ISACA CISA Exam Check-in 2026: PSI Online Proctoring Guide

Most first-time CISA candidates who lose an attempt at home don’t lose it on a hard audit question. They lose it before question one: a work laptop that won’t install the secure browser, an ID that doesn’t match the ISACA profile, a glass of water on the desk. This guide walks through the check-in for the ISACA CISA exam taken online with PSI, based on ISACA’s 2026 Exam Candidate Guide (version 1.26) and PSI’s current test-taker pages. Where something could not be confirmed on an official page, it is flagged.

How the CISA Exam Is Delivered

ISACA’s exams are computer-based and delivered by PSI, either at an authorized PSI test center or as a remotely proctored exam from your own computer. Both options are open to CISA candidates. For the online option you install the PSI Secure Browser, a lockdown application that runs the check-in, the proctor connection and the exam itself.

Registration is continuous. After you pay, you get a six-month eligibility window, you can book an appointment as early as 48 hours after payment, and appointments open up to 90 days in advance. You can reschedule without penalty up to 48 hours before your slot; inside 48 hours you either sit the exam or forfeit the fee.

On regional availability: ISACA’s current Candidate Guide does not publish a list of countries where remote proctoring is unavailable. When ISACA launched remote proctoring in 2020, its press release noted the option was not yet available in China (confirm on the official page). If you are in a country with restrictions on proctoring software or video streaming, check whether the remote option appears in your PSI scheduling dashboard before you plan around it. One more global detail: remote proctors communicate through a live chat in English only, even if you take the exam itself in Chinese, Spanish, Japanese or another language.

Pre-exam Preparation

Hardware and Network Requirements

These come from PSI’s system requirements page. ISACA points you to the same PSI tools, so the PSI figures apply.

• Operating system: Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit); macOS Sonoma (14), Sequoia (15) or Tahoe (26); Ubuntu 22.04, 24.04 or 26.04 LTS.
• Windows editions that won’t work: S Mode, Education edition, Enterprise (all versions), and Windows on Snapdragon processors.
• Not supported: virtual machines (VMware, VirtualBox, Parallels), Chromebooks with the Secure Browser, phones, and most tablets. The only tablet exception is a Surface Pro with a front-facing camera.
• Admin rights: You must be able to install software. The Secure Browser needs admin-level access, which work and school machines often block.
• RAM: 8 GB minimum, 16 GB recommended. Free up at least half of your memory before launch.
• Disk: At least 500 MB free for the Secure Browser.
• Screen: Minimum 1024 × 768; 1920 × 1080 recommended. One monitor only — ISACA lists multiple monitors as a prohibited item.
• Internet: 3 Mbps up and down recommended, 750 kbps absolute minimum. Use a wired connection if you can.
• No VPN, no corporate firewall. PSI says both block the secure connection.
• Webcam: Must stay on from check-in to the last question. Unplugging it mid-exam ends your session immediately. Unplug any extra cameras before launch.
• Microphone: Must stay on for the whole exam. A built-in laptop mic is the simplest choice.
• No headphones or earbuds. ISACA lists them as prohibited; use built-in speakers.
• Mac users: Turn off Bluetooth before launching.

Run the hardware check PSI links to, then do the Secure Browser tutorial from the My Tests area of the PSI portal after you book. PSI is blunt that the tutorial is the only real way to confirm your setup works end to end. Do it on the same computer, in the same room, on the same network you’ll use on exam day.

Exam Tip: If you plan to use a company laptop, assume it will fail. Enterprise editions of Windows aren’t supported, corporate VPNs and firewalls block the connection, and IT policies often prevent installing the Secure Browser. Borrow or use a personal machine and run the tutorial on it at least a week before your exam.

ID Requirements

ISACA’s rules are the ones that count here, and they’re stricter than many candidates expect. You need one current, valid, original, government-issued ID that shows all three of the following on the same document:

• Your name — the first and last name must match the name you registered with
• Your signature (Japanese driver’s licenses without a signature are the stated exception)
• Your photograph

Accepted ID types are a driver’s license, a state ID card, a passport, a passport card, a green card, an alien registration card, a permanent resident card, or a national ID card. Not accepted: photocopies, handwritten documents, and digital IDs (for example, a phone-based driver’s license). PSI’s general guidance also rules out military IDs and credit cards. ISACA does not require a secondary ID, but the testing staff can ask for more if they doubt your identity — and if they turn you away, it counts as a no-show and you lose the fee.

Name matching is where people get caught. Your name lives in your ISACA profile, and that’s what gets passed to PSI. Log in to MyISACA now and compare it letter by letter with your ID. Common mismatches:

• A married or maiden surname on the profile that differs from the ID
• First and last names swapped (common for candidates from East Asia and Hungary)
• A nickname or Westernized first name in the profile (“Jack” vs. the legal name on your passport)
• A missing second surname (common with Spanish and Latin American names)

Fix the profile in MyISACA under your profile settings. ISACA requires all registration changes at least 48 hours before your appointment.

