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Pick up to 3 certifications and compare them side-by-side on cost, exam format, recertification, salary signal, quality, and domain coverage.
GIAC / SANS · professional
GCFEGIAC Certified Forensic Examiner
Windows host forensics and digital investigation.
Official pageComparing
GIAC / SANSGCFE
› Cost
Exam fee
GCFE$979
Exam fee
$979
Annual maintenance fee
GCFE—
Annual maintenance fee
—
3-year cost of ownership
GCFE$979
3-year cost of ownership
$979
› Exam mechanics
Pass mark
GCFE70% (scaled per attempt)
Pass mark
70% (scaled per attempt)
Retake policy
GCFE$999 fee · 30d wait
Retake policy
$999 fee · 30d wait
Study time
GCFE120–200 hrs
Study time
120–200 hrs
Validity
GCFE4 yrs
Validity
4 yrs
CPE / yr
GCFE9 CPEs
CPE / yr
9 CPEs
Delivery
GCFEonline proctored
Delivery
online proctored
› Salary signal (US base)
Range
GCFE$100K – $150K
Range
$100K – $150K
Median
GCFE$120,000
Median
$120,000
Premium %
GCFE—
Premium %
—
Role context
GCFEForensic examiner / DFIR analyst, US, 3-5 years.
Role context
Forensic examiner / DFIR analyst, US, 3-5 years.
› Quality (4-axis rubric · 0–10)
Schema quality
GCFE8.5
Schema quality
8.5
Practice evidence
GCFE6.0
Practice evidence
6.0
Maintenance
GCFE7.0
Maintenance
7.0
Market recognition
GCFE6.5
Market recognition
6.5
Average
GCFE7.0
Average
7.0
› Recognition & lifecycle
Recognition
GCFEGlobal · US · EU · UK
Recognition
Global · US · EU · UK
ISO 17024 accredited
GCFE✓
ISO 17024 accredited
✓
DoD 8140 baseline
GCFE—
DoD 8140 baseline
—
Holders worldwide
GCFE8,000
Holders worldwide
8,000
Current version
GCFE2024 FOR500 refresh (2024-08)
Current version
2024 FOR500 refresh (2024-08)
› Domain coverage
A7Incident Response & Forensics
GCFE● core
A7Incident Response & Forensics
● core
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