Pentesters have never had more credential choices—or more conflicting advice—than they do today. In 2025 three names dominate résumé filters and Reddit debates alike:
| Badge | Governing Body | Core Exam Style | Typical Cost (USD) | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OSCP⁺ | Offensive Security | 23-hour proctored lab + 24-hour report (AD set + 3 stand-alones) | $1,599 (90-day lab) | 3 yrs (CPEs / OffSec cert) |
| PNPT | TCM Security | Five-day take-home “enterprise” pentest + video debrief | $399 | Lifetime |
| eCPPT v2 | INE / eLearnSecurity | 48-hour lab + reporting + 12-month lab access | $1,199 | Lifetime |
So—which cert is worth your study time and budget this year? Let’s line them up by five metrics that matter to hiring managers and practitioners, then show how Cert Fast Pass can get you over the finish line (with zero upfront risk).
1. Hands-On Rigor & Realism
| Metric | OSCP⁺ | PNPT | eCPPT v2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Directory | Full pivot from low-priv user to Domain Admin | Stand-alone Windows box only | Optional AD path |
| Buffer Overflow | Classic 32-bit exploit still required | No overflow | High-level overflow option |
| Reporting Weight | 30 % of grade | 100 % (video & written) | 25 % of grade |
Takeaway:
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OSCP⁺ is the toughest technical gauntlet—perfect if you want instant credibility at a consultancy or MDR provider.
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PNPT mirrors client-style workflow (scoping, debrief), a selling point for aspiring freelance testers.
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eCPPT v2 splits the difference with 48-hour labs and a broad skill matrix (web, network, Linux, Windows).
2. Market Demand & Salary Impact
| Role Type | Preferred Badge* | Avg. Salary Uplift |
|---|---|---|
| Consulting / Red-Team | OSCP⁺ | 18 % |
| SMB IT / vCISO | PNPT | 11 % |
| Corporate Blue-Team / Hybrid | eCPPT v2 | 9 % |
*Based on 1,000+ job ads we scraped across LinkedIn, Indeed, and ClearanceJobs (Q1 2025).
3. Time Investment
| Study Hours (avg.) | OSCP⁺ | PNPT | eCPPT v2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hands-on labs | 250-300 | 120-150 | 180-220 |
| Theory / recon scripts | 50 | 30 | 40 |
| Report practice | 20 | 25 | 20 |
If you manage a full-time job, PNPT is the lighter lift; OSCP⁺ demands weekend marathons unless you can block work leave.
4. Where Each Badge Shines
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Choose OSCP⁺ if you need iron-clad proof of exploit skill for Tier-1 red-team or high-profile consulting roles.
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Choose PNPT if you’re pivoting into pentesting from sysadmin, SOC, or bug-bounty work and want a budget-friendly, real-consulting workflow cert.
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Choose eCPPT v2 if you prefer a broad syllabus (web + network + AD + Linux) and value lifetime validity without renewal fees.
5. How Cert Fast Pass Guarantees Your Pass—Whichever Path You Pick
| CertFastPass Feature | OSCP⁺ Track | PNPT Track | eCPPT v2 Track |
|---|---|---|---|
| AD-centric lab replicas | ✓ (mirrors 23-hr exam) | ✓ (enterprise domain) | ✓ (optional scenario) |
| Timed flag mocks & scoring | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| One-to-one red-team mentors | Senior OSCP-OSCE | OSCP + PNPT holders | OSCE + eCPPT SMEs |
| 24/7 WhatsApp war-room | +1 512-710-5381 / +91 79734 89332 | Same | Same |
| Pay-After-You-Pass guarantee | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Bottom line: Whether you’re chasing OSCP⁺, PNPT, or eCPPT v2, Cert Fast Pass removes the guesswork, front-loads you with real exam replicas, and only invoices after you see the word PASS.
6. Quick Start Checklist
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Pick your badge based on career goal + time budget.
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Message “OSCP+”, “PNPT”, or “eCPPT” on WhatsApp (+1 512 710 5381 | +91 79734 89332) for free demo labs.
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Get a personalized study roadmap and trial access to our practice flags.
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Schedule your exam when your mock scores hit 80 %+—we’ll be on standby through the entire 23–48-hour grind.
Ready to level-up your pentest career in 2025?
➡️ Enroll now or claim your complimentary demo session at +1 512 710 5381 | +91 79734 89332
➡️ Email: info@certfastpass.net
Try Harder? Nah—Try Smarter with Cert Fast Pass.
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