[WannaB_ITauditor]

Hello everyone,

I have finally finished all CPA exams and since job prospects do not look so good I am thinking of going back to school and take classes to become an IT auditor or CISA. I looked up online and there are a lot of information on how to get certified but none of them talk specifically what classes to take in school in order to be able to sit for the exam. I have no IT background but I am sure I can learn it if I want to. I sent an e-mail to my ex-professor asking the same thing and he said I need some database courses and some programming courses. That did not help a lot. I don’t have a lot of money to pay for school so I am going to a community college and I don’t think the advisers there will be of much help either. So, my question is “What specific classes do I need to take?”

Any help (even not so specific answers) will be much appreciated. I can at least try to put the pieces together and be able to figure out something.

[waffle_house]

I was wondering about this too. How does one start a career in IT audit? What experience or education is needed?

[Anonymous]

My university had a MSAIT graduate degree — Master Science Accounting Information Technology.

Most IT auditors at my firm have MIS/Comp Science + Acct degrees.

[ruggercpa2b]

If you dont have money to go back to school you dont necessarily need more education to get into IT auditing. With a CPA and a busniess degree you can get an entry level job as an IT Auditor. Look up jobs in your area for entry level positions to see what they are looking for in an applicant.

AUD - 73, 72 retake 7/2/2016
BEC - 8/20/2016
REG - TBD
FAR - TBD

I am so ready for this nightmare to be over. Been at this way too long.

[MobyDick]

I don't recall a requirement for an Info System specific degree in order to get the CISA cert…I think it just reduces the number of years experience you need. I do have a master's in IS, but I think that was just icing for the cert. CISSP was a little more stringent, it requires another CISSP to vouch for you.

In terms of classes, if your goal is to get the cert, just get an exam review book or sign up for a boot camp. Maybe contact your local ISACA chapter and see if they offer training/exam prep.

FAR--(5/27/14) 90
REG--(8/11/14) 90
AUD--(10/1/14) 88
BEC--(11/24/14) 89 Done!!
Virginia CPA License (12/24/14)

100% Becker CPA Self-Study

CISA (2010) CISSP (2012)

[overapplied]

There are no specific classes you need or have to take. Really you just need an interest in IT audit, which requires being willing to adapt to a large variety of different IT environments, and changing methodology of how to test those environments. It is not everyone's preference but I find the work rewarding.

As for the CISA exam… to take the test you don't even need any kind of degree/classes at all. To be awarded the CISA certification the base minimum is 5 years of IT audit experience (which even someone who just has a highschool degree could eventually get). They do however treat certain certifications and education achievements as 1-2 years of experience:

Bachelors degree = 2 years

CPA License (or audit specialization that they approve on a case by case basis) = 1 year.

From a practical standpoint of doing the work, a SQL class would be useful, as well as fundamental classes explaining the nuts and bolts about how computer networks are setup.

So hopefully I just passed the CISA exam (took it 5 days ago) and will then have to wait 1 year to be certified.

AUD - 75 - 07/06/2012
FAR - 72, 74, 82 - 05/30/2013
BEC - 84 - 01/16/2013
REG - 60ish, 84 - 08/16/2013

CISA - Passed

[waffle_house]

@overapplied Thanks for the response. I guess the hard part would actually be getting an entry-level IT auditing job.

[overapplied]

My suggestion would be to find some firms that specialize in providing IT audit. Look at what kinds of reports/assessments/etc. they market to clients and then try to get a good understanding of what those things are. That will both help you become more conversant in the field, and also give an understanding of what you would be getting into.

AUD - 75 - 07/06/2012
FAR - 72, 74, 82 - 05/30/2013
BEC - 84 - 01/16/2013
REG - 60ish, 84 - 08/16/2013

CISA - Passed

[BamaGuyinNC]

I too am wondering how to get an entry IT Audit position. I have applied to some large state firms and regional firms to no success recently (no responses to applications). Will it be better to concentrate on CPA firms or industry positions in IT Audit for entry level? I have passed 3 parts of the CPA and have one remaining (waiting for mid-August). Will application carry more wait being a CPA, as in should I wait till I am CPA to apply for IT Audit positions? My experience is more in Accounting (Bachelors and Masters in Accounting) (no Audit experience) and I have 2 years of experience in IT Help Desk along with 14 IT certifications to include CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+ and 11 Microsoft certifications (MCP, MCTS, MCITP, MCSA)covering Windows Server 2003, Vista, 7, and SharePoint. Will passing the CISA without experience in IT Audit get me a position in IT Audit?

[Author]

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