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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 · expert
OSEEOffensive Security Exploitation Expert
Offensive Security Exploitation Expert
Official pageOffSec · professional
OSEDOffensive Security Exploit Developer
Offensive Security Exploit Developer
Official pageComparing
OffSecOSEE
OffSecOSED
› Cost
Exam fee
OSEE$5,499
OSED$1,649
Exam fee
$5,499
$1,649
Annual maintenance fee
OSEE—
OSED—
Annual maintenance fee
—
—
3-year cost of ownership
OSEE$5,499
OSED$1,649
3-year cost of ownership
$5,499
$1,649
› Exam mechanics
Pass mark
OSEELab points-based (typically 60+/100 with report)
OSEDLab points-based (typically 60+/100 with report)
Pass mark
Lab points-based (typically 60+/100 with report)
Lab points-based (typically 60+/100 with report)
Retake policy
OSEE$249 fee · 0d wait
OSED$249 fee · 0d wait
Retake policy
$249 fee · 0d wait
$249 fee · 0d wait
Study time
OSEE400–800 hrs
OSED300–600 hrs
Study time
400–800 hrs
300–600 hrs
Validity
OSEE3 yrs
OSED3 yrs
Validity
3 yrs
3 yrs
CPE / yr
OSEE—
OSED—
CPE / yr
—
—
Delivery
OSEEonline proctored
OSEDonline proctored
Delivery
online proctored
online proctored
› Salary signal (US base)
Range
OSEE$160K – $260K
OSED$140K – $215K
Range
$160K – $260K
$140K – $215K
Median
OSEE$200,000
OSED$170,000
Median
$200,000
$170,000
Premium %
OSEE—
OSED—
Premium %
—
—
Role context
OSEESenior vulnerability researcher / advanced exploit developer, US, 7+ years. Very rare credential.
OSEDVulnerability researcher / exploit developer, US, 5+ years.
Role context
Senior vulnerability researcher / advanced exploit developer, US, 7+ years. Very rare credential.
Vulnerability researcher / exploit developer, US, 5+ years.
› Quality (4-axis rubric · 0–10)
Schema quality
OSEE8.5
OSED8.5
Schema quality
8.5
8.5
Practice evidence
OSEE9.5
OSED9.5
Practice evidence
9.5
9.5
Maintenance
OSEE5.5
OSED6.0
Maintenance
5.5
6.0
Market recognition
OSEE6.0
OSED6.5
Market recognition
6.0
6.5
Average
OSEE7.4
OSED7.6
Average
7.4
7.6
› Recognition & lifecycle
Recognition
OSEEGlobal
OSEDGlobal
Recognition
Global
Global
ISO 17024 accredited
OSEE—
OSED—
ISO 17024 accredited
—
—
DoD 8140 baseline
OSEE—
OSED—
DoD 8140 baseline
—
—
Holders worldwide
OSEE200
OSED1,500
Holders worldwide
200
1,500
Current version
OSEEEXP-401 (2023) (2023-09)
OSEDEXP-301 (2024) (2024-04)
Current version
EXP-401 (2023) (2023-09)
EXP-301 (2024) (2024-04)
› Domain coverage
A21Malware Analysis & Reverse Engineering
OSEE● core
OSED● core
A21Malware Analysis & Reverse Engineering
● core
● core
A4Application Security
OSEE● core
OSED·
A4Application Security
● core
·
A9Penetration Testing & Red Teaming
OSEE● core
OSED● 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.