The SSCP certification is one of the most recognized certifications in the information technology field. Passing the SSCP exam can help you advance in your career as a database administrator, security analyst, systems engineer, or security administrator.
You will need a combination of work experience, knowledge of systems and application security, and dedication to studying to become a systems security certified practitioner, but it may be worth it for your career trajectory. This article will detail the SSCP certification cost, benefits, and how to prepare for the exam. Let’s get started.
What Is the SSCP Certification?
The Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP) is a certification for anyone wanting to prove their technical, practical, and hands-on IT skills. This certification is a popular way to advance your career in information technology or information security.
While earning this certification is not required for most jobs, you should definitely consider it to earn a higher salary, administer IT infrastructures, and work in higher positions surrounding network security.
Benefits of Becoming a Systems Security Certified Practitioner
There are quite a few benefits of SSCP certification, from increasing your salary to setting yourself up for future career advancement. Studying for the exam will also ensure that you are up-to-date with advanced security concepts and can help you perform better in your current role. Let’s take a look at some of the most important SSCP benefits.
Higher Salaries
The average SSCP certification salary is $80,000, according to PayScale. As a comparison, PayScale also reports that information security analysts make an average wage of $75,123. This shows that the typical systems security certified practitioner salary is substantially higher than what you would expect to earn without the certification.
Additionally, earning SSCP certification paves the way for earning a CISSP certification, which can push your annual average salary over $120,000. This is even more than what you are likely to make with a Master’s Degree in Information Security
Better Job Opportunities
The Department of Defense requires all information security employees to have earned a certain level of certification. While you can get entry-level jobs associated with information security, your career will not go far without getting your SSCP or a similar security certification. The SSCP certification holds value in the security field, and gaining this credential will show off your impressive IT skills to potential employers.
Remain Up-To-Date
The cyber security field is constantly changing and staying on top of new threats and protocols is essential if you are the one coming up with security policies for your company. Reviewing study materials and taking training courses to pass a certification exam will ensure that you stay informed.
Earn More Advanced Certifications
A major benefit of SSCP certification is that it sets you up to earn more advanced and higher-paying certifications down the road. For example, after the SSCP, you can set your sights on the CISSP certification, which will make you one of the most in-demand security professionals worldwide.
Join a Supportive Community
Participating in SSCP certification study groups can connect you to others in your profession with similar career goals and experiences. This can help motivate you and keep you focused, and can even help you grow your professional network. You can join the virtual SSCP discussion forum and join in on study sessions and collaborate with peers.
SSCP Certification Requirements
- One year of relevant experience. To sit for the SSCP exam, you must have at least one year of paid experience in the field. You may be able to meet the experience requirements if you have a bachelor’s or master’s in cyber security.
- Pass the SSCP exam. The SSCP exam includes 150 multiple choice questions and covers seven security domains, including risk identification, incident response, and cryptography. SSCP requirements state that you must earn at least 700 out of 1,000 points.
- Complete the endorsement process. You will need to show that you are in good standing within the cyber security industry and prove your claims regarding your professional history are true to meet SSCP certification requirements.
- Pay the exam fee. All (ISC)2 certified members must pay an exam fee of $249, as well as an annual maintenance fee of $125 on the anniversary of their certification.
How Much Does the SSCP Certification Cost?
The SSCP exam costs $249 in the US, so this is the minimum amount you will pay. However, your overall SSCP certification costs will vary depending on your study habits. While the (ISC)2 study groups are free to join, some study materials can cost even more than the exam itself.
How to Earn Your SSCP Certification: Step by Step
Earning your SSCP certification might seem intimidating. There are many important factors to take into account, from best study practices to the time and cost of the exam. To help, we have compiled all of the information you will need to prepare yourself to become a systems security certified practitioner in a step-by-step guide.
Step 1: Gain Work Experience
The first step you will need to take when you begin preparing for the SSCP certification exam is to gain the required year of work experience. You can do this by working an entry-level job, or by applying for an internship.
Step 2: Use Online Study Guides
Since this is such an important and common exam for security professionals to take, there are plenty of online study guides available. We suggest taking advantage of these well before your SSCP exam day, as it will ensure you are fully prepared.
Step 3: Enroll in Training Programs
As you get closer to the exam date, you will want to begin studying a bit harder. The exam questions are multiple choice, but span a wide range of topics, so you have a lot of ground to cover. By enrolling in either in-person or online training programs, you can study under an instructor who is an expert in SSCP certifications.
Step 4: Take Practice Exams
The more prepared you are for the exam, the better. Taking practice exams online can really help in preparing you not just so you understand the content, but also to help you get a feel of what taking the actual SSCP certification exam will be like. It can also help you identify what areas you need to focus on in your study sessions.
Step 5: Sign Up for the Exam
Once you feel completely prepared and ready to ace the exam, you are ready to sign up. You can do this by creating an account with Pearson VUE, registering for a date, and covering the SSCP exam cost. You will also need to review and commit to the (ISC)2 codes of ethics.
The SSCP Certification Exam: What’s Included?
