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