› 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 · expert
GXPNGIAC Exploit Researcher and Advanced Penetration Tester
GIAC Exploit Researcher and Advanced Penetration Tester
Official pageOffSec · expert
OSEEOffensive Security Exploitation Expert
Offensive Security Exploitation Expert
Official pageComparing
GIACGXPN
OffSecOSEE
› Cost
Exam fee
GXPN$979
OSEE$5,499
Exam fee
$979
$5,499
Annual maintenance fee
GXPN—
OSEE—
Annual maintenance fee
—
—
3-year cost of ownership
GXPN$979
OSEE$5,499
3-year cost of ownership
$979
$5,499
› Exam mechanics
Pass mark
GXPN67% (scaled per attempt)
OSEELab points-based (typically 60+/100 with report)
Pass mark
67% (scaled per attempt)
Lab points-based (typically 60+/100 with report)
Retake policy
GXPN$999 fee · 30d wait
OSEE$249 fee · 0d wait
Retake policy
$999 fee · 30d wait
$249 fee · 0d wait
Study time
GXPN200–400 hrs
OSEE400–800 hrs
Study time
200–400 hrs
400–800 hrs
Validity
GXPN4 yrs
OSEE3 yrs
Validity
4 yrs
3 yrs
CPE / yr
GXPN9 CPEs
OSEE—
CPE / yr
9 CPEs
—
Delivery
GXPNmixed
OSEEonline proctored
Delivery
mixed
online proctored
› Salary signal (US base)
Range
GXPN$135K – $200K
OSEE$160K – $260K
Range
$135K – $200K
$160K – $260K
Median
GXPN$160,000
OSEE$200,000
Median
$160,000
$200,000
Premium %
GXPN—
OSEE—
Premium %
—
—
Role context
GXPNSenior pentester / exploit developer, US, 5+ years.
OSEESenior vulnerability researcher / advanced exploit developer, US, 7+ years. Very rare credential.
Role context
Senior pentester / exploit developer, US, 5+ years.
Senior vulnerability researcher / advanced exploit developer, US, 7+ years. Very rare credential.
› Quality (4-axis rubric · 0–10)
Schema quality
GXPN8.5
OSEE8.5
Schema quality
8.5
8.5
Practice evidence
GXPN7.5
OSEE9.5
Practice evidence
7.5
9.5
Maintenance
GXPN6.5
OSEE5.5
Maintenance
6.5
5.5
Market recognition
GXPN6.5
OSEE6.0
Market recognition
6.5
6.0
Average
GXPN7.3
OSEE7.4
Average
7.3
7.4
› Recognition & lifecycle
Recognition
GXPNGlobal
OSEEGlobal
Recognition
Global
Global
ISO 17024 accredited
GXPN—
OSEE—
ISO 17024 accredited
—
—
DoD 8140 baseline
GXPN—
OSEE—
DoD 8140 baseline
—
—
Holders worldwide
GXPN4,000
OSEE200
Holders worldwide
4,000
200
Current version
GXPN2024 SEC660 refresh (2024-06)
OSEEEXP-401 (2023) (2023-09)
Current version
2024 SEC660 refresh (2024-06)
EXP-401 (2023) (2023-09)
› Domain coverage
A21Malware Analysis & Reverse Engineering
GXPN● core
OSEE● core
A21Malware Analysis & Reverse Engineering
● core
● core
A4Application Security
GXPN·
OSEE● core
A4Application Security
·
● core
A9Penetration Testing & Red Teaming
GXPN● core
OSEE● core
A9Penetration Testing & Red Teaming
● 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.