topic Re: Is (ISC)2 discriminating against people with disabilities in Industry News

Is (ISC)2 discriminating against people with disabilities

OrenPaz — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 16:39:54 GMT

Due to medical reasons - I have had to stop working and go on full disability.

After paying my AMF - I saw my CPE count was at zero, but every option for claiming CPE credits requires me to be employed.

I contacted ISC support, and explained to them that I'm unable to work, and as a result of that - I'm unable to claim CPE credits, and asked what I need to do, and was very upset to hear that there's nothing I can do, and that if I don't maintain the required level of CPE credits - I will lose my certification, which I had since 2002.

Is that ISC's policy about dealing with members who are on long term disability - to cause them to lose their certification simply due to their medical condition preventing them from working?

Why should a member who's health has deteriorated and can't work, not have any option to earn CPE credits of their health prevents them from working? Why should they lose their certification even though they've passed the exam, were members in good standing for literally decades?

I'm sure this isn't a problem only I have encountered - has ISC never given thought to such a situation, and this is a simple oversight? I'd like to think so, but as it stands - I'm about to lose me certification through no fault of my own - only because I'm disabled and unable to work.

How is that in line with the image and prestige that ISC has been pushing about itself?

Re: Is (ISC)2 discriminating against people with disabilities

Caute_cautim — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 19:35:45 GMT

@OrenPaz I can understand your frustration. However, there must be ways around this. I recently had to move organisations due to an acquisition. New company has a policy of not using ones organisation email for anything but official business. So I had to use a personal email to maintain communications with ISC2.

You could create a business name, as far as I know ISC2 does not validate your actual organisation or place of work. So you could technically use your previous business name.

I also have a colleague who took the "retired" option after giving up work, which reduced his fees, but he maintains his CPE through doing online courses like Bright Talk or doing "free" courses via outlets such as IBM Skillsbuild (completely free).

There are ways to ensure you keep your CPE's up through different means or mediums, it just requires a bit of thought and investigation. Or ask those around you to do the investigation and provide you with the information gather CPEs.

I hope these suggestions assist you, don't give up, there is always a "rainbow" available, if you take the time to seek it out.

Best regards

Caute_Cautim

Re: Is (ISC)2 discriminating against people with disabilities

dcontesti — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 19:52:50 GMT

Not sure who said what but here is a list of things you can do to grab CPEs (at little to no cost).

1. Take all the free or low cost courses offered to members

2. Read the ISC2 insights and take the quizzes.

3. Not sure if you have the ability to attend local chapter meetings (ISC2, ISACA, OWASP, Etc.)

4. Attend ISC2 Spotlight events.

5. Put your certifications in retired mode

ALSO, I would ask for Customer Service to escalate this for additional consideration.

@Kaity would you be able to direct this issue to someone internal that can assist?

Re: Is (ISC)2 discriminating against people with disabilities

OrenPaz — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 21:11:09 GMT

Hi.

Thank you for your suggestions. I would prefer, and I assume ISC and the other members would prefer, if we weren't forced to use tricks and essentially lying (using a bogus or non existent business name) just to comply with ISC's own requirements.

Surely ISC can find a way to allow someone who's not working or able to attend trainings to retain their certification.

Re: Is (ISC)2 discriminating against people with disabilities

OrenPaz — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 21:30:26 GMT

Hi D.

I'm unable to take courses or pass any exams in my condition. Same thing with attending chapter meetings - not to mention I no longer live near any chapter.

I don't know what retired mode is, and the support lady I spoke about this with didn't mention such an option.

Bare in mind that I was one of ISC's senior/lead instructors for 10 years, and also co-wrote and edited our training material. I have taught hundreds of official ISC courses over that time. My point here is - after 20 plus years of being a CISSP, 10 of which working as an official ISC lead instructor - but this extends to anyone who's certified - we should not have our certification be conditioned on being able to work - I passed the exam in 2002, I pay my annual dues, and now my health is preventing me from collecting all the required CPE credits, and ISC (at least the lady I spoke with from support) is telling me that because I can't work - I'll lose my certification. I asked her if there's anyone else I could talk to about this or anything else I could do - her answer was that there wasn't, and that this is ISC's policy - full stop.

This cannot be allowed to happen. ISC must create a process that accommodates such circumstances - and I'm sure I'm not the only member who is under such circumstances, or it needs to make the CPE process less restricted or focused only on things one can do while employed (you must have a minimal number of your CPE credits be from activities that require you to be actively working - you currently can't just have them be from self initiated activities). This isn't American health insurance - that you lose once you stop working - this is a certification that I passed the test to qualify for 24 years ago, pay my annual fees for, and should not need to really beg and plead when health is shattered to not have that certification stripped away from me. This is humiliating and abusive towards people in such a situation, and it cannot be allowed to take place.

Re: Is (ISC)2 discriminating against people with disabilities

OrenPaz — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 21:29:01 GMT

Hi Caute.

