What are the prerequisites for the ISO/IEC 27005 Risk Manager certification?

There are no formal prerequisites for the ISO/IEC 27005 Risk Manager certification, but participants are expected to have basic knowledge of information security and familiarity with ISO/IEC 27001 concepts. Prior exposure to risk management activities is strongly recommended.

The ISO/IEC 27005 Risk Manager certification does not impose mandatory prerequisites. However, candidates should understand core information security concepts and the structure of ISO/IEC 27001 to benefit fully from the training and succeed in the exam.


Although the certification is accessible, it is not introductory. In practice, candidates without prior exposure to ISMS or risk processes often struggle with terminology, audit expectations, and decision logic. This has become more visible as organizations expect faster, audit-ready outcomes.

Specifics and details:
Recommended background includes:

  • Familiarity with ISO/IEC 27001 clauses and Annex A logic
  • Understanding of assets, threats, vulnerabilities, and impacts
  • Experience participating in or supporting risk assessments
  • Ability to interpret policies, procedures, and control objectives

The exam tests applied knowledge, not memorization.


Candidates who prepare best typically review their organization’s risk register, Statement of Applicability, or prior audit findings before attending the course. This allows them to relate training exercises directly to real scenarios.


Professionals new to ISO standards often complete ISO/IEC 27001 Foundation training before pursuing ISO/IEC 27005 Risk Manager.

Related Information

  • No formal experience requirement is enforced by PECB.
  • Training and exam are delivered in multiple languages.
  • The exam duration is 2 hours.
  • Risk concepts align with ISO 31000 terminology.
  • Certification is suitable for internal and external roles.

Expert Insight

We advise candidates not to underestimate preparation. The challenge is not technical difficulty but judgment. The exam and the training both assume you can reason about proportionality, business impact, and residual risk. Reviewing one real risk assessment beforehand often makes the difference between abstract learning and immediate operational value.

“If you’ve sat in a risk workshop or defended a risk decision once, you’re ready for this course.”

Expert Trainer

Expert Trainer

Topics

ISO 27005Risk AnalysisPrerequisitesISO 27005 Risk Manager

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