The equivalency moat, cited
What does your certification count toward?
A certification is often worth more than the exam. Some are an approved DoD 8140/8570 baseline for cybersecurity roles, some carry an ACE college-credit recommendation, and some stack toward a higher credential. Here’s what RoleMath has mapped across 89certifications — cited to official sources and shown as planning context, never as a guarantee.
Equivalency, credit, and baseline mappings come from official/authoritative sources and are shown as planning context only. ACE recommendations are accepted at each institution's discretion; DoD baseline status must be confirmed against the current official DoD Cyber Exchange table; 'comparable scope' means similar role positioning, NOT an equivalence or substitution. No certification guarantees a job, salary, or outcome.
11
DoD 8140/8570 approved baseline
27
Carry an ACE college-credit recommendation
17
Stack toward a higher credential
For DoD & cleared work
Certifications that are a DoD 8140/8570 approved baseline
These are candidate approved-baseline certifications for DoD cybersecurity workforce categories — many DoD and federal-contractor roles require one. Each mapping is shown as planning context: confirm it against the official DoD Cyber Exchange table linked on each item before relying on it, as the baselines are transitioning under DoDM 8140.03.
CCSP - Certified Cloud Security Professional
- DoD 8140 IAM Level IIverify at sourceCandidate DoD 8570/8140 approved baseline certification mapping; verify against DoD Cyber Exchange table during QA. DoD 8570.01-M baseline certs are transitioning under DoDM 8140.03.
- DoD 8140 IASAE Level IIIverify at sourceCandidate DoD 8570/8140 approved baseline certification mapping; verify against DoD Cyber Exchange table during QA. DoD 8570.01-M baseline certs are transitioning under DoDM 8140.03.
CGRC - Governance, Risk and Compliance Certification
- DoD 8140 IAM Level Iverify at sourceCandidate DoD 8570/8140 approved baseline certification mapping; verify against DoD Cyber Exchange table during QA. DoD 8570.01-M baseline certs are transitioning under DoDM 8140.03.
- DoD 8140 IAM Level IIverify at sourceCandidate DoD 8570/8140 approved baseline certification mapping; verify against DoD Cyber Exchange table during QA. DoD 8570.01-M baseline certs are transitioning under DoDM 8140.03.
CISA - Certified Information Systems Auditor
- DoD 8140 IAM Level IIverify at sourceCandidate DoD 8570/8140 approved baseline certification mapping; verify against DoD Cyber Exchange table during QA. DoD 8570.01-M baseline certs are transitioning under DoDM 8140.03.
- DoD 8140 IAM Level IIIverify at sourceCandidate DoD 8570/8140 approved baseline certification mapping; verify against DoD Cyber Exchange table during QA. DoD 8570.01-M baseline certs are transitioning under DoDM 8140.03.
- DoD 8140 CSSP Auditorverify at sourceCandidate DoD 8570/8140 approved baseline certification mapping; verify against DoD Cyber Exchange table during QA. DoD 8570.01-M baseline certs are transitioning under DoDM 8140.03.
CISM - Certified Information Security Manager
- DoD 8140 IAM Level IIverify at sourceCandidate DoD 8570/8140 approved baseline certification mapping; verify against DoD Cyber Exchange table during QA. DoD 8570.01-M baseline certs are transitioning under DoDM 8140.03.
- DoD 8140 IAM Level IIIverify at sourceCandidate DoD 8570/8140 approved baseline certification mapping; verify against DoD Cyber Exchange table during QA. DoD 8570.01-M baseline certs are transitioning under DoDM 8140.03.
CISSP - Certified Information Systems Security Professional
- DoD 8140 IAT Level IIIverify at sourceCandidate DoD 8570/8140 approved baseline certification mapping; verify against DoD Cyber Exchange table during QA. DoD 8570.01-M baseline certs are transitioning under DoDM 8140.03.
- DoD 8140 IAM Level IIverify at sourceCandidate DoD 8570/8140 approved baseline certification mapping; verify against DoD Cyber Exchange table during QA. DoD 8570.01-M baseline certs are transitioning under DoDM 8140.03.
- DoD 8140 IAM Level IIIverify at sourceCandidate DoD 8570/8140 approved baseline certification mapping; verify against DoD Cyber Exchange table during QA. DoD 8570.01-M baseline certs are transitioning under DoDM 8140.03.
- DoD 8140 IASAE Level Iverify at sourceCandidate DoD 8570/8140 approved baseline certification mapping; verify against DoD Cyber Exchange table during QA. DoD 8570.01-M baseline certs are transitioning under DoDM 8140.03.
