Artificial intelligence has moved from boardroom buzzword to critical business infrastructure  and attackers have noticed. In 2024, 87% of organizations worldwide faced AI-driven cyberattacks. Over 73% of LLMs in production are vulnerable to prompt injection. Yet most security teams have never run a single offensive test against an AI system.

Two certifications launched in early 2026 are changing that — fast.

OffSec OSAI+ (AI-300) and EC-Council C|OASP are the two most credible, hands-on offensive Al security certifications available in the world today. Both are brand new. Both are in massive demand. And both are available exclusively through Securium Academy — one of the very few training providers in the world that is an Official OffSec Partner AND an EC-Council Authorized Training Centre at the same time.

So which one should you pursue? This blog breaks it all down so you can make the right call for your career.

Quick Overview: What Are These Two Certifications?

OffSec OSAI+ (AI-300) — Advanced AI Red Teaming

Launched March 31, 2026, OSAI/+ is OffSec's entry into AI security — and it carries the full weight of the OffSec brand, the creators of the legendary OSCP. The AI-300 course leads to two credentials: OSAI (baseline) and OSAI+ (advanced designation). It applies OffSec's battle-tested offensive security methodology — the same DNA as OSCP — directly to AI systems, LLMs, and
generative AI infrastructure.

EC-Council C|OASP — Certified Offensive AI Security Professional

Launched February 2026, COASP is EC-Council's flagship offensive AI credential, part of the largest single portfolio expansion in EC-Council's 25-year history. It teaches professionals to red- team AI systems end-to-end using a structured methodology aligned to OWASP LLM Top 10, MITRE ATLAS, NIST AI RMF, and ISO 42001 — the frameworks that enterprises and regulators actually use.

Head-to-Head Comparison: OSAI+ vs COASP

Feature	OffSec OSAI+ (AI-300)	EC-Council COASP
Issuing Body	OffSec (creators of OSCP)	EC-Council (creators of CEH)
Launch Date	March 31, 2026	February 2026
Focus	Offensive AI red teaming	Offensive AI red teaming + defense engineering
Exam Format	24-hour practical red team exam	Practical assessment
Exam Style	Fully hands-on, no MCQ	Applied skill validation
Credential Validity	OSAI: No expiry / OSAI+: 3 years	-
Key Topics	LLMs, GenAI, multi-agent systems, AI infrastructure	Prompt injection, model extraction, data poisoning, agent hijacking, AI forensics
Framework Alignment	OffSec offensive methodology	OWASP LLM Top 10, MITRE ATLAS, NIST AI RMF, ISO 42001
Prerequisites	Strong offensive security fundamentals (OSCP-level recommended)	Foundational cybersecurity knowledge
Difficulty Level	Advanced (OSCP-caliber)	Advanced / Professional
Brand Recognition	OffSec — gold standard for hands-on offensive certs	EC-Council — global leader, 100+ countries
Official Training Partner	Securium Academy	Securium Academy

What Do They Have in Common?

Despite coming from two different OEMs, OSAI+ and COASP share a powerful common ground — and that is intentional. The AI threat landscape demands it.

Despite coming from two different OEMs, OSAI+ and COASP share a powerful common ground — and that is intentional. The AI threat landscape demands it.

Both certifications teach you to:

• Attack LLMs and generative AI systems using real offensive techniques
• Execute prompt injection, jailbreaking, and adversarial attacks against production AI environments
• Compromise AI infrastructure — not just the model, but everything surrounding it
• Think like an attacker in environments where traditional pentesting tools and playbooks simply do not apply
• Validate AI defenses by breaking them systematically before real attackers do

If you hold both certifications, you become one of the most complete offensive AI security professionals on the planet.

Where They Differ: The Key Distinctions

1. Exam Format — Practical vs Practical (But Very Different Pressure)

OSAI+ delivers a 24-hour fully proctored practical red team engagement. You must compromise a realistic AI-enabled enterprise environment within that window. No hints. No multiple choice. This is OffSec's signature approach — the same format that made OSCP the most respected penetration testing certification in the world. If you have done OSCP, you know what this pressure feels like, now applied to AI.

COASP features a practical assessment that validates applied offensive AI skill — structured around the OWASP LLM Top 10 and MITRE ATLAS methodology. The assessment approach reflects EC-Council's emphasis on systematic, framework-aligned offensive testing that maps directly to how enterprises measure and communicate AI risk.

