How many questions are on the exam? How much time is allowed?
The exam consists of 110 questions that must be answered in 120 minutes (two hours).
What does the exam cover?
The exam covers the following areas:
- Security Administration
- Document Security
- Information Systems Security
- Physical Security
- Personnel Security
- International Security
- Classification
- Security Education
- Audits & Self-Assessments
- Special Security Information
- NISP Systems
What should I study for the core questions? For the electives?
See our ISP® Study Resources page. It contains a list of the documents that were sources for the question (including links so you can easily download them).Will reference material be available at the test sites?
Yes. Prometric has pre-loaded the following test resources (see below) onto the ISP
Exam, and candidates may utilize them during the exam as needed with a split-screen
format (references on the left, exam on the right). All references are in PDF format and
are searchable.
- 32 CFR Parts 117 and 2001, with ISL 2021-02
- DAAPM v2.2
- DISS, NISS, and EMASS Guides
- Executive Orders 12968 and 13526
- FOIA Title 5 U.S.C. Section 552(Subsection (b) only)
- ICD Tech Spec 705 with Federal Standards 809B and 832
- CDSE Job Aid – Marking Classified Information
- NSDD #298 OPSEC with US National Disclosure Policy Fact Sheet
- SEAD 3 and SEAD 4
- SF 86 Guide with SF 312 Briefing Booklet