Which ID to use if you’re outside the US: For most candidates worldwide, a passport is the safest choice. It carries your name in Latin characters, a photo and a signature, which covers all three of ISACA’s requirements on one document. National ID cards are on the accepted list, but many of them don’t carry a signature, and an ID without a signature doesn’t meet ISACA’s single-document rule. If your national ID has no signature, use your passport. ISACA’s guide doesn’t say how a name written only in a non-Latin script is matched against your profile, so if your only ID is in Chinese, Arabic, Cyrillic or similar, ask ISACA support before exam day (confirm on the official page).

Exam Tip: Check the expiry date on your ID against your exam date, not today’s date. An ID that expires the week before your appointment fails the “current and valid” test, and there is no grace period.

Testing Environment

• Pick a private room with a door. Nobody may enter or walk through the space for the full four hours — that includes children, partners and pets.
• Clear the desk completely. ISACA requires the workspace to be empty of everything except your computer setup.
• Remove paper, notebooks, books, sticky notes and anything with writing on it from the desk and from within reach.
• Move the phone, tablet, smartwatch and any smart glasses out of the room after you use them for the check-in scans.
• Put away all food and drink, including water. ISACA applies this rule to online exams explicitly.
• Sit facing the screen. Light the room from the front so the proctor can see your face clearly; a window behind you turns you into a silhouette.
• Have a small hand mirror ready (or plan to use your phone) for the mirror check.
• Dress as you would in public. The video is monitored and recorded for the entire session.
• Ask your household to pause streaming and large downloads during your slot.

Step-by-Step Check-in Walkthrough

The sequence below combines ISACA’s Candidate Guide with PSI’s current online proctoring guide. PSI says the check-in usually takes about 10–15 minutes, but give yourself the full window.

1. Launch from your ISACA account. Log in to MyISACA, go to Certification & CPE Management, and follow the link to your PSI dashboard, then click Launch. Sticking point: the button stays greyed out until the window opens. Fix: sign in early and wait on the page; don’t keep refreshing other tabs or programs that will need to be closed anyway.
2. Install or open the PSI Secure Browser. First-time users install it; returning users launch it directly. Sticking point: antivirus or permissions block the install. Fix: this is why you run the tutorial in advance. PSI suggests temporarily disabling antivirus if the exam won’t launch or runs very slowly; turn it back on afterward.
3. Select your camera and microphone. This prompt appears only if you have more than one of each. Sticking point: the software picks a virtual camera or a docking-station mic. Fix: unplug every device you won’t use before launching.
4. Bandwidth and microphone checks. The bandwidth test runs in the background; you’ll be asked to speak out loud for the mic test. Sticking point: a “not enough bandwidth” message. Fix: switch to ethernet, close other tabs, and stop other people’s streaming.
5. Security check for prohibited applications. The Secure Browser lists programs that must close — chat apps, screen recorders, remote-access tools, other browsers. You can close them yourself or let the software terminate them. Sticking point: a background process restarts itself. Fix: restart the computer right before launch (PSI recommends this anyway) and quit sync and messaging apps from the system tray.
6. Accept the privacy agreement and exam rules. Read the rules screen; it’s the last reminder of what voids an exam.
7. Photograph your ID. Hold it so the photo is visible and the name is readable. You can retake a blurry photo.
8. Take a face photo. Remove hats and make sure your face is well lit.
9. Room scans. ISACA asks for a 360° scan of all four walls, a desk scan including underneath the laptop or keyboard, and a floor-to-ceiling scan starting under your testing space. PSI’s process also includes a self-scan of wrists, both ears and glasses. You can do the scans with an external webcam, by turning your laptop, or with your phone via a QR code on screen. Sticking point: a desktop with a fixed webcam. Fix: use an external webcam on a long cable, or the phone scan option ISACA offers.
10. Mirror check. ISACA requires this after the room scan for every exam. Hold a mirror (or your phone) up to the webcam to show the screen, the keyboard and all four edges of the monitor or laptop. Sticking point: forgetting a mirror. Fix: you can use your phone, but it must leave the room afterward.
11. Remove your phone from the room. PSI’s generic instructions say to place the phone out of reach behind you; ISACA’s stricter rule is to take it out of the testing area entirely. Follow ISACA. Ask the check-in specialist via chat if you need a brief moment to do this.
12. Wait for proctor review and release. A check-in specialist reviews your photos and scans, then a proctor releases the exam. A tutorial runs before question one; ISACA advises paying attention to it.

Exam Tip: Being “more than 15 minutes late” is ISACA’s line for a forfeited appointment, and a slow check-in doesn’t move that line. Launch the moment the button becomes available, not at your appointment time.

