, the proctor reads the instruction, hand out the exam books and you may start. What else do you need to know before you arrive at the exam testing center?
Acceptable Behavior at the Testing Center
It should go without saying, but you should exhibit proper behavior at all times. You are here to take the exam, as are others and you should respect yourself, the other test candidates, and the staff at the testing center at all times.
As you might expect, you should avoid activities that would invalidate your test score. According to ISACA, these include:
- Creating a disturbance
- Giving or receiving help; using notes, papers, or other aids
- Attempting to take the exam for someone else
- Possession of communication, surveillance or recording device, including but not limited to cell phones, tablets, smart glasses, smart watches, mobile devices, etc., during the exam administration
- Attempting to share test questions or answers or other information contained in the exam (as such are the confidential information of ISACA); including sharing test questions subsequent to the exam
- Leaving the testing area without authorization. (These individuals will not be allowed to return to the testing room), and
- Accessing items stored in the personal belongings area before the completion of the exam
What If I Have to Leave the Test Center?
Again, you are not allowed to leave the testing area without specific permission. You must gain authorization from the test proctor to leave the testing center. Furthermore, here are some things to know about leaving the testing center.
| If the reason for leaving is: | Then: |
| An emergency | • The exam will be paused temporarily • Once it is confirmed as an emergency, the test will end |
| To use the facilities | • You will be required to check out and check back in • The exam time will not stop, and no extra time will be permitted |
Violating the Testing Center Rules
If you violate the Exam Day Rules or engage in any kind of misconduct you will be subject to the following:
- dismissal or disqualification
- voiding of exam
- revocation of ISACA membership and any certifications currently held
In addition, the rules put out by ISACA are basically common sense rules and there’s really no reason why you should have any trouble conducting yourself appropriately.
What’s Next?
You will get the results and score report about 5 weeks after the exam. Furthermore, it will be delivered first by email, and will then listed on your profile page on the ISACA website. On the day of the exam, you will be given a simple pass or fail result, so you don’t have to wait to know if you passed.
However, no other details about scoring or what was correct or incorrect is given at the time of the exam on exam day.
What if you need to test for CISA and you are outside of the United States?
Global CISA Exam Locations
For US CISA exam locations, please refer to the link below to find the most current list of locations near you.
ARGENTINA
AUSTRALIA
AUSTRIA
BAHRAIN
BANGLADESH
BELGIUM
BERMUDA
BOLIVIA
BOTSWANA
BRAZIL
BULGARIA
CAMEROON
CANADA
CHILE
CHINA
COLOMBIA
COSTA RICA
COTE D’IVOIRE
CROATIA
CYPRUS
CZECH REPUBLIC
DENMARK
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
|
DUTCH WEST INDIES
ECUADOR
EGYPT
EL SALVADOR
ENGLAND
ESTONIA
FINLAND
FRANCE
GERMANY
GHANA
GREECE
GUATEMALA
HONDURAS
HUNGARY
INDIA
INDONESIA
IRELAND
ISRAEL
ITALY
JAMAICA
JAPAN
JORDAN
KAZAKHSTAN
|
KENYA
KUWAIT
LATVIA
LEBANON
LITHUANIA
LUXEMBOURG
MACAO
MALAYSIA
MALAWI
MALTA
MAURITIUS
MEXICO
MOROCCO
NETHERLANDS
NEW ZEALAND
NIGERIA
NORWAY
OMAN
PAKISTAN
PANAMA
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
PERU
PHILIPPINES
POLAND
PORTUGAL
PUERTO RICO
QATAR
ROMANIA
|
RUSSIA
SAUDI ARABIA
SCOTLAND
SINGAPORE
SLOVAK REPUBLIC
SLOVENIA
SOUTH AFRICA
SOUTH KOREA
SPAIN
SRI LANKA
SWEDEN
SWITZERLAND
TAIWAN
TANZANIA
THAILAND
TUNISIA
TURKEY
UGANDA
UKRAINE
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
UNITED STATES
URUGUAY
VENEZUELA
VIETNAM
WEST INDIES
ZAMBIA
ZIMBABWE
|
For Your Further Reading
- What to expect on exam day
- Frequently asked questions on the CISA exam
- CISA website on testing locations (within and outside of the US)
- How is the CISA exam scored?
- My CISA exam prep guide
About the Author Stephanie
I am the author of How to Pass The CPA Exam (published by Wiley) and the publisher of this and several accounting professional exam prep sites.
