CertLadder
Certification Roadmap

Penetration Tester (Advanced OSCP Track)

The most respected penetration testing path in the industry. Security+ establishes security fundamentals, CEH validates offensive security methodology, and OSCP is the hands-on credential that separates serious penetration testers — requiring candidates to compromise live systems in a 24-hour exam.

1218 Months$100,000–$150,000
Cybersecurity
01

CompTIA Security+

SY0-701associate
Study time
60100 hours
Exam cost
$392
$75,000–$105,000

Security+ establishes the defensive security foundation that makes you a better penetration tester. Understanding how defenders detect and respond to attacks is essential context before pursuing offensive security credentials.

02

CEH

CEHprofessional
Study time
100150 hours
Exam cost
$550
$90,000–$125,000

CEH validates offensive security methodology — footprinting, scanning, enumeration, exploitation, and social engineering. It provides the structured ethical hacking framework and tool knowledge needed before the hands-on OSCP exam.

03

OSCP

OSCPprofessional
Study time
200300 hours
Exam cost
$1499
$100,000–$145,000

OSCP is the most respected hands-on penetration testing certification in the industry. It requires compromising multiple live machines in a 24-hour exam with no multiple choice questions — the credential that separates serious penetration testers from the rest.

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