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Blog  /  AI

ISC2's New AI Security Certification: Six Domains, a Pilot Exam and a November 4 Deadline

ISC2's new AI security certification: volunteer by November 4, pilot exam December to January

On October 26, ISC2, the organization behind the CISSP, released the pilot exam outline for its new AI security certification. That gives us our first real look at what it will test, who it's for and when you can earn it. If you have AI security experience, the deadline to volunteer for the pilot exam is November 4, so it's worth reading this week.

6
Exam domains
3,000
Pilot exam seats, approximately
10,000
Volunteers so far, nearly
Nov 4
Deadline to volunteer
The timeline

From survey to certification

  • July 2026Development announced
    ISC2 starts recruiting practitioners to define the credential.
  • Oct 26, 2026Pilot exam outline released
    Six domains, with topics and subtopics.
  • Nov 4, 2026Volunteer deadline
    Last day to submit your interest in the pilot exam.
  • Mid-Dec to late JanPilot exam
    About 3,000 selected volunteers sit the exam.
  • 2027Launch
    If the pilot succeeds, the certification becomes operational.
What it covers

The six domains

ISC2 hasn't published domain weights yet, but the outline names all six. Together they cover both the technical side of securing AI and the governance side.

1. AI concepts and security fundamentals

How AI systems work and where they create new risk.

2. AI governance, ethics, risk and compliance

Policy, accountability and the regulations that apply to AI.

3. AI data management, privacy and model security

Protecting training data, personal data and the models themselves.

4. Secure AI architecture, engineering and IAM

Designing AI systems securely, including identity and access management.

5. Secure AI operations and incident response

Running AI in production and responding when something goes wrong.

6. AI threats, testing and lifecycle management

Attacks on AI, how to test for them, and managing models over time.

Who it's for

This one is built for experienced pros

According to ISC2's announcement, the proposed requirement to earn the certification is:

  • Four years of cumulative, paid, full-time experience in cybersecurity or AI-related fields
  • Two of those years in cybersecurity
  • One year spanning two or more of the six domains
  • Or an active CISSP, ISSAP, ISSEP, ISSMP, CCSP or CSSLP, which substitutes for the entire experience requirement

Passing the exam, meeting the experience requirement and completing endorsement are all required. ISC2 calls these requirements proposed, so they could still change before launch.

My take: if you already hold a CISSP, you're about as well positioned for this credential as anyone can be. If you're working toward the CISSP, this just added one more reason to finish it.
How it compares

ISC2 AI security vs. CompTIA SecAI+

We wrote recently about CompTIA SecAI+. The two aren't really competing. They sit at different points in a career.

Available now

CompTIA SecAI+

Exam CY0-001

  • You can train and test today
  • A strong first AI security credential for practitioners
  • Live classes on our schedule now
See SecAI+ class dates
Coming in 2027

ISC2 AI security certification

Name not yet announced

  • Pilot exam mid-December to late January
  • Aimed at experienced professionals
  • CISSP holders meet the experience requirement
Read ISC2's outline

Volunteering isn't a guaranteed pilot seat

About 3,000 people will be selected from the volunteers to take the pilot. Volunteering is open to the global cybersecurity community, including people who aren't ISC2 members, as long as they have relevant AI security experience. ISC2 also notes that volunteers earn CPE credits for their time.

What to do now

Your next moves

  1. Have AI security experience? Volunteer by November 4. It's your chance to help shape the exam, and to be among the first to earn it.
  2. Read the pilot exam outline. Even if you won't sit the pilot, the six domains are a solid map of what employers will expect from AI security roles.
  3. Working toward the CISSP? Finish it. An active CISSP covers the entire experience requirement for the new certification.
  4. Want a credential now? SecAI+ is available today, and it builds the foundation this new certification assumes.

Get ahead of AI security

Earn your CISSP or SecAI+ in a live, instructor-led class. Qualified service members, veterans and spouses pay a flat $1,500 per class.

Call 855-868-4467 or email website@thinqtanklearning.com

— Scott

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