PNPT vs GPEN
| PNPT TCM Security | GPEN GIAC (SANS) | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Offensive · Intermediate | Offensive · Intermediate |
| Price | $499 Includes the required TCM Academy courses and two exam attempts. | $979 Exam attempt only; the SANS SEC560 course costs over USD 8,000. |
| Study hours | 150–250 h | 80–120 h |
| Real difficulty | ●●●○○ | ●●●○○ |
| Exam | Hands-on Length: 120 h | Multiple choice Length: 3 h |
| Validity | Does not expire | 4 years (credits + fee) |
| Job ads in United States | – | – |
| Avg. salary | – | – |
| Index | – | – |
| Summary | A realistic 5-day pentest against Active Directory, with a report and an oral debrief. Highly regarded for its value for money. | 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.