- DoD 8140 IASAE Level IIverify at sourceCandidate DoD 8570/8140 approved baseline certification mapping; verify against DoD Cyber Exchange table during QA. DoD 8570.01-M baseline certs are transitioning under DoDM 8140.03.
- DoD 8140 IASAE Level IIIverify at sourceCandidate DoD 8570/8140 approved baseline certification mapping; verify against DoD Cyber Exchange table during QA. DoD 8570.01-M baseline certs are transitioning under DoDM 8140.03.
CompTIA Cloud+
- DoD 8140 IAT Level IIverify at sourceCandidate DoD 8570/8140 approved baseline certification mapping; verify against DoD Cyber Exchange table during QA. DoD 8570.01-M baseline certs are transitioning under DoDM 8140.03.
CompTIA CySA+
- DoD 8140 IAT Level IIverify at sourceCandidate DoD 8570/8140 approved baseline certification mapping; verify against DoD Cyber Exchange table during QA. DoD 8570.01-M baseline certs are transitioning under DoDM 8140.03.
- DoD 8140 CSSP Analystverify at sourceCandidate DoD 8570/8140 approved baseline certification mapping; verify against DoD Cyber Exchange table during QA. DoD 8570.01-M baseline certs are transitioning under DoDM 8140.03.
- DoD 8140 CSSP Incident Responderverify at sourceCandidate DoD 8570/8140 approved baseline certification mapping; verify against DoD Cyber Exchange table during QA. DoD 8570.01-M baseline certs are transitioning under DoDM 8140.03.
CompTIA PenTest+
- DoD 8140 IAT Level IIverify at sourceCandidate DoD 8570/8140 approved baseline certification mapping; verify against DoD Cyber Exchange table during QA. DoD 8570.01-M baseline certs are transitioning under DoDM 8140.03.
- DoD 8140 CSSP Analystverify at sourceCandidate DoD 8570/8140 approved baseline certification mapping; verify against DoD Cyber Exchange table during QA. DoD 8570.01-M baseline certs are transitioning under DoDM 8140.03.
- DoD 8140 CSSP Incident Responderverify at sourceCandidate DoD 8570/8140 approved baseline certification mapping; verify against DoD Cyber Exchange table during QA. DoD 8570.01-M baseline certs are transitioning under DoDM 8140.03.
CompTIA Security+
- DoD 8140 IAT Level IIverify at sourceCandidate DoD 8570/8140 approved baseline certification mapping; verify against DoD Cyber Exchange table during QA. DoD 8570.01-M baseline certs are transitioning under DoDM 8140.03.
- DoD 8140 IAM Level Iverify at sourceCandidate DoD 8570/8140 approved baseline certification mapping; verify against DoD Cyber Exchange table during QA. DoD 8570.01-M baseline certs are transitioning under DoDM 8140.03.
CompTIA SecurityX
- DoD 8140 IAT Level IIIverify at sourceCandidate DoD 8570/8140 approved baseline certification mapping; verify against DoD Cyber Exchange table during QA. DoD 8570.01-M baseline certs are transitioning under DoDM 8140.03.
- DoD 8140 IAM Level IIverify at sourceCandidate DoD 8570/8140 approved baseline certification mapping; verify against DoD Cyber Exchange table during QA. DoD 8570.01-M baseline certs are transitioning under DoDM 8140.03.
- DoD 8140 IASAE Level Iverify at sourceCandidate DoD 8570/8140 approved baseline certification mapping; verify against DoD Cyber Exchange table during QA. DoD 8570.01-M baseline certs are transitioning under DoDM 8140.03.
- DoD 8140 IASAE Level IIverify at sourceCandidate DoD 8570/8140 approved baseline certification mapping; verify against DoD Cyber Exchange table during QA. DoD 8570.01-M baseline certs are transitioning under DoDM 8140.03.
SSCP - Systems Security Certified Practitioner
- DoD 8140 IAT Level Iverify at sourceCandidate DoD 8570/8140 approved baseline certification mapping; verify against DoD Cyber Exchange table during QA. DoD 8570.01-M baseline certs are transitioning under DoDM 8140.03.
- DoD 8140 IAT Level IIverify at sourceCandidate DoD 8570/8140 approved baseline certification mapping; verify against DoD Cyber Exchange table during QA. DoD 8570.01-M baseline certs are transitioning under DoDM 8140.03.
Toward a degree
Certifications with an ACE college-credit recommendation
An ACE recommendation is a starting point, not a guarantee — each college decides whether to accept it and how much credit to grant. Bring the listed semester hours to a specific school’s registrar.
