ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) Exam Review – January 2026 Update
The ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) certification is designed as an entry-level qualification for individuals beginning their journey into cybersecurity. As of 2026, it continues to serve as a strong foundational credential for students, career changers, and early-career IT professionals looking to validate core security knowledge.
This review covers the exam structure, content, preparation strategy, exam experience, and post-exam process, based on real-world experience.
Exam Structure and Content (2026)
As of 2026, the CC exam consists of:
- 100 multiple-choice questions
- 2-hour time limit
- Delivered via Pearson VUE (online or test centre)
In practice, many candidates complete the exam well under the allotted time. Personally, I finished in under 45 minutes, which reflects the exam’s foundational nature rather than its length.
Exam Domains and Weighting
The exam is broken down into the following domains:
- Domain 1: Security Principles – 26%
- Domain 2: Business Continuity (BC), Disaster Recovery (DR) & Incident Response Concepts – 10%
- Domain 3: Access Control Concepts – 22%
- Domain 4: Network Security – 24%
- Domain 5: Security Operations – 18%
The exam tests both theoretical understanding and applied knowledge. While it is very much an entry-level certification, it still covers critical real-world concepts that form the backbone of cybersecurity roles.
In terms of difficulty, I’d place it on par with Microsoft SC-900 and CompTIA Cloud Essentials+ — accessible, but not something you should walk into unprepared.
Preparing for the CC Exam
Preparation requirements vary depending on background.
ISC2 continues to offer a free, official self-paced CC training pathway, and for me, this was sufficient on its own. Completing the full ISC2 learning pathway gave me enough confidence to sit the exam without additional study.
That said, candidates with little or no prior cybersecurity exposure may benefit from supplementary resources, such as:
- CISSP Study Guide (Eric Conrad et al.) – for broader context
- LinkedIn Learning cybersecurity fundamentals courses
- YouTube walkthroughs focused on CC exam objectives
These are helpful but not required.
Study Advice for 2026 Candidates
- Focus heavily on terminology and concepts rather than tools
- Understand why controls exist, not just what they are
- If possible, reinforce learning with hands-on labs or simulations
- Familiarise yourself with ISC2-style question wording, which can feel different from other vendors
Exam Experience
The exam experience itself can feel more challenging than some practice materials suggest. Several candidates report that the real exam questions require deeper interpretation and careful reading.
Key advice:
- Slow down — you cannot return to previous questions
- Read each question carefully before answering
- Eliminate at least two incorrect options, then make a judgement call
- Rely on practical, real-world reasoning, not memorisation
Upon completion, you’ll receive a provisional pass or fail result immediately.
Results, Endorsement, and Fees
If you pass:
- You’ll receive a “Congratulations” notification
- You must complete the endorsement process
- Pay the Annual Maintenance Fee (AMF)
- You’ll then receive your official confirmation email
At that point, you can begin using the ISC2 CC designation
Post-Exam Reflection
Post-exam doubt is common — even among those who pass comfortably. Many candidates second-guess specific questions or feel uncertain about grading transparency. This is normal.
Some candidates pass on the first attempt, while others benefit from revisiting the material and retaking the exam. The key is to approach CC with realistic expectations: it’s foundational, but it still expects understanding.
From my own perspective, I prepared for around one week, leveraging prior cybersecurity experience. For newcomers, I strongly recommend:
Completing the ISC2 self-paced course in full
Reviewing Thor Pedersen’s CC course, which significantly increases pass confidence
The Welcome Kit (2026)
As an ISC2 CC holder, you will not receive a physical welcome kit.
Instead, you’ll receive:
- A downloadable digital certificate via your ISC2 member profile
- A digital badge from Credly, which can be shared on LinkedIn and CVs
For anyone starting out — or formalizing early experience — CC is a solid first step.
Upon completion of the exam, candidates receive a
provisional pass or fail report , it will look something like this
Once you receive a Congratulations you will need to Pay your AMF Fees through the endorsement process.
You should get an email which looks similar to below.
you will then receive your office result through email and can start using your new designation.
Post-Exam Reflection
After taking the CC exam, many candidates reflect on their
performance critically. Some express concerns about how well they understood
certain questions or whether they were adequately prepared despite studying
extensively. This highlights a common sentiment among test-takers regarding
transparency in grading and feedback mechanisms.
Overall, while some candidates find success on their first
attempt, others may need to retake the exam after further preparation. It is
important for future test-takers to approach this certification with realistic
expectations regarding its difficulty level.
Looking back I was fortunate enough to have the experience and really and truly glided through the exam , I only prepared for 1 week as I had experience in cybersecurity , my best advise before taking this exam would be to complete the self-paced course on isc2 and take a look at Thor’s CC Course as it will pretty much guarantee you having a good shot at passing the exam.
The Welcome Kit
As a ISC2 CC Holder you wont receive a Physical Kit Instead you will be able download your Certificate from Your member profile , you will also receive a digital badge from Credily , They will look something like this.
Final Thoughts
The ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) remains, in 2026, a valuable entry point into the cybersecurity profession. It’s ideal for those looking to validate baseline knowledge and begin building credibility in the field.
While ISC2 provides excellent free training, candidates who engage deeply with the material, think critically, and supplement learning where needed will have the strongest chance of success.
More Info below on ISC2 Website
- https://www.isc2.org/certifications/cc