The Pentesting Trifecta CPTS-OSCP-PNPT

After months of dedication and late nights, I’ve earned what I call the Trifecta of Penetration Testing Certifications: the PNPT, OSCP, and CPTS. In this post, I’ll break down each certification—covering content, pricing, exam duration, realism, and difficulty—based on my personal journey. If you’re debating which cert to pursue, I hope this guide helps.

Overview of Each Certification

🔴 PNPT – Practical Network Penetration Tester

• Provider: TCM Security
• URL: certifications.tcm-sec.com/pnpt
• Cost: $499 USD (includes training and exam)
• Duration: 5-day engagement + 2 days for reporting
• Content Focus:
  • External/Internal recon and exploitation
  • Active Directory attacks
  • OSINT
  • Pivoting
  • Report writing
• Exam Format: Realistic corporate AD environment; compromise the domain controller and submit a professional report.

🟠 OSCP – Offensive Security Certified Professional

• Provider: Offensive Security
• URL: offsec.com/courses/pen-200
• Cost: Starts at $1749 USD (90-day lab + exam)
• Duration: 24-hour exam + 24 hours for reporting
• Content Focus:
  • Report writing for Penetration Testers
  • Web, Linux, and Windows exploitation
  • Active Directory
  • Tunneling and pivoting
• Exam Format: 1 AD set worth 40 pts + 3 standalone machines (20 pts each); 70 pts minimum to pass with a detailed report.

🟢 CPTS – Certified Penetration Testing Specialist

• Provider: Hack The Box
• URL: academy.hackthebox.com
• Cost: $490 USD (includes training and exam)
• Duration: 10-day exam window plus reporting
• Content Focus:
  • External to internal compromise
  • Black box web, external and internal penetration testing
  • Initial access, privilege escalation, lateral movement
  • Real-world exploitation
• Exam Format: Entire AD network compromise; 12 out of 14 flags required to pass + commercial-grade report.

🧭 My Journey and Timeline

• ✅ PNPT – Passed on 11/6/2023 For the PNPT, one aspect that makes it feel even more realistic is that you’re required to present a debrief of your findings to a TCM Security staff member, just like you would in a real-world engagement.

• ✅ OSCP – Passed on 1/15/2024 The OSCP is one of the most sought-after penetration testing certifications in the industry, and having it on your resume is a significant advantage.

• ✅ CPTS – Passed on 7/25/2024 The CPTS is the new cool kid on the block, and in a few years, it will become the go-to standard for penetration testing certifications in the industry.

Difficulty Comparison

From my perspective:

1. CPTS was the hardest. The 10-day format might sound forgiving, but the depth, chaining of attacks, and report requirements make this a true test of endurance and skill. I captured 13 out of 14 flags before exhaustion kicked in and I pivoted to the report.

2. OSCP is next in difficulty, primarily due to the 24-hour limit. It’s a mental marathon with limited sleep and high pressure to gather at least 70 points. My approach was to take down the AD set first, then secure 2 standalone boxes for 80 points total.

3. PNPT is the most accessible in terms of pressure. You have a full five days to think strategically and take breaks. The environment is realistic and the report matters more than point scoring.

🌍 Realism of the Lab Environments

• 🥇 CPTS – The most realistic enterprise-level environment. Every step is chained and deliberate, mimicking real-world penetration testing.
• 🥈 PNPT – Well-designed, simulates a small business network with a full AD deployment and real attack surfaces.
• 🥉 OSCP – Feels more CTF-oriented. Many machines are vulnerable to older CVEs and less representative of modern enterprise defense apart from the AD portion.

📊 Summary Table

🎯 Which One Should You Take?

• OSCP: Best for getting past HR filters and landing interviews. It’s still the gold standard in the industry for recognition.
• CPTS: Ideal if you’re focused on becoming a skilled pentester. You’ll get top-tier technical experience at a great price.
• PNPT: Excellent for learning real-world pentesting methodology. If you value practical reporting and an instructional experience, this is for you.

🧩 Final Thoughts

Earning all three certs has taught me more than just technical skills—it’s tested my mindset, patience, and professionalism. Each one offers unique lessons and benefits, and together they cover a wide range of what modern offensive security roles require.

No matter which path you take, prepare well, practice often, and always strive to learn during the process.

Got questions about these certs? Feel free to reach out!