Verdict: If you want the most extreme, pressure-tested hands-on challenge — OSAI+ wins. If you want a rigorous but structured assessment that aligns with compliance and enterprise reporting — COASP is your path.

2. Framework Alignment — Methodology vs Compliance-Ready

OSAI+ is built around OffSec's proprietary offensive methodology — the same adversarial thinking framework that powers OSCP, OSEP, and OSED. It is methodology-first, results-driven, and attack-focused. The emphasis is on what you can do, not what framework you followed.

COASP is explicitly mapped to OWASP LLM Top 10, MITRE ATLAS, NIST AI RMF, and ISO 42001. This is a major practical advantage in enterprise and consulting contexts — when you deliver an AI red team report using COASP methodology, your findings speak the language that CISOs, legal teams, and regulators already understand without translation.

Verdict: For pure offensive research and red teaming — OSAI+ methodology is king. For enterprise consulting, client delivery, and regulated industries — COASP's framework alignment is a career accelerator.

3. Scope — Infrastructure-Deep vs Full AI Lifecycle

OSAI+ goes deep into the technical infrastructure supporting AI: vector databases, model serving endpoints, multi-agent orchestration frameworks, AI cloud environments, and generative AI pipelines. It is exceptionally thorough on the infrastructure layer of AI security.

COASP covers the full AI security lifecycle — from reconnaissance and threat modeling, through model-level attacks (prompt injection, jailbreaking, model theft, data poisoning, agent hijacking), to AI forensics and defense engineering. It also touches on DevSecOps pipeline attacks and AI supply chain risk.

Verdict: OSAI+ goes deeper on infrastructure exploitation. COASP covers a broader end-to-end offensive lifecycle including forensics and defense engineering.

4. Prerequisites & Entry Bar

OSAI+ explicitly recommends OSCP or equivalent hands-on offensive experience. This is genuinely an advanced course — learners without solid red teaming fundamentals will struggle.

COASP requires foundational cybersecurity knowledge, making it accessible to a wider audience including blue team professionals, SOC analysts, and DevSecOps engineers who are pivoting into offensive AI security.

Verdict: New to offensive security but want to specialize in AI? Start with COASP. Already a seasoned red teamer? Add OSAI+ to your arsenal immediately.

5. Career Signaling — What Each Certification Says About You

OffSec OSAI+

“I passed the toughest 24-hour AI red team exam on earth. I can break AI systems under real pressure.”

EC-Council COASP

“I am an offensive AI specialist certified by the global leader in cybersecurity education. My work aligns to OWASP, MITRE, and NIST.”

Both Certifications

“I am the most complete offensive AI security professional available.”

Which Certification Should You Choose?

Choose OffSec OSAI+ (AI-300) if:

• You already hold OSCP or have strong red teaming experience
• You want the most demanding, hands-on validation in AI security
• Your work is primarily technical offensive research or elite red team engagements
• You want a credential that commands instant respect in the offensive security community
• You thrive under high-pressure, time-constrained practical exams

Choose EC-Council COASP if:

• You are pivoting into AI security from a blue team, SOC, or DevSecOps background
• You work in enterprise consulting or regulated industries (finance, healthcare, defense)
• You need your findings to align with OWASP, MITRE ATLAS, and NIST AI RMF
• You want full lifecycle AI red teaming coverage including forensics and defense
• You want EC-Council's globally recognized brand behind your credential

Choose Both if:

• You want to be the most complete AI security professional in the market
• You see AI security as your long-term career specialization
• You want maximum credibility with both technical teams and enterprise leadership
• You are serious about staying ahead of the fastest-evolving threat landscape in cybersecurity

Our Recommendation at Securium Academy

If you are a mid-to-senior offensive security professional, do both. The OSAI+ proves you can break AI systems under pressure. The COASP proves you can do it systematically, document it professionally, and communicate risk to decision-makers. Together, they make you unstoppable in the AI security job market.

The First-Mover Advantage — Why 2026 Is the Year to Certify

Both OSAI+ and COASP launched in early 2026. Organizations are actively searching for professionals who understand how to secure and attack AI systems safely and effectively. Early adopters of these certifications will gain a major advantage in hiring, consulting, and leadership opportunities.

AI security is no longer optional. It is becoming one of the most critical domains in cybersecurity.

Final Verdict

If your goal is elite offensive AI exploitation and hands-on red teaming under pressure, OffSec OSAI+ (AI-300) is likely the stronger path.

If your goal is enterprise-ready AI security testing, governance alignment, and broader AI secu