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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 · professional
GISPGIAC Information Security Professional
GIAC Information Security Professional
Official pageGIAC / SANS · associate
GSECGIAC Security Essentials
Broad defender fundamentals. Often paired with SANS SEC401.
Official pageComparing
GIACGISP
GIAC / SANSGSEC
› Cost
Exam fee
GISP$979
GSEC$979
Exam fee
$979
$979
Annual maintenance fee
GISP—
GSEC—
Annual maintenance fee
—
—
3-year cost of ownership
GISP$979
GSEC$979
3-year cost of ownership
$979
$979
› Exam mechanics
Pass mark
GISP70% (scaled per attempt)
GSEC73% (scaled per attempt)
Pass mark
70% (scaled per attempt)
73% (scaled per attempt)
Retake policy
GISP$999 fee · 30d wait
GSEC$999 fee · 30d wait
Retake policy
$999 fee · 30d wait
$999 fee · 30d wait
Study time
GISP100–200 hrs
GSEC100–200 hrs
Study time
100–200 hrs
100–200 hrs
Validity
GISP4 yrs
GSEC4 yrs
Validity
4 yrs
4 yrs
CPE / yr
GISP9 CPEs
GSEC9 CPEs
CPE / yr
9 CPEs
9 CPEs
Delivery
GISPmixed
GSEConline proctored
Delivery
mixed
online proctored
› Salary signal (US base)
Range
GISP$95K – $145K
GSEC$85K – $125K
Range
$95K – $145K
$85K – $125K
Median
GISP$115,000
GSEC$102,000
Median
$115,000
$102,000
Premium %
GISP—
GSEC—
Premium %
—
—
Role context
GISPSecurity generalist, US, 3-5 years.
GSECSecurity generalist / SOC analyst, US, 2–4 years.
Role context
Security generalist, US, 3-5 years.
Security generalist / SOC analyst, US, 2–4 years.
› Quality (4-axis rubric · 0–10)
Schema quality
GISP8.0
GSEC8.5
Schema quality
8.0
8.5
Practice evidence
GISP1.5
GSEC4.0
Practice evidence
1.5
4.0
Maintenance
GISP7.0
GSEC8.5
Maintenance
7.0
8.5
Market recognition
GISP5.5
GSEC6.5
Market recognition
5.5
6.5
Average
GISP5.5
GSEC6.9
Average
5.5
6.9
› Recognition & lifecycle
Recognition
GISPGlobal
GSECGlobal · US · EU · UK
Recognition
Global
Global · US · EU · UK
ISO 17024 accredited
GISP—
GSEC✓
ISO 17024 accredited
—
✓
DoD 8140 baseline
GISP—
GSEC✓
DoD 8140 baseline
—
✓
Holders worldwide
GISP—
GSEC30,000
Holders worldwide
—
30,000
Current version
GISP2024 refresh (2024-04)
GSEC2024 SEC401 refresh (2024-02)
Current version
2024 refresh (2024-04)
2024 SEC401 refresh (2024-02)
› Domain coverage
A1Governance, Risk & Compliance
GISP● core
GSEC·
A1Governance, Risk & Compliance
● core
·
A10Security Operations
GISP·
GSEC● core
A10Security Operations
·
● core
A12Data Security, Privacy & Protection
GISP·
GSEC○ touched
A12Data Security, Privacy & Protection
·
○ touched
A15Cryptography
GISP·
GSEC● core
A15Cryptography
·
● core
A18Security Leadership
GISP● core
GSEC·
A18Security Leadership
● core
·
A2Network Security
GISP·
GSEC● core
A2Network Security
·
● core
A3Zero Trust Architecture
GISP·
GSEC○ touched
A3Zero Trust Architecture
·
○ touched
A4Application Security
GISP·
GSEC○ touched
A4Application Security
·
○ touched
A6Identity & Access Management
GISP·
GSEC● core
A6Identity & Access Management
·
● core
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