GPEN vs PNPT
| GPEN GIAC (SANS) | PNPT TCM Security | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Offensive · Intermediate | Offensive · Intermediate |
| Price | $979 Exam attempt only; the SANS SEC560 course costs over USD 8,000. | $499 Includes the required TCM Academy courses and two exam attempts. |
| Study hours | 80–120 h | 150–250 h |
| Real difficulty | ●●●○○ | ●●●○○ |
| Exam | Multiple choice Length: 3 h | Hands-on Length: 120 h |
| Validity | 4 years (credits + fee) | Does not expire |
| Job ads in United States | – | – |
| Avg. salary | – | – |
| Index | – | – |
| Summary | 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. | 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.