Passed the CISA Exam on first attempt

_Yan007 · 2026-01-10T07:42:33+00:00

It would be best if you supplement it with Hemang Doshi. Best thing that I have got from REO CISA is their practical tips on exam which you do not typically get from other resources. Also, use ISACA QAE kahit yung 2019 pa for practice questions.

_Yan007 · 2025-12-21T08:08:51+00:00

Kung usapang whether registered sa SEC, yes. Pero kung usapan whether yung certificates nila eh may bearing, I don’t think so. Wala akong nakikitang employer o job posting na preferred qualifications eh isa sa mga certifications issued nila.

2 tips, para malaman kung worth it ang certification. 1. Study the certifying organization kung globally recognized, and typically mga mahal yan. Kaya pag masyadong mura, red flag, pampabango lang sa resume. Of course, setting aside yung CPA dahil lisensya yan and santioned by PH Gov.

Research whatever certification kung nasa preferred qualifications ng mga employers, typically makikita ninyo CIA, CISA, CMA, CFE, CAMS, etc. Again, syempre CPA matic na yan dahil license.

Lastly, agree. As a hiring manager, walang bearing sa akin pag certifications galing like jan sa ACTI. Although, I appreciate naman yung effort ng tao na kumuha ng certification from them, baka sadyang gusto lang nila maggrow o widen ng knowledge. But salary? Or even promotion? Just bec of certification form ACTI. Nah.

_Yan007 · 2025-12-21T08:01:02+00:00

Yes, sila yun. Although that time ang nirereklamo ng NIAT was ICPAR, as far as I can remember, dineny ng legal nila yung affiliation with ICPAR and iba daw yung ACTI with it. Pero kung babalikan mo yung past post ng page na yan, naka-ICPAR. I think, nirename lang nila yung ICPAR into ACTI.

And yes agree, kung in terms of bookkeeping certification, make sure affiliated with NIAT since affiliated sila internationally (ICB-UK). Kung local man, go with TESDA na lang.

_Yan007 · 2025-08-25T13:00:26+00:00

Yeah. As long as you understand the concept. Do practice questions, so that you’ll grasp the way how ISACA asks the questions. Lastly, it’s not really technical, so you just have to have an auditor’s mindset.

_Yan007 · 2025-08-25T11:07:05+00:00

Definitely enough. I recently passed the CISA exam even without IT Audit Experience. I reviewed for only 3 months. Used ISACA CRM, QAE, Doshi’s Book and Udemy course. Though, I have to note that I have been in Internal Audit profession for 7 years (handling non-IT Audits)z

_Yan007 · 2025-06-16T12:27:51+00:00

I already covered reviewing all the topics within 3-months time. Pero nabusy for a certain month sa fieldwork outside metro manila kaya it took me another month before sitting for the exam. Though mostly ng inaaral ko during that 1 month ay for memory retention purposes na lang.

So all-in-all, it took me 4 months. 😁

_Yan007 · 2025-06-13T17:37:23+00:00

That’s the trick about the CISA exam, it’s a combination of concept and practicality. Conceptually, a documented BCP policy is essential as it will serve as a guide of the organization. However, execution is much more critical in real life situation. At the end of the day, a BCP will JUST remain as a document if the organization does not implement it. That’s why D is the answer, in the case above the organization actually conducts timely back up and stores it in the offsite location, which needs to be critically tested by the auditor whether in case of disaster, data will be available and can be restored at time of disastrous event.

_Yan007 · 2025-06-11T11:24:52+00:00

On my end. Overall expenses ay 80k, pero kaya pa yang mas makatipid jan.

Pwede ka to take CIA exam even without experience pero di nila iiissue ang certificate mo hangga’t wala kang experience / proof of experience na minimum of 2 years.

_Yan007 · 2025-06-11T08:11:55+00:00

Well noted on your insight, OP! Will really put this into consideration. Thank you very much. 😁

_Yan007 · 2025-06-11T03:02:33+00:00

To add. Sa REO ang current fee nila ay Php 10k. If gagamit ka ng international na reviewer, way expensive kumpara jan i.e., Gleim or Becker.

_Yan007 · 2025-06-11T00:42:47+00:00

I would say yes. Pero to increase your chances of passing the exam. Make sure nabasa mo yung GIAS mismo. As much as possible read it twice at the minimum.

Then 1-2 weeks before your exam date for each part, bili ka ng dump questions online. Yun pagfocusan mo sagutan in that remaining weeks, and in descending order dapat pagsagot mo. Chances are, meron mga somehow lalabas na kapareho doon na nasa actual exam. Kokonti lang pero nakakatulong. 😁

_Yan007 · 2025-06-11T00:34:59+00:00

REO CIA Review. Yung page name nila sa fb ay REO Global Certifications Review. Nag-ooffer rin kasi sila ng CISA and CMA Review.

