Exam Details
Exam CodeSSCP
Exam Cost$249 USD
Duration180 minutes
Questions150
Passing Score700/1000
ProviderISC2
Difficulty6/10
Salary Data
Professionals holding the ISC2 SSCP certification earn between $68,000 and $120,000 annually, with an average of $90,000.
Job market demand trend: Growing (+10% YoY)
Prerequisites
- 1 year of cumulative paid work experience in one or more of the 7 SSCP domains
- A bachelor's or master's degree in a cybersecurity-related field can satisfy the experience requirement
Skills Covered
Access ControlsSecurity Operations & AdministrationRisk Identification & MonitoringIncident Response & RecoveryCryptographyNetwork & Communications SecuritySystems & Application Security
Best Study Resources
Official
ISC2 Official SSCP Study Guide
OfficialISC2 SSCP Self-Paced Training
CourseMike Chapple — SSCP Cert Prep (LinkedIn Learning)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ISC2 SSCP worth it in 2025?
Yes, especially for IT professionals looking to transition into security roles. SSCP validates practical security skills and is recognized globally. It also provides a clear pathway to the CISSP certification.
SSCP vs Security+ — which is better?
Security+ is broader and better for entry-level roles with no experience requirement. SSCP is more in-depth technically and requires 1 year of experience, making it better suited for professionals already working in IT who want to specialize in security.
How hard is the SSCP exam?
The SSCP is rated a 6/10 in difficulty. It has 150 questions in 3 hours and requires solid understanding of hands-on security concepts. With about 100 hours of study, pass rates are approximately 70%.
Data Sources
- Salary data — Aggregated from job postings and salary surveys (US median)
- Job listings — Active postings across major job boards
- Pass rates — Community-reported estimates (not official vendor data)
- Exam details — ISC2 official documentation