OSCP vs PenTest+
| OSCP OffSec | PenTest+ CompTIA | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Offensive · Intermediate | Offensive · Intermediate |
| Price | $1,749 PEN-200 course with 90 days of lab access and one exam attempt. | $425 Exam voucher only. |
| Study hours | 300–600 h | 80–150 h |
| Real difficulty | ●●●●○ | ●●○○○ |
| Exam | Hands-on Length: 24 h | Multiple choice Length: 2.8 h |
| Validity | OSCP does not expire; OSCP+ lasts 3 years | 3 years (continuing education) |
| Job ads in United States | – | – |
| Avg. salary | – | – |
| Index | – | – |
| Summary | The pentesting certification most requested in job ads. A 24-hour exam plus a report. Expensive, but it still opens more doors than any other hands-on cert. | Penetration testing in multiple-choice format with simulations. Good for HR filters and US public-sector requirements; the community values hands-on exams more. |
Highlighted: the best in that row.