Organizations are rapidly gearing up for the challenges and risks that come with integrating artificial intelligence into their operations. Even if AI security is a relatively new territory, its impact on large enterprises is already significant. If you already hold a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) or Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) credential, you’re starting from a strong foundation. Now you may be wondering whether ISACA’s new Advanced in AI Security Management (AAISM) certification is the right next step in your career.
Before you commit, it’s essential to understand whether you meet all the prerequisites. Knowing the AAISM certification requirements upfront saves you time, effort, and unnecessary expenses, while giving you a realistic roadmap for preparing and positioning yourself for success.
Essential AAISM Certification Requirements: Complete Checklist
Before you register for the AAISM exam, make sure you meet all mandatory prerequisites. Understanding these requirements helps you avoid wasted effort and lets you focus your study time on the areas that matter most. This checklist covers both the certification prerequisites and what’s needed to become fully certified, so you can quickly assess your eligibility.
Must Have an Active CISM or CISSP Certification
To qualify for AAISM, you must already hold a current, active CISM or CISSP certification. Expired credentials won’t suffice. Other certifications, such as the Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Security+, or the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), are not eligible for AAISM.
The two certifications — CISM and CISSP — were chosen because they provide a foundational baseline in cybersecurity governance, risk management, and security program leadership. Holding one of those credentials and ensuring it remains active indicates that you possess the core competencies needed to pursue advanced AI security management.
Exam Registration and Eligibility Window
When you register for the AAISM exam, you’ll have a 12-month window to schedule and take it. This gives you flexibility to plan around work commitments and study time. The exam consists of 90 questions, covering three major domains: AI Governance & Program Management, AI Risk Management, and AI Technologies & Controls.
You will have 2.5 hours (150 minutes) to complete the exam, and you must get a scaled score of 450 or higher out of a possible 800 to pass.
If you do succeed in the exam, you must submit your application along with a one-time $50 application fee to be fully certified. By learning about these parameters from the start, you can better manage your schedule, budget, and study strategy, increasing your chances of a successful exam attempt.
Professional Experience Requirements for AAISM Certification
The only qualification you need to apply for the exam is holding a CISSP or CISM certificate. No professional experience is formally required for the AAISM certification. However, hands-on experience will significantly help you navigate the scenario-based questions. While ISACA doesn’t specify an exact number of years, the emphasis is on real, practical involvement in AI governance, risk management, and leading security or compliance programs.
Quality and relevance of your work matter more than time in the field, so having exposure to AI security initiatives, risk assessments, or leadership roles will strengthen your readiness for the exam.
If you have applied experience with AI security and management, you’ll find it much easier to connect theoretical concepts to real-world scenarios, which is a critical skill for passing the AAISM.
Additional Certification Requirements for AAISM Candidates
Apart from the prerequisite certificates, there are no other formal requirements you’ll need to accomplish before taking the exam. However, you’re expected to maintain ongoing professional development after earning the certification to stay aligned with AAISM’s focus on advanced leadership.
To keep your AAISM certification active, you need to complete at least 10 hours of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) each year, with a total of 30 CPE hours over a three-year cycle.
In addition to submitting your CPE records, you’ll also need to provide proof through the ISACA dashboard that your CISM or CISSP remains in good standing. An annual maintenance fee of $35 (or $20 for ISACA members) also applies.
Do You Qualify? Common Scenarios Explained
When you’re trying to determine whether you qualify for the AAISM exam, the simplest approach is to look at your current certification status. Since AAISM has very specific prerequisites, your eligibility depends entirely on whether you already hold CISM, CISSP, both, or neither.
Let’s recap what we’ve covered about possible decision pathways:
Active CISM or CISSP → Eligible
If you have an active CISM, you already qualify and can register immediately. The same applies if you have an active CISSP: you’ve met the full prerequisite and can begin preparing right away. If you hold both CISM and CISSP, you also qualify, and you may even gain an advantage because both certifications reinforce the governance, security management, and risk foundations AAISM builds on.
Expired CISM or CISSP → Renew first
If your CISM or CISSP has expired, you won’t qualify until the credential is renewed through the official process. ISACA requires that the certifications must be current and in good standing, so inactive or lapsed credentials aren’t accepted.
Other certifications only → Earn CISM or CISSP
If you only have CISA, Security+, CEH, or other certifications, you’re not yet eligible. These may support your professional background, but they do not satisfy the AAISM prerequisite. You’ll need to earn either CISM or CISSP first.
Currently pursuing prerequisite → Eligible once active
If you’re currently working toward CISM or CISSP, you become eligible the moment that certification becomes active. It can help to plan your study timeline so that once your prerequisite is approved, you can register for AAISM immediately and keep your momentum going.
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How to Verify Your Eligibility
Before starting your AAISM application, it’s important to confirm that your background meets ISACA’s requirements. This protects your time and helps your organization avoid delays later in the certification process. It also prevents last-minute rework if any credentials or documents are missing. Completing this step gives you a clear path toward a smooth submission.
