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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.
OffSec · professional
OSEDOffensive Security Exploit Developer
Offensive Security Exploit Developer
Official pageOffSec · expert
OSCE3Offensive Security Certified Expert 3
Offensive Security Certified Expert 3
Official pageComparing
OffSecOSED
OffSecOSCE3
› Cost
Exam fee
OSED$1,649
OSCE3$0
Exam fee
$1,649
$0
Annual maintenance fee
OSED—
OSCE3—
Annual maintenance fee
—
—
3-year cost of ownership
OSED$1,649
OSCE3$0
3-year cost of ownership
$1,649
$0
› Exam mechanics
Pass mark
OSEDLab points-based (typically 60+/100 with report)
OSCE3Composite — earned by holding OSWE + OSEP + OSED simultaneously
Pass mark
Lab points-based (typically 60+/100 with report)
Composite — earned by holding OSWE + OSEP + OSED simultaneously
Retake policy
OSED$249 fee · 0d wait
OSCE3$249 fee · 0d wait
Retake policy
$249 fee · 0d wait
$249 fee · 0d wait
Study time
OSED300–600 hrs
OSCE3900–1500 hrs
Study time
300–600 hrs
900–1500 hrs
Validity
OSED3 yrs
OSCE33 yrs
Validity
3 yrs
3 yrs
CPE / yr
OSED—
OSCE3—
CPE / yr
—
—
Delivery
OSEDonline proctored
OSCE3online proctored
Delivery
online proctored
online proctored
› Salary signal (US base)
Range
OSED$140K – $215K
OSCE3$165K – $245K
Range
$140K – $215K
$165K – $245K
Median
OSED$170,000
OSCE3$195,000
Median
$170,000
$195,000
Premium %
OSED—
OSCE3—
Premium %
—
—
Role context
OSEDVulnerability researcher / exploit developer, US, 5+ years.
OSCE3Senior offensive security engineer / lead red teamer, US, 7+ years. Triple-cert holders are rare and command premiums.
Role context
Vulnerability researcher / exploit developer, US, 5+ years.
Senior offensive security engineer / lead red teamer, US, 7+ years. Triple-cert holders are rare and command premiums.
› Quality (4-axis rubric · 0–10)
Schema quality
OSED8.5
OSCE37.5
Schema quality
8.5
7.5
Practice evidence
OSED9.5
OSCE39.5
Practice evidence
9.5
9.5
Maintenance
OSED6.0
OSCE36.0
Maintenance
6.0
6.0
Market recognition
OSED6.5
OSCE37.0
Market recognition
6.5
7.0
Average
OSED7.6
OSCE37.5
Average
7.6
7.5
› Recognition & lifecycle
Recognition
OSEDGlobal
OSCE3Global
Recognition
Global
Global
ISO 17024 accredited
OSED—
OSCE3—
ISO 17024 accredited
—
—
DoD 8140 baseline
OSED—
OSCE3—
DoD 8140 baseline
—
—
Holders worldwide
OSED1,500
OSCE3—
Holders worldwide
1,500
—
Current version
OSEDEXP-301 (2024) (2024-04)
OSCE3Composite (2024 component versions) (2024-06)
Current version
EXP-301 (2024) (2024-04)
Composite (2024 component versions) (2024-06)
› Domain coverage
A21Malware Analysis & Reverse Engineering
OSED● core
OSCE3● core
A21Malware Analysis & Reverse Engineering
● core
● core
A4Application Security
OSED·
OSCE3● core
A4Application Security
·
● core
A9Penetration Testing & Red Teaming
OSED● core
OSCE3● 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.