The SSCP exam consists of 150 multiple choice questions and lasts four hours. It scored on a scale of 0 to 1,000, and a passing score is considered to be 700 or above. The SSCP test is available in six languages, including English, Chinese, German, and Spanish. The seven domains covered include:
- Security operations and administration
- Access controls
- Risk identification, monitoring, and analysis
- Incident response and recovery
- Cryptography
- Network and communications security
- Systems and application security
The Best SSCP Training Programs
To better prepare for taking the SSCP certification exam, we highly recommend enrolling in a few training programs, online courses, and simply taking practice exams. We have compiled a list some of our favorite resources to help choose the best ones for you.
Best SSCP Practice Exams
Taking practice exams is one of the most commonly used forms of studying for any certification. These are a couple of the best SSCP practice exams you can use to test your preparedness and technical skill level.
ISC SSCP Exam
- Provider: ExamTopics
- Length: 2 hours
- Prerequisites: None
- Price: Free
This practice exam from ExamTopics is designed to specifically mimic the SSCP certification test. The database includes over 1,000 practice questions covering the same material as the actual test. If you need help or want more information, the website provides a detailed explanation of the answer and allows you to discuss the questions with other members of the community.
Systems Security Certified Practitioner Practice Exam
- Provider: ITExams
- Length: Self-Paced
- Prerequisites: None
- Price: Free
ITExams offers a plethora of certification exams, specifically dedicated to IT-related certifications. This SSCP certification practice exam is formatted with over 1,000 multiple choice questions, to which you can view the correct answer. You will also be able to see a detailed explanation as to why the correct response is the best answer to the question.
Best SSCP Training Programs
Enrolling in a training program is a good idea for anyone who is a bit unsure about studying by themselves. Training programs allow you to study under the instruction of an expert, which can help you to feel more confident about your knowledge.
Security Systems Certified Practitioner (SSCP) Training
- Provider: Learning Tree International- in-person or online
- Time: 5 days
- Prerequisites: None
- Price: $3,695
Learning Tree International offers a five-day SSCP bootcamp at several in-person locations, or in a live online format. This bootcamp is designed for systems analysts and engineers, security engineers, data analysts, and other, similar IT professionals. By the end of this bootcamp, you will be well-versed in all seven concentrations of the SSCP certification exam.
(ISC) Official SSCP Certification Exam Courses
- Provider: Training Camp
- Time: 5 days
- Prerequisites: None
- Price: $3,995
Training Camp’s SSCP certification exam course is a five-day bootcamp aimed to help students pass the certification exam. Its curriculum is reviewed every 30 days to ensure students have access to the most up-to-date information.
Best SSCP Online Courses
Online courses are one of the best ways for many people to study, as they allow you to work at your own pace and on your own time. If you are someone who works best in the middle of the night, or at a slower pace than most classes offer, these online courses may be best for you.
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SSCP Certification
- Provider: Udemy
- Time: Approximately 5.5 hours
- Prerequisites: None
- Price: Varies
Udemy is well-known for offering a plethora of technology-related courses, so it stands to reason there is a rigorous SSCP certification exam prep course available. This course, currently being offered at $99.99, is sure to cover all of the most up-to-date information you may be tested over on the exam.
(ISC) Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP)
- Provider: Coursera
- Time: Approximately 6 months
- Prerequisites: None
- Price: Free
For those who would like to spend more time studying, this Coursera course may be a good option. Though it is totally self-paced, it takes most students around six months to complete. As a totally free course, it is a great resource to provide structure to your study schedule. If you are unsure about this provider, read our Coursera review.
Best Online SSCP Resources and Study Guides
There are plenty of online SSCP certification resources and study guides available to fit your exact study needs. To save you some time, here are a few of our favorite SSCP study resources around.
Linkedin Learning
Linkedin Learning offers a range of SSCP prep courses and is one of the most popular resources currently available. You can choose among courses that cover the basics of every topic covered in the exam, or you can take a deep dive into one subject at a time.
Pluralsight
Pluralsight is a great website for learning a wide variety of subjects, including the skills you need to pass the SSCP exam. Offering one path which is a series of 13 courses, or all of the courses individually, Pluralsight offers plenty of study materials to properly prepare you for the SSCP certification exam.
Is the SSCP Certification Worth it?
Yes, gaining the SSCP certification is worth it if you are confident that you want to work in systems security. While you can land entry-level jobs in the field without it, you will need to become certified to advance in your career. SSCP certification will provide further job opportunities and an increased salary, making it worth the time and effort you’ll put into studying.
How to Become SSCP Certified FAQ
It can take anywhere between a few weeks to a few months to get SSCP certified, depending on how much time you want to dedicate to studying. Additionally, you will need at least one year of relevant work experience before you sit for the exam.
While the SSCP examination is designed for those early in their careers, it is more focused on technical application and may be more difficult than the CISSP. This primarily depends on where your skills lie. The CISSP certification is designed for experienced professionals interested in managerial roles.
Yes, the SSCP exam is hard and covers a wide range of subjects. Most professionals dedicate several weeks to studying before sitting for the exam. You will need a score of at least 700 out of 1,000 to pass.
The SSCP is valid for three years, after which you will need to gain at least 60 continuing education credits to renew. There are several ways to gain continuing education credits, including participating in webinars and signing up for online courses.
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