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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 pageComparing
GIACGIME
GIAC / SANSGCFE
› Cost
Exam fee
GIME$979
GCFE$979
Exam fee
$979
$979
Annual maintenance fee
GIME—
GCFE—
Annual maintenance fee
—
—
3-year cost of ownership
GIME$979
GCFE$979
3-year cost of ownership
$979
$979
› Exam mechanics
Pass mark
GIME70% (scaled per attempt)
GCFE70% (scaled per attempt)
Pass mark
70% (scaled per attempt)
70% (scaled per attempt)
Retake policy
GIME$999 fee · 30d wait
GCFE$999 fee · 30d wait
Retake policy
$999 fee · 30d wait
$999 fee · 30d wait
Study time
GIME150–280 hrs
GCFE120–200 hrs
Study time
150–280 hrs
120–200 hrs
Validity
GIME4 yrs
GCFE4 yrs
Validity
4 yrs
4 yrs
CPE / yr
GIME9 CPEs
GCFE9 CPEs
CPE / yr
9 CPEs
9 CPEs
Delivery
GIMEmixed
GCFEonline proctored
Delivery
mixed
online proctored
› Salary signal (US base)
Range
GIME$110K – $165K
GCFE$100K – $150K
Range
$110K – $165K
$100K – $150K
Median
GIME$135,000
GCFE$120,000
Median
$135,000
$120,000
Premium %
GIME—
GCFE—
Premium %
—
—
Role context
GIMEApple-platform forensic examiner, US, 4-6 years. Niche specialty.
GCFEForensic examiner / DFIR analyst, US, 3-5 years.
Role context
Apple-platform forensic examiner, US, 4-6 years. Niche specialty.
Forensic examiner / DFIR analyst, US, 3-5 years.
› Quality (4-axis rubric · 0–10)
Schema quality
GIME8.0
GCFE8.5
Schema quality
8.0
8.5
Practice evidence
GIME5.5
GCFE6.0
Practice evidence
5.5
6.0
Maintenance
GIME6.5
GCFE7.0
Maintenance
6.5
7.0
Market recognition
GIME5.0
GCFE6.5
Market recognition
5.0
6.5
Average
GIME6.3
GCFE7.0
Average
6.3
7.0
› Recognition & lifecycle
Recognition
GIMEGlobal
GCFEGlobal · US · EU · UK
Recognition
Global
Global · US · EU · UK
ISO 17024 accredited
GIME—
GCFE✓
ISO 17024 accredited
—
✓
DoD 8140 baseline
GIME—
GCFE—
DoD 8140 baseline
—
—
Holders worldwide
GIME—
GCFE8,000
Holders worldwide
—
8,000
Current version
GIME2024 FOR518 refresh (2024-08)
GCFE2024 FOR500 refresh (2024-08)
Current version
2024 FOR518 refresh (2024-08)
2024 FOR500 refresh (2024-08)
› Domain coverage
A16Mobile & IoT Security
GIME● core
GCFE·
A16Mobile & IoT Security
● core
·
A7Incident Response & Forensics
GIME● core
GCFE● core
A7Incident Response & Forensics
● core
● core
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