› 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.
EC-Council · professional
ECSSEC Council Certified Security Specialist
EC Council Certified Security Specialist
Official pageComparing
EC-CouncilECSS
› Cost
Exam fee
ECSS$250
Exam fee
$250
Annual maintenance fee
ECSS$80/yr
Annual maintenance fee
$80/yr
3-year cost of ownership
ECSS$490
3-year cost of ownership
$490
› Exam mechanics
Pass mark
ECSS—
Pass mark
—
Retake policy
ECSS$499 fee · 0d wait
Retake policy
$499 fee · 0d wait
Study time
ECSS40–80 hrs
Study time
40–80 hrs
Validity
ECSS3 yrs
Validity
3 yrs
CPE / yr
ECSS40 CPEs
CPE / yr
40 CPEs
Delivery
ECSSmixed
Delivery
mixed
› Salary signal (US base)
Range
ECSS—
Range
—
Median
ECSS—
Median
—
Premium %
ECSS—
Premium %
—
Role context
ECSS—
Role context
—
› Quality (4-axis rubric · 0–10)
Schema quality
ECSS4.5
Schema quality
4.5
Practice evidence
ECSS3.0
Practice evidence
3.0
Maintenance
ECSS5.0
Maintenance
5.0
Market recognition
ECSS4.0
Market recognition
4.0
Average
ECSS4.1
Average
4.1
› Recognition & lifecycle
Recognition
ECSSGlobal
Recognition
Global
ISO 17024 accredited
ECSS—
ISO 17024 accredited
—
DoD 8140 baseline
ECSS—
DoD 8140 baseline
—
Holders worldwide
ECSS—
Holders worldwide
—
Current version
ECSS—
Current version
—
› Domain coverage
A1Governance, Risk & Compliance
ECSS● core
A1Governance, Risk & Compliance
● core
A2Network Security
ECSS● core
A2Network Security
● core
Browse the full catalog or open any one of these on its detail page for full study materials, peer comparisons, and lifecycle notes.