› Certifications · compare
Compare certifications
Pick up to 3 certifications and compare them side-by-side on cost, exam format, recertification, salary signal, quality, and domain coverage.
ISC2 · professional
CSSLPCertified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional
Secure SDLC, threat modelling, secure architecture across product teams.
Official pageGIAC / SANS · professional
GWEBGIAC Certified Web Application Defender
Defender-side AppSec — OWASP Top 10, API security, secure design patterns.
Official pageComparing
ISC2CSSLP
GIAC / SANSGWEB
› Cost
Exam fee
CSSLP$599
GWEB$979
Exam fee
$599
$979
Annual maintenance fee
CSSLP—
GWEB—
Annual maintenance fee
—
—
3-year cost of ownership
CSSLP$599
GWEB$979
3-year cost of ownership
$599
$979
› Exam mechanics
Pass mark
CSSLP700/1000 (scaled)
GWEB71% (scaled per attempt)
Pass mark
700/1000 (scaled)
71% (scaled per attempt)
Retake policy
CSSLP$599 fee · 30d wait · 4/yr cap
GWEB$999 fee · 30d wait
Retake policy
$599 fee · 30d wait · 4/yr cap
$999 fee · 30d wait
Study time
CSSLP80–150 hrs
GWEB100–180 hrs
Study time
80–150 hrs
100–180 hrs
Validity
CSSLP3 yrs
GWEB4 yrs
Validity
3 yrs
4 yrs
CPE / yr
CSSLP30 CPEs
GWEB9 CPEs
CPE / yr
30 CPEs
9 CPEs
Delivery
CSSLPtest center
GWEBonline proctored
Delivery
test center
online proctored
› Salary signal (US base)
Range
CSSLP$120K – $170K
GWEB$115K – $170K
Range
$120K – $170K
$115K – $170K
Median
CSSLP$140,000
GWEB$140,000
Median
$140,000
$140,000
Premium %
CSSLP—
GWEB—
Premium %
—
—
Role context
CSSLPApplication security engineer / secure-SDLC lead, US, 5+ years.
GWEBWeb application security engineer, US, 4-6 years.
Role context
Application security engineer / secure-SDLC lead, US, 5+ years.
Web application security engineer, US, 4-6 years.
› Quality (4-axis rubric · 0–10)
Schema quality
CSSLP8.0
GWEB8.0
Schema quality
8.0
8.0
Practice evidence
CSSLP2.5
GWEB4.0
Practice evidence
2.5
4.0
Maintenance
CSSLP7.0
GWEB6.5
Maintenance
7.0
6.5
Market recognition
CSSLP6.0
GWEB6.0
Market recognition
6.0
6.0
Average
CSSLP5.9
GWEB6.1
Average
5.9
6.1
› Recognition & lifecycle
Recognition
CSSLPGlobal · US · EU · UK
GWEBGlobal · US · EU · UK
Recognition
Global · US · EU · UK
Global · US · EU · UK
ISO 17024 accredited
CSSLP✓
GWEB✓
ISO 17024 accredited
✓
✓
DoD 8140 baseline
CSSLP✓
GWEB—
DoD 8140 baseline
✓
—
Holders worldwide
CSSLP3,500
GWEB3,000
Holders worldwide
3,500
3,000
Current version
CSSLP2023 CBK refresh (2023-04)
GWEB2024 SEC522 refresh (2024-04)
Current version
2023 CBK refresh (2023-04)
2024 SEC522 refresh (2024-04)
› Domain coverage
A12Data Security, Privacy & Protection
CSSLP○ touched
GWEB○ touched
A12Data Security, Privacy & Protection
○ touched
○ touched
A13Supply Chain Security
CSSLP● core
GWEB○ touched
A13Supply Chain Security
● core
○ touched
A15Cryptography
CSSLP○ touched
GWEB·
A15Cryptography
○ touched
·
A25Security Architecture & Engineering
CSSLP● core
GWEB·
A25Security Architecture & Engineering
● core
·
A4Application Security
CSSLP● core
GWEB● core
A4Application Security
● core
● core
Browse the full catalog or open any one of these on its detail page for full study materials, peer comparisons, and lifecycle notes.