Find the right CMMC assessor. Know the real cost.
We've profiled 18 accredited CMMC C3PAOs — their timelines, their specialties, who to avoid. Tell us about your contracts and we'll match you with the best-fit assessors, then make them compete for your business with side-by-side quotes. Free. Two minutes. Signing with the first assessor who calls you is how contractors overpay.
Free · 2 minutes · No obligation
How quote matching works
- Tell us once — 4 questions, 2 minutes, free.
- We match you — accredited C3PAOs filtered to your CMMC level, size, and timeline.
- Assessors quote you — they send scoped quotes directly; you pick.
We are a quote-matching service, not an assessor, and listings are not endorsements. How we vet firms and label prices →
Accredited CMMC assessment organizations
Every firm below is a real, operating C3PAO with a verified website. We are an independent directory — listings are not endorsements, and we encourage you to confirm each firm's current authorization in The Cyber AB marketplace before engaging.
Redspin
Redspin is the first-ever authorized CMMC C3PAO, cleared by the CMMC-AB in June 2021 after passing a DIBCAC-administered assessment. Now a division of…
Schellman
Schellman is one of the original C3PAOs — it performed the first assessment under the Joint Voluntary Surveillance Assessment (JVSA) program — and was…
A-LIGN
A-LIGN is a high-volume, technology-enabled audit practice and an authorized CMMC C3PAO. Its scale across SOC 2, ISO 27001, FedRAMP, and PCI DSS makes…
Coalfire Federal
Coalfire Federal is the federal arm of Coalfire, one of the leading FedRAMP Third-Party Assessment Organizations, and an authorized CMMC C3PAO. It is …
The right assessor depends on your size
A 15-person machine shop and a 5,000-person prime should not hire the same assessor. We've grouped the directory by contractor size, with planning-range pricing where published.
Small subcontractors
First CMMC assessment, small team, price-sensitive. Boutiques with senior assessors and low planning ranges.
Mid-size contractors
Established DIB suppliers. Credible assessments for primes, with multi-framework runway.
Primes & large contractors
Multi-site, multi-entity, or classified programs — or a customer that expects a top-tier name.
CMMC, explained honestly
CMMC Cost Guide
Published assessment-fee ranges, what drives price, and an interactive estimator.
CMMC Timeline
Phase 2 timing, how long each phase takes, and what to do this quarter.
Readiness Check
A 2-minute scored quiz: is your 800-171 program assessment-ready?
2026 Pricing Report
Every published CMMC cost figure we could find, each one cited.
Choosing a C3PAO
Nine questions to ask before you sign an assessment agreement.
Level 1 vs Level 2
Which level your contracts actually require — and when self-assessment is enough.
Best C3PAOs by Use Case
Buyer-matched picks: small subs, mid-size contractors, primes.
RFP & Quote Comparison
What to put in your brief, a comparison worksheet, and red flags.
Our Methodology
How we vet firms, label every price, and keep rankings unbought.
CMMC basics
What is CMMC certification?
CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification) is the Department of Defense program that requires defense contractors handling Federal Contract Information (FCI) or Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) to demonstrate cybersecurity maturity. Level 1 (15 practices) is a self-assessment; Level 2 (110 practices, aligned to NIST SP 800-171) requires assessment by an accredited C3PAO every three years.
How much does a CMMC Level 2 assessment cost?
Published sources put a single-location C3PAO assessment at $30,000–$50,000, with larger or multi-site scopes running higher. First-year all-in costs (assessment + readiness work + CUI enclave/tooling) are typically several multiples of the assessment fee. See our cost guide and the 2026 pricing report for sourced numbers.
How long does CMMC certification take?
For a first Level 2 certification: 3–9 months of readiness work, then 2–8 weeks of C3PAO fieldwork depending on size and complexity. Contractors starting from scratch should budget 6–12 months end to end. See the timeline.
Who can perform a CMMC assessment?
Only an accredited C3PAO (Certified Third-Party Assessment Organization) authorized by The Cyber AB can perform a CMMC Level 2 assessment. Readiness consultants and RPOs can prepare you — they cannot certify you.
Get quotes from accredited CMMC assessors
Tell us about your contracts and timeline once. We'll match you with C3PAOs who fit — no obligation, no spam.
How it works: tell us once (4 questions, 2 min) → we match accredited C3PAOs to your level, size, and timeline → they send scoped quotes directly. Free, no obligation.