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PECB · CIRPractitioner

PECB Certified Incident Responder Course & Exam Australia

Master the detection, response, and mitigation of cybersecurity incidents to minimise impact, ensure business continuity, and strengthen organisational security. Certified Incident Responder (CIR) equips security professionals with the advanced skills and methodologies to manage complex incidents across the modern threat landscape — threat intelligence, malware analysis, containment strategies, and forensic investigation — through hands-on exercises and real-world simulations. You will learn to plan, coordinate, and execute incident response procedures, conduct digital forensics, collaborate with stakeholders, and build incident response playbooks tailored to your organisation.

Available Australia-wide, in New Zealand and across Asia Pacific — and, because self-study and eLearning are delivered online through the myPECB platform, from anywhere in the world. Live online classes run in Australian time zones; in-person classroom delivery in Melbourne and Sydney is available on request. Base prices are published in AUD, and every course page supports available local currencies including NZD. An Australian billing address adds 10% GST; a non-Australian billing address has no Australian GST.

The PECB Certified Incident Responder training course costs $1,165 + GST through Aegentra Academy, an official PECB authorised training partner in Australia. That price includes the official PECB examination voucher, the full course materials, 12 months of myPECB access, and one free exam resit within 12 months.

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Official course provider
PECB
Professional pathway
Practitioner
Self-Study
12 months access
Initial attempt and one free retake
2 exam attempts included
/ Purchase order

Certified Incident Responder course price and enrolment options

/ What you get

What's included in the Certified Incident Responder course fee

The official PECB course and exam package starts at $1,165 + GST — with no separate exam fee after enrolment. Optional Aegentra Labs exam preparation is clearly priced separately.

Course materials
  • 450+ pages of comprehensive training materials
  • Hands-on exercises, real-world simulations, and quizzes
  • 12 months access via myPECB
Exam package
  • Official PECB CIR exam voucher
  • 3-hour exam, remotely proctored
  • Two attempts (initial + one free resit within 12 months)
  • PECB digital certificate on pass
Practitioner extras
  • 31 CPD credits on completion
  • Incident response playbooks and forensic techniques
  • Aegentra Academy support inbox
/ Exam requirements & credential

Certified Incident Responder exam format, duration and pass mark

The exam voucher is included in your enrolment, and so is one free resit if you don't pass first time. Both the exam and the credential are issued directly by PECB.

Format
Multiple-choice and scenario-based
Duration
3 hours
Questions
Five competency domains — fundamental concepts of incident response; ransomware incident response; malware incident response; perimeter threats detection and response; and incident response to persistent mechanisms
Pass mark
70%
Language
English (other PECB languages available on request)
Credential experience requirements

Two credentials: Provisional Incident Responder (no experience required) and Certified Incident Responder (two years of incident-response / cybersecurity experience plus 300 project hours). Both require passing the exam and signing the PECB Code of Ethics. Meets the PECB Examination and Certification Program (ECP) requirements.

/ Before you enrol

Clear answers about price, tax, exams, and certification.

These answers use this course's current catalogue record and PECB's published exam, certification, and maintenance policies.

What is included in the Certified Incident Responder course fee?

The published price is A$1,165 for Self-Study, before tax. It includes the official PECB course materials, 12 months of access, the first exam attempt, one free retake, and the certification application fee. PECB’s partner-course policy also includes the first year of the Annual Maintenance Fee where maintenance applies; Foundation and Provisional credentials are maintenance-exempt. There is no separate first-exam or certification-application charge after enrolment.

What will PECB charge to maintain the Certified Incident Responder credential?

PECB’s current maintenance policy lists no maintenance fee for Foundation, Provisional, or Transition credentials. For all other PECB certifications, the published fee is $390 per three-year certification cycle, together with the applicable CPD requirements and continued adherence to the PECB Code of Ethics. PECB sets this fee and may change it, so check the linked policy before renewal.

Can I pay in NZD or another currency, and when is Australian GST added?

Yes. Every Academy course supports AUD and multiple local currencies, including NZD, USD, SGD, GBP, EUR, INR, AED, MYR, PHP, IDR, and VND when a live quote is available. Currency and tax are separate: an Australian billing address adds 10% GST, while a non-Australian billing address has no Australian GST. For example, an Australian working in New Zealand may pay in NZD and use an Australian billing address, but 10% GST will still be added because the billing address is Australian.

