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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
GCFAGIAC Certified Forensic Analyst
Advanced host forensics, memory analysis, timeline reconstruction.
Official pageComparing
GIACGNFA
GIAC / SANSGCFA
› Cost
Exam fee
GNFA$979
GCFA$979
Exam fee
$979
$979
Annual maintenance fee
GNFA—
GCFA—
Annual maintenance fee
—
—
3-year cost of ownership
GNFA$979
GCFA$979
3-year cost of ownership
$979
$979
› Exam mechanics
Pass mark
GNFA70% (scaled per attempt)
GCFA71% (scaled per attempt)
Pass mark
70% (scaled per attempt)
71% (scaled per attempt)
Retake policy
GNFA$999 fee · 30d wait
GCFA$999 fee · 30d wait
Retake policy
$999 fee · 30d wait
$999 fee · 30d wait
Study time
GNFA150–280 hrs
GCFA150–250 hrs
Study time
150–280 hrs
150–250 hrs
Validity
GNFA4 yrs
GCFA4 yrs
Validity
4 yrs
4 yrs
CPE / yr
GNFA9 CPEs
GCFA9 CPEs
CPE / yr
9 CPEs
9 CPEs
Delivery
GNFAmixed
GCFAonline proctored
Delivery
mixed
online proctored
› Salary signal (US base)
Range
GNFA$110K – $165K
GCFA$110K – $160K
Range
$110K – $165K
$110K – $160K
Median
GNFA$135,000
GCFA$130,000
Median
$135,000
$130,000
Premium %
GNFA—
GCFA—
Premium %
—
—
Role context
GNFANetwork forensics analyst / DFIR engineer, US, 3-5 years.
GCFADFIR analyst / forensic examiner, US, 5+ years.
Role context
Network forensics analyst / DFIR engineer, US, 3-5 years.
DFIR analyst / forensic examiner, US, 5+ years.
› Quality (4-axis rubric · 0–10)
Schema quality
GNFA8.5
GCFA9.0
Schema quality
8.5
9.0
Practice evidence
GNFA6.5
GCFA6.5
Practice evidence
6.5
6.5
Maintenance
GNFA6.5
GCFA8.5
Maintenance
6.5
8.5
Market recognition
GNFA6.0
GCFA8.5
Market recognition
6.0
8.5
Average
GNFA6.9
GCFA8.1
Average
6.9
8.1
› Recognition & lifecycle
Recognition
GNFAGlobal
GCFAGlobal · US · EU · UK
Recognition
Global
Global · US · EU · UK
ISO 17024 accredited
GNFA—
GCFA✓
ISO 17024 accredited
—
✓
DoD 8140 baseline
GNFA—
GCFA✓
DoD 8140 baseline
—
✓
Holders worldwide
GNFA—
GCFA15,000
Holders worldwide
—
15,000
Current version
GNFA2024 FOR572 refresh (2024-06)
GCFA2024 FOR508 refresh (2024-08)
Current version
2024 FOR572 refresh (2024-06)
2024 FOR508 refresh (2024-08)
› Domain coverage
A11Detection Engineering & Threat Hunting
GNFA● core
GCFA·
A11Detection Engineering & Threat Hunting
● core
·
A2Network Security
GNFA● core
GCFA·
A2Network Security
● core
·
A21Malware Analysis & Reverse Engineering
GNFA·
GCFA● core
A21Malware Analysis & Reverse Engineering
·
● core
A7Incident Response & Forensics
GNFA● core
GCFA● core
A7Incident Response & Forensics
● 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.