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Penetration testing certifications provide credible third-party proof of your skills, opening the door to increased income, career advancement, and more rewarding work. But with so many certification programs available, where do you start? And if you're already certified, what's next to take your career to the next level?
In this blog, we'll review 10 of the top pentesting certifications available today. For each certification, we'll include a description, how it can benefit you, what requirements you must fulfill, and what testing costs. We'll cover these certification programs:
- CompTIA PenTest+
- Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) and OSCP+
- GIAC Penetration Tester (GPEN) Certification
- GIAC Exploit Researcher and Advanced Penetration Tester (GXPN) Certification
- Infosec Certified Penetration Tester (CPT)
- Infosec Certified Expert Penetration Tester (CEPT)
- Infosec Certified Cloud Penetration Tester (CCPT)
- Infosec Certified Mobile and Web Application Penetration Tester (CMWAPT)
- IARCB Certified Red Team Operations Professional (CRTOP)
- TCM Security Practical Network Penetration Tester (PNPT)
1. CompTIA PenTest+
Description
Leading IT trade association CompTIA (Computing Technology Industry Association) offers the PenTest+ to assess the most current pentesting, risk assessment, and management skills required to assess network resiliency. The test is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), compliant with ISO 17024 standards, and approved by the US Department of Defense (DoD) to meet directive 8140/8570.01-M government employee and contractor standards. PenTest+ ranks among the more advanced certifications available.
Benefits
The CompTIA PenTest+ certification gives you global recognition of your pentesting skills and positions you for a leading candidate for intermediary cybersecurity positions. According to CompTIA, workers in roles comparable to PenTest+ certification earned a median annual salary of $99,730 in 2019, with high-end information security analysts earning $158,860 or more.
Requirements
To pass, you must answer up to 85 questions within 165 minutes and score at least 750 on a scale of 100 to 900. The exam covers planning and scoping, information gathering and vulnerability scanning, attacks and exploits, reporting and communication, tools, and code analysis.
Costs
$392
2. Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) and OSCP+
Description
Information security provider Offensive Security (OffSec) offers the OSCP and OSCP+ certifications for pentesters to demonstrate technical rigor and practical skill. OSCP+ was introduced recently as an upgrade of OSCP. You get both certifications for passing the same test. The two certifications differ in that OSCP does not expire, but OSCP+ expires after three years and requires ongoing training, making it more prized by employers. Cybersecurity professionals generally consider OSCP more rigorous and difficult than most other certifications, making it more suitable for experienced pentesters.
Benefits
In addition to certification, course participants receive access to the OffSec Knowledge AI (KAI), expert-led streaming instruction, access to recently retired OSCP exam machines, cutting-edge hacking and pentesting training from Kali Linux experts, and adversarial mindset training. OSCP certification holders earn an average $101,000 annually.
Requirements
You must complete hands-on coursework before passing a 24-hour exam simulating realistic security scenarios. The exam presents you with a virtual network with various operating systems, configurations, and targets you must test for vulnerabilities. The scope of the test covers report writing, reconnaissance, vulnerability scanning, web applications, client-side attacks, SQL injections, public exploits, and fixing exploits.
Costs
$1,649 for one course with 90 days of lab access and one exam attempt, $2,599 a year for one course with 365 days of lab access and two exam attempts, or $5,799 a year for unlimited courses, access, and exams. Current OSCP holders can purchase the OSCP+ exam at a discount of $199 from November 1, 2024 through March 31, 2025 and for $799 after that.
3. GIAC Penetration Tester (GPEN) Certification
Description
The Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC) information security certificate provider offers GIAC Penetration Tester (GPEN) certification to validate ability to conduct pentests according to best practices and methods. Certificate holders can run exploits, conduct reconnaissance, and strategically approach pentesting processes. Accredited by ANSI and approved by DoD 8140.
Benefits
GPEN pentesters earn an average $111,000 annually.
Requirements
You must complete a proctored exam covering 82 questions within three hours and score at least 75%. The exam covers pentest planning and scoping, reconnaissance, scanning, exploitation, post-exploitation, pivoting, and Azure vulnerabilities.
Costs
$1,699
4. GIAC Exploit Researcher and Advanced Penetration Tester (GXPN) Certification
Description
GIAC offers the GIAC Exploit Researcher and Advanced Penetration Tester (GXPN) certification to validate advanced pentesting skills. Certification holders can conduct advanced pentests, model attacker behavior, and uncover business risks.
