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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.
Comparing
GIACGCTD
GIACGCFR
› Cost
Exam fee
GCTD$979
GCFR$979
Exam fee
$979
$979
Annual maintenance fee
GCTD—
GCFR—
Annual maintenance fee
—
—
3-year cost of ownership
GCTD$979
GCFR$979
3-year cost of ownership
$979
$979
› Exam mechanics
Pass mark
GCTD70% (scaled per attempt)
GCFR70% (scaled per attempt)
Pass mark
70% (scaled per attempt)
70% (scaled per attempt)
Retake policy
GCTD$999 fee · 30d wait
GCFR$999 fee · 30d wait
Retake policy
$999 fee · 30d wait
$999 fee · 30d wait
Study time
GCTD80–160 hrs
GCFR120–240 hrs
Study time
80–160 hrs
120–240 hrs
Validity
GCTD4 yrs
GCFR4 yrs
Validity
4 yrs
4 yrs
CPE / yr
GCTD9 CPEs
GCFR9 CPEs
CPE / yr
9 CPEs
9 CPEs
Delivery
GCTDmixed
GCFRmixed
Delivery
mixed
mixed
› Salary signal (US base)
Range
GCTD$115K – $175K
GCFR$115K – $170K
Range
$115K – $175K
$115K – $170K
Median
GCTD$140,000
GCFR$140,000
Median
$140,000
$140,000
Premium %
GCTD—
GCFR—
Premium %
—
—
Role context
GCTDCloud detection engineer / CDR analyst, US, 4-6 years.
GCFRCloud DFIR analyst, US, 4-6 years. Newer specialty — fewer practitioners, higher rates.
Role context
Cloud detection engineer / CDR analyst, US, 4-6 years.
Cloud DFIR analyst, US, 4-6 years. Newer specialty — fewer practitioners, higher rates.
› Quality (4-axis rubric · 0–10)
Schema quality
GCTD8.0
GCFR8.0
Schema quality
8.0
8.0
Practice evidence
GCTD5.5
GCFR6.5
Practice evidence
5.5
6.5
Maintenance
GCTD7.5
GCFR8.0
Maintenance
7.5
8.0
Market recognition
GCTD5.0
GCFR5.0
Market recognition
5.0
5.0
Average
GCTD6.5
GCFR6.9
Average
6.5
6.9
› Recognition & lifecycle
Recognition
GCTDGlobal
GCFRGlobal
Recognition
Global
Global
ISO 17024 accredited
GCTD—
GCFR—
ISO 17024 accredited
—
—
DoD 8140 baseline
GCTD—
GCFR—
DoD 8140 baseline
—
—
Holders worldwide
GCTD—
GCFR—
Holders worldwide
—
—
Current version
GCTD2024 SEC541 refresh (2024-06)
GCFR2024 FOR509 refresh (2024-06)
Current version
2024 SEC541 refresh (2024-06)
2024 FOR509 refresh (2024-06)
› Domain coverage
A10Security Operations
GCTD● core
GCFR·
A10Security Operations
● core
·
A11Detection Engineering & Threat Hunting
GCTD● core
GCFR·
A11Detection Engineering & Threat Hunting
● core
·
A5Cloud Security
GCTD·
GCFR● core
A5Cloud Security
·
● core
A7Incident Response & Forensics
GCTD·
GCFR● core
A7Incident Response & Forensics
·
● core
Browse the full catalog or open any one of these on its detail page for full study materials, peer comparisons, and lifecycle notes.