Step-by-Step Process for Checking Credentials on ISACA’s Portal
Begin by signing in to your ISACA account and navigating to the “My Certifications” section. The portal automatically verifies whether your CISSP or CISM is active and valid, which is the core requirement for AAISM certification.
Your organization can view this same status if you’re managing applications for a team. If any credentials appear inactive, the portal will prompt you to resolve them before moving forward. This ensures you verify everything before you invest in the full application.
Recommended Documentation to Prepare Before Applying
Prepare digital copies of your CISSP or CISM certificate so you can upload them quickly when prompted. Your organization may also require internal validation letters, especially if your role includes governance or oversight responsibilities.
Keeping an updated resume is helpful in case ISACA requests confirmation of your current job function. It’s also wise to gather evidence of recent continuing education in security leadership. Having these documents ready supports accurate and efficient eligibility checks.
Tips for Addressing Gaps in Eligibility
If your credential has lapsed, you should renew it first because ISACA will not allow you to proceed without an active CISSP or CISM. Your organization can also help verify your work experience if you are unsure how best to document it.
If there’s a name mismatch between your certificate and your ISACA profile, updating your account details usually resolves the issue quickly. You should also confirm that your CPE credits are fully recorded, as missing credits can affect your standing. Addressing these administrative gaps early helps ensure your application moves forward without disruption.
Next Steps Once Eligible
Once you confirm your eligibility, your next focus should be on the three AAISM exam domains and how they relate to your current responsibilities. These domains outline the core leadership expectations for AI governance, so reviewing them helps you identify where to deepen your preparation.
You can download the official AAISM exam guide from ISACA to break down each domain and get a better grasp of the skills you’ll be evaluated on. Many professionals also enroll in online AAISM courses or bootcamps for structured lessons tied directly to domain objectives. If you prefer self-study, create a study plan that allocates time to each domain based on your strengths and any identified gaps.
It’s also helpful to map recent work projects to the domain tasks to reinforce how the concepts apply in real-world settings. By centering your preparation around these domains, you build the practical insight needed to perform confidently on exam day.
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Frequently Asked Questions
To help you decide whether it’s worth the time and effort, here are answers to more common questions about the requirements for AAISM certification.
The key difference here lies in specialization: CISM and CISSP validate broad security leadership, while AAISM is explicitly focused on managing and governing security in AI-driven environments.
If your role involves AI risk, AI strategy, or overseeing AI implementations, AAISM can serve as a differentiator, demonstrating expertise in a niche but growingly critical domain. It doesn’t replace existing credentials, but signals advanced capability in an area where many security leaders are still catching up.
Not necessarily. AAISM is designed for governance and leadership roles, rather than hands-on AI engineering or model development. You are evaluated on policy, oversight, risk, and management decisions instead of coding or algorithm tuning.
That said, a basic understanding of how AI systems operate can be very helpful for interpreting risks, identifying technical vulnerabilities, and applying appropriate governance controls. Many candidates review introductory AI concepts or attend short AI literacy courses before diving into the AAISM study plan.
From Eligibility to Certification: Your AAISM Readiness Plan
Meeting the AAISM certification requirements is the first step toward advancing your career in AI security leadership, enabling you to confidently plan your path to the exam. Take the time to verify your eligibility, organize any necessary documentation, and map out your study strategy around the three AAISM domains.
One of the most effective ways to quickly move from eligibility to exam readiness is by enrolling in Destination Certification’s online AAISM BootCamp. This program not only offers a structured, comprehensive, expert-led deep dive into the three exam domains, but it also helps you stay disciplined throughout your exam prep, keeping the AAISM certification requirements top of mind.
With a clear plan and targeted study, you’ll be better positioned to maximize your chances of successfully earning this advanced certification. Help yourself get ready and stay eligible by joining us today!
Rob is the driving force behind the success of the Destination Certification CISSP program, leveraging over 15 years of security, privacy, and cloud assurance expertise. As a seasoned leader, he has guided numerous companies through high-profile security breaches and managed the development of multi-year security strategies. With a passion for education, Rob has delivered hundreds of globally acclaimed CCSP, CISSP, and ISACA classes, combining entertaining delivery with profound insights for exam success. You can reach out to Rob on LinkedIn.
Rob is the driving force behind the success of the Destination Certification CISSP program, leveraging over 15 years of security, privacy, and cloud assurance expertise. As a seasoned leader, he has guided numerous companies through high-profile security breaches and managed the development of multi-year security strategies. With a passion for education, Rob has delivered hundreds of globally acclaimed CCSP, CISSP, and ISACA classes, combining entertaining delivery with profound insights for exam success. You can reach out to Rob on LinkedIn.
Certification in 3 Days
Study everything you need to know for the AAISM exam in a 3-day bootcamp!