What is the difference between Self-Study and eLearning for Certified Incident Responder?

The currently published self-paced option is Self-Study at A$1,165 before tax, using the official PECB slide-based materials. A separate recorded eLearning price is not currently published for this course. The official exam package is still included, and instructor-led delivery is available only when a confirmed cohort is shown or arranged with Aegentra Academy.

Can I sit the Certified Incident Responder exam remotely from New Zealand or another time zone?

Yes. PECB publishes remote online exam sessions that candidates can take from home or another suitable location through the PECB Exams application. The published course record lists these exam facts: duration — 3 hours; format — Multiple-choice and scenario-based; assessment — Five competency domains — fundamental concepts of incident response; ransomware incident response; malware incident response; perimeter threats detection and response; and incident response to persistent mechanisms; pass mark — 70%; language — English (other PECB languages available on request). New Zealand candidates should choose a published session that suits their local time, meet PECB’s identity and technical requirements, and complete the system check before exam day. PECB’s general exam policy does not publish a New Zealand restriction.

Which credential tier will I receive after the Certified Incident Responder exam, and who assesses it?

Two credentials: Provisional Incident Responder (no experience required) and Certified Incident Responder (two years of incident-response / cybersecurity experience plus 300 project hours). Both require passing the exam and signing the PECB Code of Ethics. Meets the PECB Examination and Certification Program (ECP) requirements. Passing the exam does not by itself guarantee the highest experience-based credential tier. PECB requires an online certification application and reference contact details, and its Certification Department decides whether the education, professional experience, and field-related project activity requirements are met.

What evidence does PECB accept for the experience or project hours for Certified Incident Responder?

PECB’s public certification-process page does not publish a closed list of documents that automatically proves project hours. It requires the online application and contact details for references who may be contacted to validate your experience. Keep a dated activity log showing the organisation or client, your role, the field-related project activity, dates, responsibilities, and hours; retain employer or client confirmations, statements of work, timesheets, or similar records in case PECB asks for support. The PECB Certification Department assesses the application and makes the final decision.

Policy sources:PECB exam rules and fee inclusionsPECB certification maintenance policyPECB certification application process
/ Training prerequisites

What you should know before starting Certified Incident Responder

  • None to attend the training. The full PECB Certified Incident Responder credential requires two years of practical experience in incident response or cybersecurity and 300 hours of project activity; without those you can still earn the Provisional Incident Responder credential after passing the exam.
/ Who this course is for

Who should take the Certified Incident Responder course

  • Incident response team members and cybersecurity analysts managing security events
  • IT security professionals enhancing their technical and strategic incident response skills
  • Security operations centre (SOC) personnel involved in threat detection and response
  • Professionals transitioning into specialised incident response roles
  • Managers and team leaders coordinating incident response strategies and protocols
/ What you'll learn

By the end of this course you'll be able to:

  • Develop and implement effective incident response strategies and manage response efforts across teams and technologies.
  • Evaluate ransomware attack vectors and mitigation techniques and execute a robust response plan to minimise impact.
  • Analyse malware behaviours, create tailored remediation strategies, and use forensic techniques to trace and neutralise malicious code.
  • Identify and respond to external threats targeting network perimeters, with tools and techniques for early detection and containment.
  • Develop remediation plans to eliminate recurring threats and recognise advanced persistence strategies.
/ Curriculum

Certified Incident Responder course curriculum

5 modules, fully on-demand. Click any module to see the topics inside.

01Day 1 — Fundamentals of incident response and strategic handling
  • The incident response lifecycle and frameworks
  • Building and coordinating the response team
  • Strategic incident handling and response playbooks
02Day 2 — Ransomware and malware incident response
  • Ransomware attack vectors and containment
  • Malware behaviour analysis
  • Remediation and recovery strategies
03Day 3 — Perimeter threats detection, analysis, and response
  • Threat intelligence and early detection
  • Perimeter threat detection tools and techniques
  • Containment of external threats
04Day 4 — Persistence, forensics, and continual improvement
  • Detecting and remediating advanced persistence mechanisms
  • Digital forensics and evidence handling
  • Post-incident review and continual improvement
05Day 5 — Certification exam
  • PECB Certified Incident Responder exam
  • 3 hours, five competency domains
  • Remotely proctored — sit from anywhere in Australia
/ Library
Certification guide

Incident Response Certification Australia

Step-by-step certification process, realistic AUD costs, audit timelines, and how this course fits into a wider readiness program — senior-engineer written, updated for 2026.

