CGEIT, or the ISACA Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT, is a vendor-neutral certification for experienced tech professionals who want to expand their skills and knowledge in enterprise information technology (IT) governance. The certification is beneficial for those who direct, manage, or otherwise support IT governance in large organizations.
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The certification is developed by ISACA, which is an international non-profit organization. The organization was previously known as the Information Systems Audit and Control Association, which is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
What Qualification or Experience Do You Need to Get CGEIT Certification?
To get the certification, candidates must pass a four-hour exam, which comprises 150 questions and cover these areas:
- Risk Optimization
- Benefits Realization
- IT Resources
- Governance of Enterprise IT
A candidate needs to get 450 marks to pass the exam. The CGEIT certified professional should have at least five years of cumulative work experience in IT enterprise governance, including at least one year of implementing, defining, and managing a governance framework.
Apart from that, the credential holders are needed to comply with the ISACA Code of Professional Ethics as well as the CGEIT Continuing Education Policy. They must attain an annual minimum of 20 continuing professional education (CPE) hours in related coursework to gain a minimum of 120 CPE hours for a three-year reporting period.
Who Should Earn the CGEIT Certification?
The CGEIT credential is a globally accepted certification to identify professionals who have governance-related experience and expertise. ISACA has made the CGEIT qualification to suit professionals working in management, advisory, or assurance roles who can show an adequate level of current knowledge and proficiency in the field.
The target audience includes:
- Compliance and information security professionals
- IT directors
- Manager — governance, risk, and compliance
- Audit directors
- CIOs
- CISOs
- CEOs
- Organizational strategic managers
- IT assurance professionals
- Senior IT managers
Is the CGEIT Certification Worth it?
Passing the CGEIT exam is not enough. To be CGEIT-certified needs a combination of practice and familiarity with the areas covered by the exam. Candidates who pass the exam will be certified only after proving that they have five or more years of experience managing and supporting IT governance or serving in an advisory or oversight role. A minimum of one year of experience has to be related to establish and manage a framework for the governance of IT. These are specific criteria, and no waivers are permitted.
Once certification is received, it is still not over. CGEIT holders are needed to keep up to date by getting and reporting to ISACA a minimum of 20 CPE hours a year and 120 CPE credits over the course of three years. The CPE, Continuing Professional Education credits need to be obtained in IT governance-related tasks.
CGEIT is one of the top risk, governance, and compliance (GRC) certifications and can give IT governance professionals an edge in their future career endeavors, progression, or enhancement. The certification can increase the CGEIT candidate’s market value by offering proof of competence and expertise in the sector.
How Much Salary Can You Expect from the CGEIT Certification?
According to PayScale, the average salary of aspirants with a CGEIT credential is USD 133,256, making it one of the most rewarding credentials in IT. Therefore, all the hard work and achieving the certification will definitely be worth it. What’s more, the CGEIT is well-respected by most organizations. It has become extensively important for executives within an organization to be certified to reach positions like CIO and CTO.
What Career Benefit Could You Expect?
The CGEIT certification is not like other certifications that focus on technical skills in specific sectors, the credential targets the bigger picture. The CGEIT certification helps IT candidates understand overarching business goals, proactively plan and use resources, and adjust to new regulations and technicalities with minimal interruption in operations, offering great value to the C-suite, including crisis times.
With ISACA’s rigorous certification and recertification needs geared towards gained experience and in keeping up to date with all latest technicalities, the CGEIT certification is among the must-have senior-level certifications for professionals who are pursuing higher positions in the field and aspire to a pivotal role in improving corporate governance practices.
Conclusion:
IT governance has quickly become one of the most important elements, especially for larger organizations, to establish structure with roles and responsibilities. A CGEIT certification may secure you a role as a trusted advisor to your enterprise with the responsibility of providing a wider view into IT governance, risk management, and compliance.
