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IT Certification Costs in Canada (2026)
Budgeting for an IT certification means adding two separate numbers: the CISNET training fee, billed in Canadian dollars, and the vendor exam fee, paid in US dollars directly to Cisco, CompTIA, AWS, ISC2 or PMI. The table below breaks down both figures for every CISNET course so you can see the real, all-in cost before you commit. Because the two amounts sit in different currencies, we never combine them into a single total. Compiled by CISNET, August 2026.
Cost by certification (Canada, 2026)
| Certification | CISNET training (CAD) | Vendor exam fee (USD) | Live hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| CCNAExam 200-301 | $499 CAD | $300 USD | 30 h |
| CCNP ENCORExam 350-401 ENCOR | $799 CAD | $400 USD | 30 h |
| CCNP ENARSIExam 300-410 ENARSI | $799 CAD | $300 USD | 30 h |
| AWS SAAExam SAA-C03 | $799 CAD | $150 USD | 40 h |
| Security+Exam SY0-701 | $699 CAD | $404 USD | 30 h |
| CompTIA A+Exam 220-1101 (Core 1) + 220-1102 (Core 2) | $599 CAD | $253 USDeach (two exams) | 40 h |
| CISSPExam CISSP CAT | $899 CAD | $749 USD | 40 h |
| PMPExam PMP | $1,099 CAD | $425 USDPMI member rate | 35 h |
Training is billed in Canadian dollars; vendor exam fees are paid in US dollars directly to the certifying body. See the full pricing page or the salary report to weigh cost against pay.
How to read these costs
Each row shows two distinct line items. The training price is what you pay CISNET in Canadian dollars for live, instructor-led classes taught by Mani Poopal (CCIE). The exam fee is a separate charge in US dollars that you pay the certifying vendor when you sit the test. These are always kept apart because they are billed in different currencies by different parties. For example, CCNA training is $499 CAD, while the 200-301 exam is $300 USD paid to Cisco. Read every path as training CAD plus exam USD, never as one blended figure.
Training cost vs exam fee
The training fee and the exam fee cover completely different things. CISNET training buys you scheduled live sessions, hands-on labs, exam prep and first-attempt support, which is what drives our 90%+ first-attempt pass rate. The exam fee is a one-time vendor charge to take the official test at a testing centre or online proctored session. Training prices range from $499 CAD for CCNA up to $1,099 CAD for PMP. Vendor exam fees range from $150 USD for AWS Solutions Architect Associate up to $749 USD for CISSP. You budget for both, in their own currencies.
Cheapest and most expensive paths
The most affordable entry point is CCNA at $499 CAD training plus a $300 USD exam. CompTIA A+ follows at $599 CAD training, though its exam is unusual: A+ requires two separate exams, 220-1101 and 220-1102, at about $253 USD each, roughly $506 USD in total. At the higher end, PMP training is $1,099 CAD plus a $425 USD exam (PMI member rate; non-members pay more), and CISSP is $899 CAD training plus a $749 USD exam, the single most expensive vendor test on the list. Where you land depends on the credential your career track requires, not just the sticker price.
What the price does and does not include
The CISNET training price includes live online instructor-led sessions, hands-on labs, structured exam prep and first-attempt support. It does not include the vendor exam fee, which you pay in US dollars directly to Cisco, CompTIA, AWS, ISC2 or PMI when you register to test. It also does not include any optional vendor membership (for PMP, PMI membership can lower the exam rate) or exam retake fees. Training is delivered online and live from our Mississauga, Ontario base, so there are no travel or classroom costs to factor in.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to get CCNA certified in Canada?
Budget two amounts. CISNET CCNA training is $499 CAD (was $699 CAD) for 30 hours of live instructor-led classes, and the Cisco 200-301 exam is $300 USD paid directly to Cisco. The training fee is Canadian dollars and the exam fee is US dollars, so they are kept separate rather than summed.
How much does PMP certification cost?
CISNET PMP training is $1,099 CAD for 35 hours of live instruction, and the PMP exam is $425 USD at the PMI member rate (non-members pay more) paid directly to PMI. Training is in Canadian dollars and the exam is in US dollars, so they are not combined into one figure.
Is the exam fee included in CISNET training?
No. The CISNET training price is billed in Canadian dollars and covers live instruction, labs, exam prep and first-attempt support. The vendor exam fee is separate, paid in US dollars directly to the certifying body such as Cisco, CompTIA, AWS, ISC2 or PMI when you register to test.
What is the cheapest IT certification?
CCNA is the most affordable path: $499 CAD training (was $699 CAD) plus a $300 USD Cisco 200-301 exam. CompTIA A+ is next at $599 CAD training, though its exams total about $506 USD because A+ requires two tests. The CAD training price and USD exam fee are always counted separately.
How much does Security+ cost?
CISNET CompTIA Security+ training is $699 CAD (was $799 CAD) for 30 hours of live instruction, and the SY0-701 exam is $404 USD paid directly to CompTIA. The training is priced in Canadian dollars and the exam in US dollars, so the two figures are not added together.
Does CompTIA A+ need two exams?
Yes. CompTIA A+ requires two separate exams, 220-1101 and 220-1102, at about $253 USD each, roughly $506 USD in total paid to CompTIA. CISNET A+ training is $599 CAD for 40 hours of live instruction, billed in Canadian dollars and kept separate from the USD exam fees.
How much does CISSP cost?
CISNET CISSP training is $899 CAD for 40 hours of live, instructor-led classes, and the CISSP CAT exam is $749 USD paid directly to ISC2, the most expensive vendor exam on our list. The training fee is in Canadian dollars and the exam fee is in US dollars, so they are reported separately.
What is the total cost to certify?
Your total is always a training fee in Canadian dollars plus a vendor exam fee in US dollars. For example, CCNA is $499 CAD plus $300 USD, Security+ is $699 CAD plus $404 USD, and CISSP is $899 CAD plus $749 USD. Because the two amounts are in different currencies, CISNET never merges them into a single number, use the comparison table above to plan each part.
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