› 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 / SANS · professional
GWEBGIAC Certified Web Application Defender
Defender-side AppSec — OWASP Top 10, API security, secure design patterns.
Official pageISC2 · professional
CSSLPCertified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional
Secure SDLC, threat modelling, secure architecture across product teams.
Official pageComparing
GIAC / SANSGWEB
ISC2CSSLP
› Cost
Exam fee
GWEB$979
CSSLP$599
Exam fee
$979
$599
Annual maintenance fee
GWEB—
CSSLP—
Annual maintenance fee
—
—
3-year cost of ownership
GWEB$979
CSSLP$599
3-year cost of ownership
$979
$599
› Exam mechanics
Pass mark
GWEB71% (scaled per attempt)
CSSLP700/1000 (scaled)
Pass mark
71% (scaled per attempt)
700/1000 (scaled)
Retake policy
GWEB$999 fee · 30d wait
CSSLP$599 fee · 30d wait · 4/yr cap
Retake policy
$999 fee · 30d wait
$599 fee · 30d wait · 4/yr cap
Study time
GWEB100–180 hrs
CSSLP80–150 hrs
Study time
100–180 hrs
80–150 hrs
Validity
GWEB4 yrs
CSSLP3 yrs
Validity
4 yrs
3 yrs
CPE / yr
GWEB9 CPEs
CSSLP30 CPEs
CPE / yr
9 CPEs
30 CPEs
Delivery
GWEBonline proctored
CSSLPtest center
Delivery
online proctored
test center
› Salary signal (US base)
Range
GWEB$115K – $170K
CSSLP$120K – $170K
Range
$115K – $170K
$120K – $170K
Median
GWEB$140,000
CSSLP$140,000
Median
$140,000
$140,000
Premium %
GWEB—
CSSLP—
Premium %
—
—
Role context
GWEBWeb application security engineer, US, 4-6 years.
CSSLPApplication security engineer / secure-SDLC lead, US, 5+ years.
Role context
Web application security engineer, US, 4-6 years.
Application security engineer / secure-SDLC lead, US, 5+ years.
› Quality (4-axis rubric · 0–10)
Schema quality
GWEB8.0
CSSLP8.0
Schema quality
8.0
8.0
Practice evidence
GWEB4.0
CSSLP2.5
Practice evidence
4.0
2.5
Maintenance
GWEB6.5
CSSLP7.0
Maintenance
6.5
7.0
Market recognition
GWEB6.0
CSSLP6.0
Market recognition
6.0
6.0
Average
GWEB6.1
CSSLP5.9
Average
6.1
5.9
› Recognition & lifecycle
Recognition
GWEBGlobal · US · EU · UK
CSSLPGlobal · US · EU · UK
Recognition
Global · US · EU · UK
Global · US · EU · UK
ISO 17024 accredited
GWEB✓
CSSLP✓
ISO 17024 accredited
✓
✓
DoD 8140 baseline
GWEB—
CSSLP✓
DoD 8140 baseline
—
✓
Holders worldwide
GWEB3,000
CSSLP3,500
Holders worldwide
3,000
3,500
Current version
GWEB2024 SEC522 refresh (2024-04)
CSSLP2023 CBK refresh (2023-04)
Current version
2024 SEC522 refresh (2024-04)
2023 CBK refresh (2023-04)
› Domain coverage
A12Data Security, Privacy & Protection
GWEB○ touched
CSSLP○ touched
A12Data Security, Privacy & Protection
○ touched
○ touched
A13Supply Chain Security
GWEB○ touched
CSSLP● core
A13Supply Chain Security
○ touched
● core
A15Cryptography
GWEB·
CSSLP○ touched
A15Cryptography
·
○ touched
A25Security Architecture & Engineering
GWEB·
CSSLP● core
A25Security Architecture & Engineering
·
● core
A4Application Security
GWEB● core
CSSLP● core
A4Application Security
● core
● core
Browse the full catalog or open any one of these on its detail page for full study materials, peer comparisons, and lifecycle notes.