CRTP vs GPEN

Pick 2 to 4 certifications.

CRTP Altered Security GPEN GIAC (SANS)
Focus Offensive · Intermediate Offensive · Intermediate
Price $249 Course plus 30-day lab with one exam attempt. $979 Exam attempt only; the SANS SEC560 course costs over USD 8,000.
Study hours 40–80 h 80–120 h
Real difficulty ●●●○○ ●●●○○
Exam Hands-on Length: 24 h Multiple choice Length: 3 h
Validity Does not expire 4 years (credits + fee)
Job ads in United States – –
Avg. salary – –
Index – –
Summary Focused on attacking Active Directory from Windows. Cheap and very hands-on; a good complement to OSCP or PNPT. Well respected in large companies and the public sector, usually paid by the employer together with the SANS course. Open-book exam with lab questions.

Highlighted: the best in that row.