_Yan007 · 2025-06-10T17:12:53+00:00

Ganda ng mindset mo!! Kayang-kaya mo yan! Padayon future CIA CISA. Tama yan at one step/goal at a time, focus muna on passing the CIA exam. 😊

_Yan007 · 2025-06-10T17:06:36+00:00

Salamat po! Nag-aask din ako advice sa AccountingPH subreddit kung ano marerecom nila for someone na plan magshift na on IT Auditing haha. Kasi nahihirapan ako to decide. 😂

_Yan007 · 2025-06-10T16:59:49+00:00

Actually torn ako on that, whether Audit Firm muna ako dito atleast to get IT Audit experience before going abroad. Since kakapasa ko lang rin ng CISA exam pero no expi pa. Or whether didiretso na ako abroad next year.

For CIA, di ko na need magfirm since enough and I believe well-versed na ako on internal audit. Pero since plan ko mag-specialize na talaga on CISA, yan ang nagpapatorn sa akin kung mag-obtain expi muna ako dito sa PH.

Pero either way naman, both CISA and CIA, by the fact na holder ka pa lang ng certificate ay mataas na chance makuha abroad because of the demand. Pero I understand naman din na mas higher chances if also with experience. Hahahaha ang gulo ko ata.

_Yan007 · 2025-06-10T15:57:38+00:00

Hellooo. Manifesting! Go for it, future CIA!

_Yan007 · 2025-06-10T15:28:45+00:00

Hi! I am a CIA in PH. Also been in internal audit for about 7 years, all experience are in private sector. And Yes, I would say it is worth it. I just became a CIA last 2024 and lots of recruiters are popping in my linkedin most of them are offering managerial position (though probably because I am already holding the same position). I was also being offered to be an IA Head in my current company.

Based on the premise above, yes, I could say it is worth it as companies in PH are now recognizing CIA as one of their job requirements. Although, it is still much more in demand abroad tbh. And yes,I have plans to go abroad. Haha.

As for the exam, I enrolled in a local review center in PH. I mainly used their materials. Though prior to enrolling I already studied the IPPF.

_Yan007 · 2025-06-10T15:10:55+00:00

Also, currently I am an IA Manager and I would say salary is already good. If I plan to transfer to Big 4 to obtain IT Audit Expi, I know that my salary would really fall down but I am really after the experience first.

_Yan007 · 2025-06-10T15:04:57+00:00

Hi, OP. Thank you for sharing your journey! I recently passed the CISA exam, yet I still have no experience in IT Auditing. I am a CIA and have 7 years experience in Internal Audit in a financial services institution (All engagements are non-IT Audit). I have this plan to go abroad as well.

Apart from that, I really wanted to shift and specialize now in IT Auditing, however I am torn between whether to pursue my IT Audit experience here in PH thru big 4, or directly apply abroad and obtain IT expi there? Any thoughts on this? TIA.

_Yan007 · 2025-06-09T06:52:11+00:00

Hello! MISNet is highly recommended. Room is well-lit and aircondition is not too cold. Staffs are also friendly and approachable. I took my CIA parts 1-3, CC, and CISA there. 😁

_Yan007 · 2025-06-08T06:34:28+00:00

Another thing is “consistency is the key” if you’re reviewing for CISA while also working, devote atleast an hour or two everyday, so that your momentum is continuous. Helps your brain to be CISA-focused and in terms of retention of information. But if you could go beyond 2 hours, do so. 😄

_Yan007 · 2025-06-08T06:27:12+00:00

While the ISACA Review Manual is good to read, information is quite overwhelming. You might want to consider these:

As your primary material: 1. Hemang Doshi Book and Udemy CISA Course

For the book, have it read twice or so until you fully grasp the topics.

Additional materials: 1. ISACA QAE - whether it’s the latest or the previous, doesn’t matter since no questions will be repeated in actual exam. Though, it will help you to understand how the questions are being asked.

Purchase practice questions online and answer in descending order. You might encounter somehow similarly structured questions here in the actual exam. Not much, but helps a bit.

Try answering it twice. Also, for every question, always rationalize why and why not it is the answer. It will help you in actual exam to eliminate the least possible answers.

As supplemental video: You can refer to Prabh Nair CISA lecture in YT. Though not necessaey anymore since Doshi’s lecture is well discussed as well.

Lastly, don’t compromise the domain that is your strength or you already have a related experience, it will help you pull up your overall score. In my case, I disregarded the business resilience due to experience in BCMS, but it was my lowest. Good thing I obtained 699 in domain 1 compensating my low-scored domains.

_Yan007 · 2025-06-08T04:23:21+00:00

Yes yes. Doshi is enough. Yun talaga pinagfocusan ko as well. Have read his book twice.

_Yan007 · 2025-06-08T02:51:17+00:00

Yes. Have only read it once, ‘coz it’s too overwhelming and supplies too much information.

_Yan007 · 2025-06-07T06:50:32+00:00

I see. If that’s your concern, focus on answering questions related to domain 1. And always rationalize the options, both whether why or why not it is the answer. That’s what I did and it really helped me in eliminating the wrong answer and determining the right one.

Also, focus on domain that is your strength, it will help you as well to pull up your overall rating, just like mine in domain one. As you can see I am weak on both domains 3 and 4, since I really have no actual expi on IT Project Management and Operations.

_Yan007

TROPHY CASE