Microsoft 365 Certified: Endpoint Administrator Associate
Microsoft 365 Certified: Fundamentals
Microsoft 365 Certified: Teams Administrator Associate
Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate
Microsoft Azure Fundamentals
Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Engineer Associate
Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals
Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Fundamentals
Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Scientist Associate
Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate
Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate
Microsoft Certified: Azure Network Engineer Associate
Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert
Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Business Central Functional Consultant Associate
Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Customer Service Functional Consultant Associate
Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Fundamentals (CRM)
Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Fundamentals (ERP)
Microsoft Certified: Identity and Access Administrator Associate
Microsoft Certified: Information Security Administrator Associate
Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate
Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Developer Associate
Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Functional Consultant Associate
Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Fundamentals
Microsoft Certified: Security Operations Analyst Associate
Microsoft Certified: Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals
Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate
- ACE: 4 semester hour(s) recommendedExam AZ-800 and AZ-801 are each ACE-recommended for 2 credits; combined certification candidate total 4 semester hours; active 08/01/2023-07/31/2026.
Build a higher credential
Certifications that stack toward a higher one
Some vendors award a higher “stackable” credential automatically once you hold the right combination. The links show the official stacking path.
CCSP - Certified Cloud Security Professional
- Isc2 Associate Of Isc2ISC2 Associate pathway: passing this ISC2 certification exam without required experience can lead to Associate of ISC2 status (up to six years for this exam path).
CGRC - Governance, Risk and Compliance Certification
- Isc2 Associate Of Isc2ISC2 Associate pathway: passing this ISC2 certification exam without required experience can lead to Associate of ISC2 status (up to three years for this exam path).
CISSP - Certified Information Systems Security Professional
- Isc2 Associate Of Isc2ISC2 Associate pathway: passing this ISC2 certification exam without required experience can lead to Associate of ISC2 status (up to six years for this exam path).
CSSLP - Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional
- Isc2 Associate Of Isc2ISC2 Associate pathway: passing this ISC2 certification exam without required experience can lead to Associate of ISC2 status (up to five years for this exam path).
CompTIA A+
CompTIA Cloud+
CompTIA CySA+
CompTIA Linux+
CompTIA Network+
CompTIA PenTest+
CompTIA Security+
CompTIA SecurityX
CompTIA Server+
ISSAP - Information Systems Security Architecture Professional
- Isc2 Associate Of Isc2ISC2 Associate pathway: passing this ISC2 certification exam without required experience can lead to Associate of ISC2 status (up to eight years for this exam path).
ISSEP - Information Systems Security Engineering Professional
- Isc2 Associate Of Isc2ISC2 Associate pathway: passing this ISC2 certification exam without required experience can lead to Associate of ISC2 status (up to eight years for this exam path).
ISSMP - Information Systems Security Management Professional
- Isc2 Associate Of Isc2ISC2 Associate pathway: passing this ISC2 certification exam without required experience can lead to Associate of ISC2 status (up to eight years for this exam path).
SSCP - Systems Security Certified Practitioner
- Isc2 Associate Of Isc2ISC2 Associate pathway: passing this ISC2 certification exam without required experience can lead to Associate of ISC2 status (up to two years for this exam path).
Every cert we’ve mapped
Full equivalency coverage
Common questions
What it counts for, answered honestly
- Does a DoD 8140/8570 “approved baseline” mean I’m qualified for the job?
- It means the certification is listed as an approved baseline for a DoD cybersecurity workforce category and level — a prerequisite many DoD and contractor roles require. It is not by itself a job offer or a clearance, and the official baseline tables change (DoD 8570.01-M is transitioning under DoDM 8140.03). Always confirm the current requirement against the official DoD Cyber Exchange table linked on each item.
- Will a college actually give me credit for my certification?
- Maybe. An ACE (American Council on Education) credit recommendation is exactly that — a recommendation. Each college decides independently whether to accept it, how much credit to grant, and toward which program. Treat the listed semester hours as a starting point for a conversation with a specific school’s registrar, not a guarantee.
- What does “stacks toward” mean?
- Some vendors (CompTIA, for example) let lower certifications count toward a higher “stackable” credential you earn automatically once you hold the right combination. The links show the official stacking path. It saves exams, not money on the ones you still need to pass.
- Why do some items say “verify at source”?
- Because RoleMath shows this as planning context and flags anything it has not independently confirmed against the live official table. These mappings move, so we link the official source on every item and mark the ones a human should re-check before relying on them.
Plan the credential that counts twice
If you’re aiming for DoD work or college credit, the right certification does double duty. Build a cited plan around the role you want — RoleMath sells nothing and isn’t influenced by who pays us.