Benefits
GXPN-certified pentesters earn an average $119,895 annually.
Requirements
You must complete a proctored exam covering 60 questions within three hours and score at least 67%. The exam covers network attacks, cryptography, restricted environments, Python, Scapy, fuzzing, and Windows and Linux exploitation.
Costs
$2,499
5. Infosec Certified Penetration Tester (CPT)
Description
Leading cybersecurity company Infosec offers Certified Penetration Tester (CPT) as the first in a series of security certifications.
Benefits
CPT-certified testers earned an average salary of $84,690 in 2021.
Requirements
You must complete a 50-question test within two hours and score at least 70%. The test covers nine areas, including pentesting methods, network protocol attacks and reconnaissance, vulnerability identifications, exploits for different operating systems, covert channels and rootkits, and vulnerabilities of wireless networks and web apps.
Costs
$499
6. Infosec Certified Expert Penetration Tester (CEPT)
Description
Infosec offers the Certified Expert Penetration Tester (CEPT) certification to validate expertise in advanced hacking tools and techniques. Coursework to prepare for the exam includes 5 hours and 15 minutes of training consisting of six courses covering advanced hacking and reconnaissance, software vulnerabilities, exploit writing, and advanced exploitation.
Benefits
The average CEPT certification holder earns $107,522 annually.
Requirements
You must complete a 50-question exam within two hours and score at least 70%.
Costs
$499 per exam and $399 per voucher for on-site proctored exams.
7. Infosec Certified Cloud Penetration Tester (CCPT)
Description
Infosec offers Certified Cloud Penetration Tester (CCPT) certification for pentesters who specialize in cloud security. Certificate holders possess expertise in cloud pentesting processes and requirements, cloud reconnaissance, attacking AWS and Azure, and reporting.
Benefits
CCPT pentesters earn an average salary of $112,700.
Requirements
You must complete a 50-question test within an hour and score at least 70%.
Costs
$499
8. Infosec Certified Mobile and Web Application Penetration Tester (CMWAPT)
Description
Infosec offers Certified Mobile and Web Application Penetration Tester (CMWAPT) certification for pentesters who specialize in mobile and web app security. Coursework to prepare for the course includes 7 hours and 57 minutes of training spanning nine courses covering topics such as web app pentesting and access controls, target identification and application mapping, common attacks, and iOS and Android pentesting.
Benefits
Cloud pentesters earn an average $119,895 annually.
Requirements
You must complete a 50-answer exam within two hours and score at least 70%.
Costs
$499
9. Infosec Certified Red Team Operations Professional (CRTOP)
Description
Previously offered by the Information Assurance Certification Review Board (IACRB) and now administered by Infosec, Certified Red Team Operations Professional (CRTOP) certification validates the ability to defend organizations against hacking and fraud. Training to prepare for the exam includes a 5-day intensive boot camp with 90-day access to boot camp components, covering topics such as network vulnerabilities and social engineering attacks.
Benefits
Jobs for CRTOP holders earn an average salary of $111,529.
Requirements
You must complete a 50-question exam within two hours and score at least 70%.
Costs
$499
10. TCM Security Practical Network Penetration Tester (PNPT)
Description
Veteran-owned cybersecurity company TCM Security offers Practical Network Penetration Tester (PNPT) certification to validate intermediate-level hacking in a realistic environment. Certificate holders can perform open-source intelligence reconnaissance, exploit active directories, prepare professional reports, and deliver report debriefs.
Benefits
Network pentesters earn an average salary of $119,895 annually.
Requirements
You have five days to complete an exam pentest and two days to prepare a report. The PNPT exam strictly tests hands-on skills. Unlike most certifications, PNPT does not include multiple-choice questions.
Costs
$499
Become a Cobalt Core member
If you're looking to leverage your pentesting certification to level up your career, consider becoming a pentester with Cobalt and joining our elite team. The Cobalt Core consists of highly-vetter pentesting talent that has various accomplishments such as partnering with the Open Worldwide Application Security Project (OWASP) to help industry leaders set security standards for mitigating emerging risks like AI and LLM vulnerabilities.
Core members must complete a rigorous application process. Our team reviews applications based on tenure, skill, and expertise. Select applicants receive a skills test assessment to qualify for interview vetting and third-party verification. After joining the Core, members receive continuous evaluation to ensure ongoing adherence to our community expectations and standards.
Apply to the Cobalt Core to start our vetting process and set out on your path to becoming one of our elite pentesters.
