ISC2 · Professional Certification · Professional
Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional (CSSLP)
Crydd Score 59
Demand Growing
Career Value Strong
Recognition High
CSSLP at a glance
- Provider
- ISC2
- Credential type
- Professional Certification
- Exam required
- Yes
- Category
- Security
- Level
- Professional
- Cost
- $599
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Time to earn
- 3–6 months
- Validity
- 3 years (maintained with CPE credits and an annual fee)
- Format
- 125 items, 3 hours
- Prerequisites
- 4 years of full-time experience in at least one of the 8 CSSLP domains (a relevant degree can count for 1 year); without it, passing makes you an Associate of ISC2
What is CSSLP?
ISC2's certification for security across the software lifecycle: secure software concepts, lifecycle management, requirements, architecture and design, implementation, testing, deployment and operations, and the software supply chain.
Skills it covers
- Secure software lifecycle
- Secure software requirements
- Secure architecture and design
- Secure implementation and testing
- Software supply chain security
Is CSSLP worth it? The Crydd Verdict
CS 59Choose it if
You are a developer, architect or application security engineer with several years of experience and want a credential in building secure software.
Consider alternatives if
You want a broad security management credential: ISC2's CISSP is far more widely requested. For hands-on offensive testing, OffSec's OSCP.
Why we say so
Application and supply chain security are rising priorities, and the CSSLP is one of the few established credentials built around them.
Market demand
Requested in application security, secure development and regulated sectors, and approved under the US DoD 8140 framework; fewer postings than the CISSP, and little competition for them.
Where CSSLP takes you
- Software Engineer
- Security Engineer
- Security Architect
Career roadmaps show where this certification fits in each path. See the roadmaps.
Related certifications
Curated connections from the catalog — each labelled with how it relates to CSSLP, so you know why it’s here.
Careers CSSLP leads to
The professional paths this certification genuinely serves — browse every relevant credential for each.
A sensible order
Where CSSLP sits on the path — build up, then step on.
Build the foundation first
Earlier steps on the same path
