Update, October 2026: Prices, renewal fees and exam details have been updated to October 2026 figures: a GIAC certification attempt without training costs $999 and renewal $499; OffSec’s WEB-300 course with one OSWE exam attempt costs $1,749. Check GIAC and OffSec before buying.
GWAPT and OSWE are among the top certifications in security and are mainly built for penetration testers.
Let’s look at the differences between the two in terms of their focus areas, their exam structures, prerequisites to be eligible for the exams, fees, and delivery methods.
Web Security Certification Focus
Both certifications are related to web security but there are differences in their learning approach and exam methods.
GWAPT Focus Areas
GIAC Web Application Penetration Tester certification (GWAPT) is focused on web application security and specifically on the following areas:
- Web application authentication attacks
- Reconnaissance and Mapping
- Cross-Site Request Forgery, Cross Site Scripting, and Client Injection Attack
- Web Application Configuration Testing
- Web Application Session Management
- Web Application SQL Injection Attacks
- Web Application Testing Tools
OSWE Focus Areas
The OffSec Web Expert (OSWE) certification is also focused on web application security and specifically on exploiting front-facing web applications. This certificate requires you to have the skills to be able to perform security testing and exploit a web application during a white-box penetration testing activity.
Having the OSWE certifies that you can:
- Perform web app source code auditing
- Write scripts and exploit web application vulnerabilities
- Implement complex chained attacks using multiple vulnerabilities
- Use creative and lateral thinking to determine innovative ways of exploiting web vulnerabilities
- assist web development teams in creating and maintaining web apps that are secure by design
You can read the course syllabus for more information.
Certification Expiration
GWAPT Certificate Expiration
Security certifications can be valid forever, but many have to be renewed every few years.
GIAC certifications have to be renewed every 4 years. The renewal fee is $499.
OSWE Certificate Expiration
The OSWE certificate does not expire. There are no subscriptions, renewals, membership fees, or other requirements to requalify with OffSec.
Prerequisites
GIAC does not have any prerequisites but completing the **Advanced Web Attacks and Exploitation (AWAE)**course and lab environment is requiredin order to sit for the OSWE exam.
Exam Overview
GWAPT Exam Overview
- Open book/notes
- Time limit of 3 hours
- 82 questions
- Minimum Passing Score of 71%
Find more details here about GIAC’s testing instructions.
Creating indexes of your notes can be challenging. Check these guides: 1, and 2, for help.
OSWE Exam Overview
The OSWE certification exam simulates a live network in a private VPN, which contains a small number of vulnerable systems.
You have 47 hours and 45 minutes to complete the exam.
Once the exam is finished, you will have another 24 hours to upload your report and wait for its review to learn if you passed or not.
Exam Delivery Methods
GWAPT Exam Delivery Methods
- Remote proctoring throughProctorU: This means that you can take your exam from anywhere in the world as long as you have a webcam and a reliable Internet connection.
- Onsite proctoring throughPearson VUE: This means that the GIAC-approved Training Center or Proctor Pearson VUE will be administering your exam.
OSWE Exam Delivery Methods
OSWE exam is proctored like the GWAPT exam. You are given access through the student portal where you must allow access to your system so that you can be monitored during the time of your examination.
OffSec has a comprehensive guide on this.
Pricing
GWAPT Price
Taking the GIAC exam together with a SANS training course costs considerably more than the exam alone; check the SANS site for current course prices.
You can also choose to only take a GIAC exam, which costs $999.
OSWE Price
The price for the OSWE exam is bundled with lab access through the purchase of the WEB-300 course and is priced at $1,749 for 90 days of course and lab access with one exam attempt, or $2,749 a year with two exam attempts.
Prices as of October 2026; check the providers’ sites before buying.