LeadershipVendor-neutralGIAC· issued from US

GSLC

GIAC Security Leadership Certification

GIAC Security Leadership Certification

Exam fee
$979
Ongoing
$0/yr AMF · 9 CPE/yr
Study time
100–200 hrs
Delivery
Hybrid
Validity
4 yrs (renewal cycle)

› Quality score

23.0 / 40

Four-axis SecProve rubric, each 0–10. SecProve editorial assessment — each axis carries a written justification so you can push back on any single call without dismissing the whole score.

Blueprint rigor
How well-defined and rigorous the exam blueprint is.
MGT512-aligned leadership ECO; older sibling of GSTRT.
7.5/10
Practical evidence
Hands-on labs / written reports vs pure MCQ.
Open-book MCQ.
4.0/10
Currency & upkeep
How aggressively content is kept current with the field.
Updates trail MGT512; some material shows its age.
6.5/10
Market recognition
How often this signal actually moves a hiring decision.
Recognised in SANS-trained leadership tracks; GSTRT is the more current signal.
5.0/10

› Exam format

75 questions, 2 hours, open-book, proctored via Pearson VUE. Passing score: 68%.

Passing score
73% (scaled per attempt)
Retake policy
Fee: $999 per attempt
Wait: 30d between attempts

30-day wait between attempts. SANS course bundles typically include 2 attempts.

› Recertification

Valid for 4 years. Renewal via 36 CPE credits or renewal exam (479 USD). Each GIAC cert separate.

› NICE Framework work roles

The NIST NICE work-role IDs this cert maps to. NICCS lookup.

OG-WRL-001OG-WRL-002OG-WRL-003OG-WRL-007OG-WRL-008OG-WRL-009OG-WRL-010OG-WRL-011OG-WRL-013OG-WRL-014
Recognition
Global
Exam languages
en

› Core domains covered

The 1 domain this cert is centrally about. Passing the exam demonstrates working knowledge of each.

› Prerequisites

Experience

No formal prerequisites. Associated SANS course strongly recommended.

› Progression

requiredrecommended

Where this cert fits in the typical learning path. Required edges are vendor-gated; recommended edges reflect de facto industry progression.

Required prereqs (0)

No vendor-gated prereqs.

Recommended priors (1)
GSLC
GIAC
Required by (0)

No certs require this one.

Recommended next (1)

› Study materials

Curated starting points. Not exhaustive — vet each against your learning style and the current exam version.

Official guides
Practice tests
  • GIAC Practice Tests (2 included with exam)

› Version & lifecycle

Current version
2024 MGT512 refresh
Released
2024-04

› Salary signal

Security manager / director, US, 5+ years.

$140K$200K
median $165K

Robert Half Salary Guide · 2024 · US base only · p25–p75 range

› How it compares

vs
CISM

Both target security management — GSLC is hands-on / SANS-style; CISM is governance + ISACA-flavored.

↔ Compare side-by-side

› Careers that commonly pursue this cert

CISO / Security Leader

Lead security strategy, communicate risk to the board, and build security programs. Executive-level cybersecurity leadership.

See this cert’s domains highlighted on the interactive map, or compare it against the rest of the catalog.