› 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.
GIAC · professional
GAWNGIAC Assessing Wireless Networks
GIAC Assessing Wireless Networks
Official pageCWNP · professional
CWSPCWNP Certified Wireless Security Professional
CWNP Certified Wireless Security Professional
Official pageComparing
GIACGAWN
CWNPCWSP
› Cost
Exam fee
GAWN$979
CWSP$400
Exam fee
$979
$400
Annual maintenance fee
GAWN—
CWSP—
Annual maintenance fee
—
—
3-year cost of ownership
GAWN$979
CWSP$400
3-year cost of ownership
$979
$400
› Exam mechanics
Pass mark
GAWN65% (scaled per attempt)
CWSP—
Pass mark
65% (scaled per attempt)
—
Retake policy
GAWN$999 fee · 30d wait
CWSP—
Retake policy
$999 fee · 30d wait
—
Study time
GAWN120–240 hrs
CWSP—
Study time
120–240 hrs
—
Validity
GAWN4 yrs
CWSP—
Validity
4 yrs
—
CPE / yr
GAWN9 CPEs
CWSP—
CPE / yr
9 CPEs
—
Delivery
GAWNmixed
CWSP—
Delivery
mixed
—
› Salary signal (US base)
Range
GAWN$105K – $160K
CWSP—
Range
$105K – $160K
—
Median
GAWN$130,000
CWSP—
Median
$130,000
—
Premium %
GAWN—
CWSP—
Premium %
—
—
Role context
GAWNWireless security analyst / pentester, US, 3-5 years.
CWSP—
Role context
Wireless security analyst / pentester, US, 3-5 years.
—
› Quality (4-axis rubric · 0–10)
Schema quality
GAWN7.5
CWSP8.5
Schema quality
7.5
8.5
Practice evidence
GAWN6.5
CWSP5.5
Practice evidence
6.5
5.5
Maintenance
GAWN6.5
CWSP6.5
Maintenance
6.5
6.5
Market recognition
GAWN5.5
CWSP7.0
Market recognition
5.5
7.0
Average
GAWN6.5
CWSP6.9
Average
6.5
6.9
› Recognition & lifecycle
Recognition
GAWNGlobal
CWSPGlobal
Recognition
Global
Global
ISO 17024 accredited
GAWN—
CWSP—
ISO 17024 accredited
—
—
DoD 8140 baseline
GAWN—
CWSP—
DoD 8140 baseline
—
—
Holders worldwide
GAWN—
CWSP—
Holders worldwide
—
—
Current version
GAWN2024 SEC617 refresh (2024-04)
CWSP—
Current version
2024 SEC617 refresh (2024-04)
—
› Domain coverage
A16Mobile & IoT Security
GAWN● core
CWSP·
A16Mobile & IoT Security
● core
·
A2Network Security
GAWN● core
CWSP·
A2Network Security
● core
·
A25Security Architecture & Engineering
GAWN·
CWSP● core
A25Security Architecture & Engineering
·
● core
A9Penetration Testing & Red Teaming
GAWN● core
CWSP·
A9Penetration Testing & Red Teaming
● core
·
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