› 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 · professional
OSMROffensive Security MacOS Researcher
Offensive Security MacOS Researcher
Official pageComparing
OffSecOSMR
GIACGIME
› Cost
Exam fee
OSMR$1,649
GIME$979
Exam fee
$1,649
$979
Annual maintenance fee
OSMR—
GIME—
Annual maintenance fee
—
—
3-year cost of ownership
OSMR$1,649
GIME$979
3-year cost of ownership
$1,649
$979
› Exam mechanics
Pass mark
OSMRLab points-based with report
GIME70% (scaled per attempt)
Pass mark
Lab points-based with report
70% (scaled per attempt)
Retake policy
OSMR$249 fee · 0d wait
GIME$999 fee · 30d wait
Retake policy
$249 fee · 0d wait
$999 fee · 30d wait
Study time
OSMR250–500 hrs
GIME150–280 hrs
Study time
250–500 hrs
150–280 hrs
Validity
OSMR3 yrs
GIME4 yrs
Validity
3 yrs
4 yrs
CPE / yr
OSMR—
GIME9 CPEs
CPE / yr
—
9 CPEs
Delivery
OSMRonline proctored
GIMEmixed
Delivery
online proctored
mixed
› Salary signal (US base)
Range
OSMR$130K – $195K
GIME$110K – $165K
Range
$130K – $195K
$110K – $165K
Median
OSMR$155,000
GIME$135,000
Median
$155,000
$135,000
Premium %
OSMR—
GIME—
Premium %
—
—
Role context
OSMRmacOS security researcher / Apple-platform pentester, US, 4-6 years. Niche specialty.
GIMEApple-platform forensic examiner, US, 4-6 years. Niche specialty.
Role context
macOS security researcher / Apple-platform pentester, US, 4-6 years. Niche specialty.
Apple-platform forensic examiner, US, 4-6 years. Niche specialty.
› Quality (4-axis rubric · 0–10)
Schema quality
OSMR7.5
GIME8.0
Schema quality
7.5
8.0
Practice evidence
OSMR9.0
GIME5.5
Practice evidence
9.0
5.5
Maintenance
OSMR6.5
GIME6.5
Maintenance
6.5
6.5
Market recognition
OSMR5.0
GIME5.0
Market recognition
5.0
5.0
Average
OSMR7.0
GIME6.3
Average
7.0
6.3
› Recognition & lifecycle
Recognition
OSMRGlobal
GIMEGlobal
Recognition
Global
Global
ISO 17024 accredited
OSMR—
GIME—
ISO 17024 accredited
—
—
DoD 8140 baseline
OSMR—
GIME—
DoD 8140 baseline
—
—
Holders worldwide
OSMR—
GIME—
Holders worldwide
—
—
Current version
OSMREXP-312 (2023) (2023-08)
GIME2024 FOR518 refresh (2024-08)
Current version
EXP-312 (2023) (2023-08)
2024 FOR518 refresh (2024-08)
› Domain coverage
A16Mobile & IoT Security
OSMR·
GIME● core
A16Mobile & IoT Security
·
● core
A21Malware Analysis & Reverse Engineering
OSMR● core
GIME·
A21Malware Analysis & Reverse Engineering
● core
·
A7Incident Response & Forensics
OSMR·
GIME● core
A7Incident Response & Forensics
·
● core
A9Penetration Testing & Red Teaming
OSMR● core
GIME·
A9Penetration Testing & Red Teaming
● core
·
Browse the full catalog or open any one of these on its detail page for full study materials, peer comparisons, and lifecycle notes.