We offer prep courses, prep books, and study guides to assist you on your journey.
Study Guides
Our free Study Guides list all topics you should know before taking the corresponding exam. You can use the study guide to self-research each topic on your own time using your favourite search engine.
Prep Course
This video course walks you through each topic in a video format using animations and illustrations, with quizzes to test your knowledge.
Prep Books
If you prefer reading a complete book, you can purchase an Exam Prep Book. Each book gathers all requisite information in a single PDF for you to work through at your own pace without searching for each topic on your own.
Live Training
Every new CCSS Implementer and Auditor must attend and participate in the entirety of our live, virtual CCSS Training Program and pass the associated exam in order to be certified.
To find out which path is right for you, take our self assessment.
Prospective CCSS Implementers and CCSS Auditors both start with C4’s Foundations course, then chooses one (or both) tracks:
- Foundations (required first) – 2 days (16 hours total)
Build a shared baseline across the whole Standard: how the CCSS is structured, how to scope a system, and how to recognize sufficient evidence for each control. - Choose a track – 2 days (16 hours) per track
- CCSSI (Implementer) Track: Design and sequence controls for a real system, map gaps to requirements, and produce practical artifacts (procedures, diagrams, key ceremony documentation).
- CCSSA (Auditor) Track: Plan and execute an audit workflow end-to-end. Scoping and sampling, evidence-gathering, interviews, and defensible findings.
Exams
Our certification exams are designed to assess practical understanding in a focused, efficient format. Each exam includes 75 multiple-choice and true/false questions, with a 20-minute time limit. A passing score is 70%, and successful candidates receive a digital certificate (a paper certificate can be printed and mailed for an additional fee.) Each exam purchase also includes one retake, giving you an additional opportunity to pass if needed.
