CPTS vs PNPT
| CPTS Hack The Box | PNPT TCM Security | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Offensive · Intermediate | Offensive · Intermediate |
| Price | $210 Exam voucher; you also need to finish the HTB Academy path (subscription). | $499 Includes the required TCM Academy courses and two exam attempts. |
| Study hours | 250–450 h | 150–250 h |
| Real difficulty | ●●●●○ | ●●●○○ |
| Exam | Hands-on Length: 240 h | Hands-on Length: 120 h |
| Validity | Does not expire | Does not expire |
| Job ads in United States | – | – |
| Avg. salary | – | – |
| Index | – | – |
| Summary | A 10-day exam with a professional report. Very demanding and increasingly recognised as an OSCP alternative. | A realistic 5-day pentest against Active Directory, with a report and an oral debrief. Highly regarded for its value for money. |
Highlighted: the best in that row.