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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 / SANS · professional
GCFEGIAC Certified Forensic Examiner
Windows host forensics and digital investigation.
Official pageGIAC / SANS · professional
GCFAGIAC Certified Forensic Analyst
Advanced host forensics, memory analysis, timeline reconstruction.
Official pageComparing
GIAC / SANSGCFE
GIAC / SANSGCFA
› Cost
Exam fee
GCFE$979
GCFA$979
Exam fee
$979
$979
Annual maintenance fee
GCFE—
GCFA—
Annual maintenance fee
—
—
3-year cost of ownership
GCFE$979
GCFA$979
3-year cost of ownership
$979
$979
› Exam mechanics
Pass mark
GCFE70% (scaled per attempt)
GCFA71% (scaled per attempt)
Pass mark
70% (scaled per attempt)
71% (scaled per attempt)
Retake policy
GCFE$999 fee · 30d wait
GCFA$999 fee · 30d wait
Retake policy
$999 fee · 30d wait
$999 fee · 30d wait
Study time
GCFE120–200 hrs
GCFA150–250 hrs
Study time
120–200 hrs
150–250 hrs
Validity
GCFE4 yrs
GCFA4 yrs
Validity
4 yrs
4 yrs
CPE / yr
GCFE9 CPEs
GCFA9 CPEs
CPE / yr
9 CPEs
9 CPEs
Delivery
GCFEonline proctored
GCFAonline proctored
Delivery
online proctored
online proctored
› Salary signal (US base)
Range
GCFE$100K – $150K
GCFA$110K – $160K
Range
$100K – $150K
$110K – $160K
Median
GCFE$120,000
GCFA$130,000
Median
$120,000
$130,000
Premium %
GCFE—
GCFA—
Premium %
—
—
Role context
GCFEForensic examiner / DFIR analyst, US, 3-5 years.
GCFADFIR analyst / forensic examiner, US, 5+ years.
Role context
Forensic examiner / DFIR analyst, US, 3-5 years.
DFIR analyst / forensic examiner, US, 5+ years.
› Quality (4-axis rubric · 0–10)
Schema quality
GCFE8.5
GCFA9.0
Schema quality
8.5
9.0
Practice evidence
GCFE6.0
GCFA6.5
Practice evidence
6.0
6.5
Maintenance
GCFE7.0
GCFA8.5
Maintenance
7.0
8.5
Market recognition
GCFE6.5
GCFA8.5
Market recognition
6.5
8.5
Average
GCFE7.0
GCFA8.1
Average
7.0
8.1
› Recognition & lifecycle
Recognition
GCFEGlobal · US · EU · UK
GCFAGlobal · US · EU · UK
Recognition
Global · US · EU · UK
Global · US · EU · UK
ISO 17024 accredited
GCFE✓
GCFA✓
ISO 17024 accredited
✓
✓
DoD 8140 baseline
GCFE—
GCFA✓
DoD 8140 baseline
—
✓
Holders worldwide
GCFE8,000
GCFA15,000
Holders worldwide
8,000
15,000
Current version
GCFE2024 FOR500 refresh (2024-08)
GCFA2024 FOR508 refresh (2024-08)
Current version
2024 FOR500 refresh (2024-08)
2024 FOR508 refresh (2024-08)
› Domain coverage
A21Malware Analysis & Reverse Engineering
GCFE·
GCFA● core
A21Malware Analysis & Reverse Engineering
·
● core
A7Incident Response & Forensics
GCFE● core
GCFA● core
A7Incident Response & Forensics
● core
● core
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