What the Proctor Looks For During the Room Scan

The scan exists to find anything that could help you or record the exam. Proctors are looking for the following, so check each before you click Launch:

• Other people, or signs of them: an open door, a reflection in a window or mirror, voices.
• Writing anywhere visible: whiteboards on the wall, sticky notes on the monitor bezel, books on shelves within reach, posters with text. Turn shelves away, cover or remove wall boards, take down notes.
• Extra screens and devices: a second monitor (even if switched off — unplug it and move it if you can), TVs, tablets, smart speakers, a second laptop.
• Anything under the keyboard or laptop and on the floor beneath the desk.
• Wearables: smartwatches, fitness bands, smart glasses, earbuds. That’s what the wrist and ear scans are for.
• Blind spots around the screen: the mirror check shows the screen edges and keyboard that a built-in webcam can’t see.
• Food and drink: a coffee mug or water bottle on the desk will be flagged.

Rules During the Exam

ISACA’s Candidate Guide is stricter than PSI’s general platform rules, and ISACA’s policy is what applies. For online exams, ISACA says failure to follow any of its listed rules will void your exam and forfeit your fee. In practice, PSI’s own documentation describes proctors issuing warnings for some minor behaviors first, and ISACA’s guide notes that proctors will warn you if you move even slightly out of camera view. So the two tiers below reflect what you are likely to see — but don’t count on getting a warning for anything.

Tier 1: Likely a warning first (but can still void the exam)

• Moving partly or briefly out of the camera frame
• Looking away from the screen repeatedly
• Moving your lips while reading silently, or muttering
• Covering part of your face with your hands
• Background noise or an unexpected sound in the room

Whether a given behavior gets a warning or immediate termination is at the proctor’s discretion (confirm on the official page).

Tier 2: Immediate voiding, and potentially a ban

• Another person entering or being in the room
• Having a phone, smartwatch, smart glasses, headphones or any recording device
• Taking screenshots or photos of any part of the exam, including the results screen
• Having notes, papers or books in the workspace, or writing down exam content
• Opening other programs, browsing, email or remote-access tools
• Reading questions aloud or talking to anyone
• Covering the camera or leaving the testing area without permission
• Eating, drinking or chewing gum
• Someone else taking the exam for you, or you taking it for someone else
• Sharing or discussing exam content before, during or after the exam — including in online forums

Consequences under ISACA’s rules can include dismissal from the exam, voiding of the result, revocation of your ISACA membership and any certifications you hold, and a ban from taking any ISACA exam. Code of Ethics breaches can also lead to score nullification. ISACA’s guide does not set out a formal appeal process for misconduct findings. The closest mechanism is a comment or concern about the exam administration, submitted through ISACA support within 48 hours of finishing the exam (confirm on the official page).

Breaks, Scratch Paper and Drinks

Breaks. ISACA allows two breaks of no more than 10 minutes each, and only with the proctor’s permission. The exam pauses during the break, but the timer keeps running and no extra time is given. Leaving without permission can end your exam. ISACA’s online-specific rules list taking breaks without the proctor’s permission as a violation, which is consistent with this — but the online section is worded loosely, so check the current rules screen during check-in (confirm on the official page). Expect to repeat at least part of the room check when you return. With 150 questions in 240 minutes, you get about 96 seconds per question; a full 10-minute break costs you roughly six questions’ worth of time.

Scratch paper and whiteboards. ISACA prohibits paper, notes and notepads, and that includes blank paper. Physical whiteboards and markers are not on any ISACA list of permitted items, so leave them out of the room. PSI’s Secure Browser includes a built-in on-screen whiteboard that some exam sponsors enable. Whether it is enabled for CISA is not stated in ISACA’s 2026 guide (confirm on the official page). Plan to work everything out in your head.

Calculators. Physical calculators are prohibited. CISA questions are concept-based; you won’t need one.

Drinks and food. None, including water. This is ISACA’s explicit rule for both test centers and online exams, and it’s one of the most common surprises. Drink something before you launch and use an approved break if you need more.

Exam Tip: A clear water glass on the desk is enough to void an ISACA online exam. Other vendors permit water in a clear container, so candidates who’ve tested elsewhere bring one out of habit. Take it out of the room before you start the room scan.

Online Proctored vs. Test Center

Online suits you if you have a personal Windows, Mac or Ubuntu computer you control, a quiet room with a door you can secure for four-plus hours, reliable wired or strong broadband, and you’re comfortable with chat-only, English-only support. A test center suits you if you only have a work laptop, share your home with people who might walk in, have unstable internet, can’t communicate comfortably in English, or would rather put the technical risk on someone else.

