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Pick up to 3 certifications and compare them side-by-side on cost, exam format, recertification, salary signal, quality, and domain coverage.
OffSec · expert
OSWEOffensive Security Web Expert
Advanced web application exploitation — whitebox review, vulnerability chain construction.
Official pageComparing
OffSecOSWE
› Cost
Exam fee
OSWE$1,699
Exam fee
$1,699
Annual maintenance fee
OSWE—
Annual maintenance fee
—
3-year cost of ownership
OSWE$1,699
3-year cost of ownership
$1,699
› Exam mechanics
Pass mark
OSWELab points-based (varies — typically 60+/100 with report)
Pass mark
Lab points-based (varies — typically 60+/100 with report)
Retake policy
OSWE$249 fee · 0d wait
Retake policy
$249 fee · 0d wait
Study time
OSWE300–500 hrs
Study time
300–500 hrs
Validity
OSWE3 yrs
Validity
3 yrs
CPE / yr
OSWE30 CPEs
CPE / yr
30 CPEs
Delivery
OSWEpractical lab
Delivery
practical lab
› Salary signal (US base)
Range
OSWE$130K – $195K
Range
$130K – $195K
Median
OSWE$155,000
Median
$155,000
Premium %
OSWE—
Premium %
—
Role context
OSWESenior web/app pentester, US, 4-7 years.
Role context
Senior web/app pentester, US, 4-7 years.
› Quality (4-axis rubric · 0–10)
Schema quality
OSWE8.5
Schema quality
8.5
Practice evidence
OSWE9.5
Practice evidence
9.5
Maintenance
OSWE7.0
Maintenance
7.0
Market recognition
OSWE7.5
Market recognition
7.5
Average
OSWE8.1
Average
8.1
› Recognition & lifecycle
Recognition
OSWEGlobal · US · EU · UK
Recognition
Global · US · EU · UK
ISO 17024 accredited
OSWE—
ISO 17024 accredited
—
DoD 8140 baseline
OSWE—
DoD 8140 baseline
—
Holders worldwide
OSWE3,000
Holders worldwide
3,000
Current version
OSWEWEB-300 (2024) (2024-01)
Current version
WEB-300 (2024) (2024-01)
› Domain coverage
A24Exposure Management & Attack Surface
OSWE○ touched
A24Exposure Management & Attack Surface
○ touched
A4Application Security
OSWE● core
A4Application Security
● core
A9Penetration Testing & Red Teaming
OSWE● core
A9Penetration Testing & Red Teaming
● core
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