GICSP (Global Industrial Cyber Security Professional)
GICSP is a vendor-neutral certification for securing industrial control systems across their lifecycle, drawing together IT, engineering, and security. Topics include ICS components and Purdue Reference Architecture levels, ICS protocols, attack surfaces, defense architecture, and incident response. The audience is ICS IT and OT practitioners, security engineers, managers, and vendors. SANS ICS410 is the aligned course.
Exam Details
Open-book, web-based exam, proctored remotely through ProctorU or onsite at a Pearson VUE test center. It includes CyberLive hands-on questions run in virtual machines.
Price of one certification attempt with 120 days of access. A retake after a failed attempt is $899, a 45-day extension is $479, and a practice test is $399. Prices exclude sales tax.
Requirements and Renewal
Prerequisites
None. GIAC sets no prerequisites for any certification attempt but recommends a training course first.
Renewal
Earn 36 CPEs during the four-year cycle (or retake the exam) and pay the $499 maintenance fee. Additional renewals within two years of a full-price renewal cost $249.
Exam Domains
10 domains| Domain |
|---|
| Hardening & Protecting Endpoints |
| ICS Components & Architecture |
| ICS Overview & Concepts |
| ICS Program & Policy Development |
| Intelligence Gathering & Threat Modeling |
| PERA Level 0 & 1 Technology Overview and Compromise |
| PERA Level 2 & 3 Technology Overview and Compromise |
| Protocols, Communications, & Compromises |
| Risk Based Disaster Recovery & Incident Response |
| Wireless Technologies & Compromises |
DoD 8140 Work Roles
11 work rolesThe DoD 8140 Qualification Matrix V2.1 lists GICSP as a foundational qualification option for these DoD Cyber Workforce Framework work roles, up to the proficiency level shown. Lower levels of the same work role are also covered.
Related Tool Categories
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a GICSP certification?→
GICSP (Global Industrial Cyber Security Professional) covers securing industrial control systems throughout their lifecycle. Its exam has 82 questions in 3 hours with a 71% pass mark.
Is GICSP approved for DoD 8140?→
GIAC lists GICSP among its DoD 8140 approved certifications, paired with SANS ICS410: ICS/SCADA Security Essentials.
How much does GICSP cost?→
A GICSP attempt is $999, and a retake after a failed attempt costs $899. Prices exclude sales tax.
What happens if you fail a GIAC exam?→
Candidates can buy a retake within 30 days after the attempt deadline and must wait 30 days before sitting again. After three failed attempts the attempt ends, and a new one cannot be bought for one year.
Sources
Exam details are checked against official GIAC pages. Fees, exam versions, and renewal rules change; confirm with GIAC before registering. GICSP is a trademark of its owner. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by GIAC.