Exam Day Checklist

The Night Before

• Compare your MyISACA name with your ID one last time, and check the ID’s expiry date.
• Run the PSI Secure Browser tutorial again on the exam computer and network.
• Install pending OS updates now, then restart — so nothing installs mid-exam.
• Unplug your second monitor, extra webcams, extra microphones, and any headset.
• Clear the desk and the room: books off shelves within reach, notes off walls, whiteboards removed or covered.
• Put a small mirror near the desk for the mirror check.
• Tell your household your exact exam time and ask them not to enter and to pause streaming.
• Confirm your appointment time and time zone in the PSI confirmation email.

60 Minutes Before

• Use the bathroom, eat, and drink water — nothing goes on the desk later.
• Restart the computer. Plug in the charger and connect ethernet if you have it.
• Disconnect any VPN; turn off Bluetooth on a Mac.
• Quit chat apps, cloud sync, screen recorders and anything that runs in the background.
• Remove your smartwatch, fitness band and earbuds, and put them in another room.
• Set the lighting so your face is lit from the front.

30 Minutes Before

• Log in to MyISACA and go to your PSI dashboard.
• Click Launch as soon as the button becomes active.
• Have your ID within reach for the ID photo.
• Do the room, desk, floor-to-ceiling and mirror scans slowly and completely.
• After the scans, move your phone out of the room.
• Wait for the proctor to release the exam; don’t leave the camera view while you wait.

During the Exam

• Keep your eyes on the screen and your face in frame.
• Read silently without moving your lips.
• Pace yourself: about 37–38 questions per hour.
• Answer every question — there’s no penalty for wrong answers.
• Request breaks through the proctor chat and keep them under 10 minutes.
• Don’t screenshot or photograph the results screen; the preliminary pass/fail result appears on screen and the official score follows within 10 working days.
• End the proctoring session only after you’ve submitted the exam.

FAQ

Technical Issues

What happens if my internet drops during the exam?

PSI’s general guidance is to relaunch the Secure Browser, which reconnects you to a proctor, and to contact PSI support by chat if you can’t get back in. ISACA’s 2026 guide does not say whether the exam timer pauses during a disconnection or how much time you’ll get back (confirm on the official page). Stay in your testing area, don’t use your phone to look things up, and note the exact time it happened. If the problem affected your result, raise it with ISACA support within 48 hours of the exam.

Can I use my laptop’s built-in webcam?

Yes. ISACA explicitly supports a built-in laptop camera for the room scan as long as you also complete the mirror check, holding up a mirror or your phone to show the screen, keyboard and all four edges of the laptop. You’ll need to physically turn the laptop around the room for the 360° scan, so make sure the charging cable is long enough.

I only have a desktop with a fixed webcam. What do I do?

PSI says desktop users need an external webcam that can be moved freely. ISACA also allows you to scan the room with your mobile phone by scanning a QR code on screen, after which the phone must leave the testing area. Test whichever method you choose in the tutorial.

Can I use a work computer?

You can try, but expect problems. PSI does not support Windows Enterprise editions, and corporate VPNs and firewalls block the testing connection. ISACA notes you may need IT approval to install the Secure Browser. A personal computer is the safer choice.

Check-in and Rules

What if check-in takes too long or the proctor doesn’t connect?

Use the chat inside the Secure Browser or contact PSI support. ISACA’s support page links to PSI’s candidate support numbers — search “ISACA” in PSI’s contact tool to find the number for your region. ISACA’s guide doesn’t spell out how a check-in delay caused by PSI is handled against the 15-minute late rule (confirm on the official page), so launching early is your best protection. Keep screenshots of error messages taken outside the exam (on your phone before check-in completes, not during the exam).

Can I keep water on my desk?

No. ISACA prohibits all food and beverages, including water, for online exams. It’s one of the most common reasons first-timers get flagged.

What if I miss my appointment because of an emergency?

ISACA’s personal hardship policy lets you contact PSI within 72 hours of the missed appointment with documentation — for example, a signed doctor’s note, a death certificate for an immediate family member, or a police report for a traffic accident. If the request is approved you can reschedule without paying again; if it’s denied, you must register and pay the full fee again.

Can I talk to the proctor in my own language?

No. Even if you take CISA in another language, ISACA says the proctor chat is available in English only. Keep a few short phrases ready: “I need a break,” “My camera disconnected,” “Please repeat the instruction.”

References

Official ISACA and PSI Sources

References

• ISACA Certification Exam Candidate Guide 2026 (Version 1.26)
• ISACA Exam Candidate Guides and Remote Proctoring resources
• ISACA Remote Proctoring Guide
• ISACA Exam Day Rules guide
• ISACA Exam Scheduling Guide
• ISACA CISA certification page
• PSI online proctoring system requirements
• PSI online proctoring guide for test takers
• PSI candidate support numbers
• ISACA press release on introducing live remote proctoring (2020)

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