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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
GBFAGIAC Battlefield Forensics and Acquisition
GIAC Battlefield Forensics and Acquisition
Official pageComparing
GIACGBFA
› Cost
Exam fee
GBFA$979
Exam fee
$979
Annual maintenance fee
GBFA—
Annual maintenance fee
—
3-year cost of ownership
GBFA$979
3-year cost of ownership
$979
› Exam mechanics
Pass mark
GBFA70% (scaled per attempt)
Pass mark
70% (scaled per attempt)
Retake policy
GBFA$999 fee · 30d wait
Retake policy
$999 fee · 30d wait
Study time
GBFA—
Study time
—
Validity
GBFA4 yrs
Validity
4 yrs
CPE / yr
GBFA9 CPEs
CPE / yr
9 CPEs
Delivery
GBFAmixed
Delivery
mixed
› Salary signal (US base)
Range
GBFA$115K – $170K
Range
$115K – $170K
Median
GBFA$140,000
Median
$140,000
Premium %
GBFA—
Premium %
—
Role context
GBFAField DFIR / military-adjacent forensic operator, US, 4-6 years. Defense-heavy hiring.
Role context
Field DFIR / military-adjacent forensic operator, US, 4-6 years. Defense-heavy hiring.
› Quality (4-axis rubric · 0–10)
Schema quality
GBFA7.0
Schema quality
7.0
Practice evidence
GBFA7.5
Practice evidence
7.5
Maintenance
GBFA6.0
Maintenance
6.0
Market recognition
GBFA5.0
Market recognition
5.0
Average
GBFA6.4
Average
6.4
› Recognition & lifecycle
Recognition
GBFAGlobal
Recognition
Global
ISO 17024 accredited
GBFA—
ISO 17024 accredited
—
DoD 8140 baseline
GBFA—
DoD 8140 baseline
—
Holders worldwide
GBFA—
Holders worldwide
—
Current version
GBFA2024 FOR498 refresh (2024-04)
Current version
2024 FOR498 refresh (2024-04)
› Domain coverage
A14OT/ICS Security
GBFA● core
A14OT/ICS Security
● core
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