CC: (ISC)² Certified in Cybersecurity
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Exam Resources
Official learning paths, exam details, skills measured, and community resources to supplement your study.
About the CC Exam
Your entry into cybersecurity — USD $199 exam, free study materials from ISC²
The (ISC)² Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) certification validates foundational knowledge in cybersecurity principles, network security, access controls, security operations, and incident response — designed for career changers, students, and IT professionals entering cybersecurity.
Who Should Take This Exam?
The CC is designed for beginners and career changers. No prior experience required.
Prerequisites: None — entry level
Typical study time: 2-4 weeks of part-time study
Exam Quick Facts
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Exam Code | CC |
| Title | (ISC)² Certified in Cybersecurity |
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Questions | 100 |
| Pass Score | 700 / 1000 |
| Cost | $199 USD |
| Provider | Pearson VUE |
| Validity | 3 years (CPE required) |
| Prerequisites | None — entry level |
| Question Types | Multiple choice, Advanced innovative |
| Official Page | View on ISC² → |
Exam Domains & Weights
The CC exam covers 5 domains. Focus your study time based on the weights below — higher-weighted domains have more exam questions.
| Domain | Weight | Practice Qs |
|---|---|---|
| Security Principles | 26% | 52 |
| Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery & Incident Response | 10% | 20 |
| Access Controls Concepts | 22% | 44 |
| Network Security | 24% | 48 |
| Security Operations | 18% | 36 |
| Total | 100% | 200 |
💡 Study tip: Security Principles carries the most weight (26%) — start there. Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery & Incident Response has the least (10%), but don’t skip it — exam questions can come from any domain.
Practice Exam — 200 Questions
Prepare for the CC with our 200-question practice exam covering all 5 exam domains. Every question includes detailed explanations and maps to official exam objectives.
What you get:
- ✅ Exam simulation mode with timer
- ✅ Spaced repetition for weak areas
- ✅ Detailed explanations for every question
- ✅ Progress tracking across domains
- ✅ 20 free questions — no account needed
ISC² Certification Path
Start with CC (Certified in Cybersecurity) for entry-level, then SSCP for technical security, then CISSP for management. CISSP concentrations (ISSAP, ISSEP, ISSMP) come after CISSP.
Related ISC² Certifications
If you’re studying for the CC, you might also be interested in these ISC² certifications:
- CCSP: (ISC)² CCSP — 200 practice questions
- CGRC: (ISC)² CGRC — 200 practice questions
- CISSP-ISSAP: (ISC)² CISSP-ISSAP — 200 practice questions
- CISSP-ISSEP: (ISC)² CISSP-ISSEP — 200 practice questions
- CISSP-ISSMP: (ISC)² CISSP-ISSMP — 200 practice questions
Study Tips
- Start with the heaviest domain — focus your time where the exam focuses its questions
- Use our practice exam — try the 20 free questions first to gauge your readiness
- Review explanations — don’t just check if you got it right; read why each answer is correct
- Simulate exam conditions — use the timed exam mode to practice under pressure
- Check the official page — official exam details always have the latest objectives
Frequently asked questions
The CC questions I get most — usually from career changers asking ‘is this really my way in?’ and ‘is it actually free?’
Is ISC² CC really free? #
Is the CC certification worth it for getting into cybersecurity? #
How long does it take to prepare for CC? #
CC vs CompTIA Security+ — which should I take first? #
What does the CC cert require for renewal? #
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is ISC² CC really free?
The exam fee was USD $50 (via the One Million Certified in Cybersecurity Pledge) for years — that promotion ended in mid-2025. The exam now costs USD $199. ISC² still offers free self-study materials (Official Study App + practice question pack) — register at [isc2.org/certifications/cc](https://www.isc2.org/certifications/cc) for the free materials, even though the exam fee is back to standard.
2. Is the CC certification worth it for getting into cybersecurity?
Yes — for absolute beginners. CC gives you an ISC² credential on your CV without years of work history (unlike CISSP, which needs 5 years). It signals you've taken cybersecurity seriously and passed a vendor-neutral foundational exam. The next step from CC is usually [SSCP](https://www.isc2.org/certifications/sscp) (technical) or CompTIA Security+, then eventually CISSP. CC by itself rarely lands the job — it gets your CV past the keyword filter.
3. How long does it take to prepare for CC?
Two to four weeks of part-time study for most beginners. If you've done CompTIA Security+ or have an IT background, you might pass cold or with a week's review. The exam is 100 questions over 2 hours covering 5 domains — Security Principles (26%) carries the most weight, so start there. Our [200-question practice exam](/cert-tracker/isc2-cc/) maps to the latest exam objectives.
4. CC vs CompTIA Security+ — which should I take first?
Honest answer: take whichever your target job posting asks for. Security+ has wider US and UK enterprise and government recognition. CC has growing international recognition and a cleaner ISC² upgrade path to SSCP and CISSP. Cost-wise CC is cheaper ($199 vs around $392). Most career changers do CC first (cheaper, easier, faster) then Security+ within 6 months once they've landed an entry role.
5. What does the CC cert require for renewal?
45 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits over a 3-year renewal cycle, plus an annual maintenance fee (USD $50/year for CC holders as of 2026). CPEs come from training, webinars, contributing to security communities, attending conferences. ISC² publishes the full CPE handbook. If you don't renew, the cert lapses but you can reinstate within a grace period.