Thank you for your suggestions. I would prefer, and I assume ISC and the other members would prefer, if we weren't forced to use tricks and essentially lying (using a bogus or non existent business name) just to comply with ISC's own requirements.

Surely ISC can find a way to allow someone who's not working or able to attend trainings to retain their certification.

Re: Is (ISC)2 discriminating against people with disabilities

nkeaton — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 02:04:05 GMT

@OrenPaz Of course I cannot see your screen but got a very similar question from my coworker a couple of weeks ago. The default on the dropdown is contributions to the profession. For his CPE I had him go to the dropdown and pick education. I like BrightTalk webinars. They are on current topics and are added to your CPEs on your behalf. So they are not subject to audit. I have never seen anything but striving for inclusiveness from ISC2. Best wishes.

Re: Is (ISC)2 discriminating against people with disabilities

dcontesti — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 03:27:27 GMT

@OrenPaz I really suggest that you investigate the Retired status. If you put your account into Retired Status, you would be able to re-activate if your circumstances change and in the interim you would be able to still use the mark.

I have asked @Kaity to escalate internally.

Sorry to hear of your circumstances.

Re: Is (ISC)2 discriminating against people with disabilities

Kaity — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 13:54:48 GMT

Thanks for tagging me! I have flagged this to our Member Support team for their attention.

Re: Is (ISC)2 discriminating against people with disabilities

dcontesti — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 17:15:57 GMT

Many thanks @Kaity

Re: Is (ISC)2 discriminating against people with disabilities

OrenPaz — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 20:32:57 GMT

What a coincidence! Just after writing this post, and after taking an ISC quiz which I passed and submitted as CPE credits - I got a notice telling me I'm being audited on that submission...

Coincidence? That I'm getting "audited" for a quiz that ISC provides, on their own website, which they can so easily just check to verify I did pass that quiz, after 24 years of being a CISSP and never getting audited - now that I published this post - I'm suddenly getting "audited"?

So let me repeat the title of my original post and update it to address this ridiculous development - is ISC discriminating against members with disabilities, and is it using its "auditing" activity as retribution against me for asking that question? I mean - what are they "auditing" me about - a quiz they run on their own systems? They're asking me for documentation to prove my submission was legit - it's on THEIR system - that they can review themselves, so what exactly is the point of this "audit" other than a direct reaction to me raising this issue? This is ridiculous.

Oh - to those that suggested I put my membership in "retired" status - ISC want me to pay $405 USD, or close to $600 Canadian to do that - for someone who's on disability benefits, so no employer paying for my AMF - this comes right from my own disability benefits... Right...

@dcontesti
@Kaity

Re: Is (ISC)2 discriminating against people with disabilities

kjohnson_cx — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 22:33:45 GMT

Thank you for reaching out via the ISC2 Community @OrenPaz

I understand how the timing of the audit notification may feel concerning, and I’m sorry this has added to your frustration. CPE audits are conducted through a standardized, randomized process and are not triggered by community posts or individual inquiries. I will be reaching out to you directly to review your situation and provide further assistance. We appreciate your long-standing membership and are committed to supporting you through this process.

Re: Is (ISC)2 discriminating against people with disabilities

dcontesti — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:52:03 GMT

Sorry, I am not sure when that changed. It was $100 as long as you were current. I apologise not sure when that changed.

I see that Kaity has escalated, hopefully they come to a resolution for you.

Re: Is (ISC)2 discriminating against people with disabilities

nkeaton — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 11:08:16 GMT

@OrenPaz I know that you are really frustrated. ISC2 quizzes CPEs are applied on your behalf. This makes them not subject to audit. I have only ever had one quiz that I had to submit on my own. I am sure is not the reason was audited as a double submission, but the CPEs are duplicates. My first audit was for an ISC2 class which made me feel like their audits are totally random. The CPEs for the quiz will show up automatically in your account soon. I definitely recommend the BrightTalk ones to keep you out of any other concerns on audits or CPEs. I only wish you the best.

Re: Is (ISC)2 discriminating against people with disabilities

Kaity — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 13:33:41 GMT

Hi all,

Without getting into private information, I can confirm that our support team has spoken to OP. We always want to provide guidance and assistance to our members.

Feel free to continue to tag me any time you need some help getting in touch!

Re: Is (ISC)2 discriminating against people with disabilities

dcontesti — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 17:31:00 GMT

@Kaity THANK YOU for you diligence. It is appreciated.

Re: Is (ISC)2 discriminating against people with disabilities

denbesten — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 03:50:54 GMT

@OrenPaz wrote:
... if we weren't forced to use tricks and essentially lying (using a bogus or non existent business name) just to comply with ISC's own requirements....

So, don't lie or use a bogus name. Simply enter "Unemployed" in the company name field.

Re: Is (ISC)2 discriminating against people with disabilities

dcontesti — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 18:35:36 GMT

@OrenPaz With regards to audits, audits are audits and in the case of CPEs are random, they do not have an individual sitting there waiting to pick out individuals because of what they may or may not have said.

How do I know? I was Board Chair for two years and in those two years I was audited TWICE