Read

Free learning resources

Put the course concepts into practice.

Use Aegentra’s existing templates, checklists, registers and mappings alongside your course. No account or email is required.

Browse all free Academy resources
/ Related reading

Related PECB CIR resources

Free companion reading for anyone studying incident response, ransomware and malware handling — with response playbooks and forensics fundamentals:

Compare the family

See where this course fits

The Cybersecurity family page compares current levels, prices, delivery, audiences and exam facts before you choose a pathway.

Compare Cybersecurity pathways

Source and review status

How these course facts are governed

Price, delivery and course content are generated from Aegentra’s authoritative catalogue record. The official PECB course page and exam policy are linked directly below. Source-link checks and substantive human review are tracked separately so one is never presented as the other.

Official PECB sources

Course and certification details

Exam rules and policies

Links checked 11 August 2026.

Editorial accountability

Harry Sidhu owns publication of this record. A separate course-specific substantive reviewer has not yet been recorded.

Substantive review status

Official source links are checked separately. A course-specific substantive review date will be published when completed.

/ Accreditation

Is the Certified Incident Responder certification recognised in Australia?

Yes. PECB certifications are internationally accredited and are accepted on Australian resumes, tender responses and procurement panels. Australia has no separate national licence for Certified Incident Responder — the recognition comes from the accreditation behind the credential, which is international.

PECB’s professional certifications are accredited under ISO/IEC 17024 — the international standard for bodies certifying persons — by IAS, UKAS, KAB and COFRAC. Its Foundation certificate programs are separately accredited by ANAB (ANSI National Accreditation Board) under ANSI/ASTM E2659.

Aegentra Academy is an official PECB authorised training partner in Australia, which is what allows this course to include the official PECB examination voucher rather than billing it separately. You can confirm that directly with PECB through the official PECB partner directory.

This official PECB course is sold and supported by Aegentra Academy. PECB supplies the course material, examination and professional credential scheme. Aegentra's wider practice also runs governance, risk and compliance engagements and Microsoft 365 hardening for Australian organisations. Named eLearning trainers are credited separately on this page when the course record supplies them.

Courses run online and self-paced through the myPECB platform, so professionals across Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra and New Zealand enrol online. Instructor-led cohorts and in-person delivery in Melbourne and Sydney are available on request. Multi-seat team pricing is available for five or more seats — email Academy@aegentra.com.au for an enterprise quote. Tax invoices with GST and ABN are issued automatically at checkout.

/ Frequently asked

Certified Incident Responder — frequently asked.

How long is the Certified Incident Responder course?

Five days — four days of hands-on training across incident response fundamentals, ransomware and malware response, perimeter threat detection, and persistence and forensics, followed by the certification exam on day five.

What experience do I need?

None to attend the training. To hold the full PECB Certified Incident Responder credential you need two years of practical experience in incident response or cybersecurity plus 300 hours of project activity. Without that, you can still earn the Provisional Incident Responder credential after passing the exam.

What does the CIR exam involve?

A 3-hour PECB exam covering five competency domains: fundamental concepts of incident response, ransomware incident response, malware incident response, perimeter threats detection and response, and incident response to persistent mechanisms. The exam voucher and one free resit are included in the price.

Is the Certified Incident Responder credential recognised?

Yes. PECB is accredited by UKAS, IAS and COFRAC under ISO/IEC 17024 for personnel certification — recognised internationally, including across Australia.

What CPD credits do I earn?

Participants who complete the training receive an attestation worth 31 CPD (Continuing Professional Development) credits.

When can I start the course?

Immediately after payment. The Academy team confirms your seat with PECB and you receive login details by email — usually within one business day.

How long do I have access to the course?

You have 12 months of access from enrolment. That window covers the course material, the official PECB exam, and one free resit if you need it.

What if I fail the exam?

One PECB-issued resit is included in your enrolment at no extra cost. Aegentra does not publish a pass-rate claim without an audited cohort dataset.

Questions about invoicing, GST, group bookings, refunds or instructor-led delivery? Read the Academy FAQ.

$1,165AUD · EXCL. TAX
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