OSCP vs PNPT
Two pentest exams that come up together — how they actually differ, and who each one is for.
Start with PNPT if you're beginner-to-intermediate or budget-conscious: $499 includes training and a free retake, gives you five days plus a realistic debrief, and teaches the whole job end to end. Pick OSCP if recognition is the goal — it's the name recruiters filter on — but it's harder, costs $1,749, and compresses everything into a proctored 24-hour exam. Underdog value: PNPT. Résumé weight: OSCP.
- OSCP
- advanced, $1,749 course + exam bundle (or $2,749/yr Learn One)
- PNPT
- intermediate, $499 (exam + 45h training, 12-month access; one free retake)
- Harder
- OSCP
| OSCP | PNPT | |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor | OffSec | TCM Security |
| Level | advanced | intermediate |
| Duration | 23h 45m + 24h report | 5-day exam + 2-day report + live debrief |
| Format | fully practical, proctored; 70/100 to pass | full external-to-internal engagement, report, and a live 15-minute debrief |
| Cost | $1,749 course + exam bundle (or $2,749/yr Learn One) | $499 (exam + 45h training, 12-month access; one free retake) |
What each one is
OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional) is OffSec’s advanced, most-recognised certification — a proctored, points-based, roughly 24-hour practical exam that has long served as the industry’s gatekeeping credential. PNPT (Practical Network Penetration Tester) is TCM Security’s beginner-to-intermediate certification, structured as a realistic five-day engagement — OSINT and external access through to internal AD and the domain controller — followed by a report and a live 15-minute debrief with a mock client. One optimises for recognition; the other for realism and end-to-end methodology.
The real difference
Recognition versus realism and pressure. Most people who have taken both agree OSCP is the harder exam, driven by the proctored clock, the tool restrictions and the need to hit 70 of 100 in under a day. PNPT gives you five unproctored days, no points to chase, and a scenario that mirrors an actual pentest from reconnaissance to reporting to client debrief. OSCP carries far more weight on a CV and clears HR filters; PNPT arguably teaches the job more completely, including the soft skills, scoping and communication that OSCP largely skips.
Cost and time
PNPT is $499 and includes about 45 hours of training plus one free retake; the exam is five days for the practical, two days for the report, then the 15-minute debrief. OSCP is a $1,749 bundle with 90 days of lab access and one attempt; the exam is 23 hours 45 minutes plus 24 hours for the report, you need 70 of 100 to pass, and retakes are a substantial extra cost. On price and pressure, PNPT is the gentler, cheaper option by a wide margin.
Which one to choose
If you are earlier in your journey, price-sensitive, or you want to learn the full workflow including reporting and the client debrief, PNPT is the better buy and a strong confidence builder. If your target job adverts list OSCP, or you need the single most recognised name in offensive security, pay for OSCP and prepare for a harder, more time-pressured exam. A well-worn path is PNPT first for the methodology, then OSCP for the recognition once you’re ready.
What people who sat these say
The general consensus in the industry is that OSCP is more difficult than PNPT, and I agree.
I honestly believe that the course and accompanying certification will produce more capable penetration testers over the long term.
Full detail on each: OSCP · PNPT. For where both sit in a longer plan, see the roadmap.