Can I take the CISSP if I have zero IT experience?

Yes, you can take and pass the exam, but you will only receive 'Associate of ISC2' status until you accumulate the required 5 years of full-time professional experience.

Is CompTIA Security+ accepted for government contracting jobs?

Yes. Security+ meets DoD 8570 baseline requirements for Information Assurance Technical (IAT) Level II roles, making it extremely popular for defense contractors.

Which certification pays better?

CISSP holders generally command significantly higher average salaries than Security+ holders because CISSP is targeted at senior management, architecture, and executive oversight roles.

CompTIA Security+ vs. Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

Question: Should an IT professional pursue the 'CompTIA Security+' or 'Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)' certification for entry-level vs. management cybersecurity roles?

Prepared by the ChoiceScore Research Desk · Editor-approved for the curated library · Reviewed July 30, 2026

It depends Choice Score: 88/100

Direct answer

Pursue CompTIA Security+ for entry-level technical roles and foundational knowledge, but target the CISSP once you possess the requisite 5 years of professional experience and are targeting senior management or architect positions.

Summary

Choosing between the CompTIA Security+ and the ISC2 CISSP certification depends entirely on your current career stage and experience level. Security+ is explicitly tailored for beginners, requiring zero prior security experience, and serves as an ideal baseline for technical implementers and DoD 8570 compliance. Conversely, the CISSP is an elite, advanced-level credential demanding documented professional experience across multiple domains, making it the gold standard for Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs), security managers, and senior consultants.

Choice Score breakdown

Entry-Level Suitability 95/100 — CompTIA Security+ is unmatched for beginners and entry-level practitioners.
Management & Leadership Value 92/100 — CISSP is universally recognized for senior cybersecurity governance and executive tracks.
Experience Prerequisite Barrier 85/100 — CISSP requires 5 years of full-time experience, whereas Security+ has no prerequisites.

Best for / Not best for

Best for

Beginners and IT helpdesk staff seeking entry-level security jobs (Security+)
Experienced security analysts and engineers transitioning into management (CISSP)

Not best for

Novices with zero IT experience attempting the CISSP (impossible due to experience verification rules)
Senior architects or CISOs wasting time on Security+ when they need high-level governance validation

Scenarios

The Entry-Level Technologist (90% likely)
An IT support technician with 1 year of general helpdesk experience wanting to land a Junior Security Analyst role.
The Mid-Career IT Manager (85% likely)
A systems administrator with 6 years of experience looking to pivot into a Security Manager or CISO trajectory.
The Premature Candidate (95% likely)
A recent college graduate with zero professional IT experience attempting to register and pass the CISSP exam.

Calculations

Metric	Result	Formula
Experience Prerequisite Delta	5 years difference	cissp_required_years - security_plus_required_years
Exam Domain Breadth Comparison	2 additional high-level domains for CISSP	cissp_domains - security_plus_domains
Estimated Study Time Investment Ratio	3x greater time investment for CISSP	estimated_cissp_hours / estimated_secplus_hours

Pros & cons

Pros

Security+ provides an accessible, widely recognized entry point for beginners and career switchers.
Security+ satisfies US Department of Defense Directive 8570/8140 baseline requirements for technical staff.
CISSP is globally recognized as the premier management and governance credential for cybersecurity leaders.
CISSP significantly increases earning potential and opens doors to senior executive positions like CISO.

Cons

Security+ offers limited career advancement value for seasoned professionals seeking senior management roles.
CISSP has a strict 5-year work experience prerequisite, making it impossible for absolute beginners to hold the full title.
CISSP exams are notoriously difficult, costly, and require continuous professional education (CPE) credits to maintain.

Assumptions

Security+ Experience Requirement: 0 years — CompTIA explicitly recommends but does not strictly require 2 years of IT admin experience with a security focus.
CISSP Experience Requirement: 5 years — ISC2 mandates a minimum of 5 years of cumulative, paid full-time work experience in two or more of the 8 CISSP domains.
Target Roles: Entry vs Management — Security+ targets hands-on technical operators; CISSP targets decision-makers, architects, and managers.

Practical next steps

Assess your current years of professional IT and cybersecurity experience.
Determine your immediate career goal: getting your first technical job vs transitioning into executive management.
If you have fewer than 3 years of experience, register for study materials and schedule the CompTIA Security+ exam.
If you have 5+ years of experience across multiple security domains, purchase the official ISC2 CISSP study guide and practice tests.
Pass the chosen exam, complete endorsement or background verification processes, and maintain your credential through ongoing education.

Methodology

This report evaluates both certifications through structural criteria including experience prerequisites, target audience tiers (entry-level vs. management), domain breadth, and industry recognition. Comparative calculations model the experiential barrier and preparation effort required for each path to provide clear decision guidance.

Sources

Sources support specific claims; they do not replace our analysis. Read the research and source standards.

FAQ

Can I take the CISSP if I have zero IT experience?: Yes, you can take and pass the exam, but you will only receive 'Associate of ISC2' status until you accumulate the required 5 years of full-time professional experience.
Is CompTIA Security+ accepted for government contracting jobs?: Yes. Security+ meets DoD 8570 baseline requirements for Information Assurance Technical (IAT) Level II roles, making it extremely popular for defense contractors.
Which certification pays better?: CISSP holders generally command significantly higher average salaries than Security+ holders because CISSP is targeted at senior management, architecture, and executive oversight roles.

Related decisions

What are the 8 domains of the CISSP exam?
How long does it take to study for CompTIA Security+?
What are the best study resources for the CISSP exam in 2025?

Disclaimers

Certification requirements, exam costs, and continuing education rules are subject to change by CompTIA and ISC2 respectively.

Salary outcomes and career advancement depend heavily on geographic location, prior work history, interview performance, and local market demand.