The CPTS exam is arguably the most accurate test of practical penetration testing skills available today for under $500. While it lacks the 20-year legacy of OSCP, its curriculum is more modern, its AD attacks are deeper, and its training material (HTB Academy) is second to none.
A clear outline of what was tested and how.
is not just a test of technical skill; it is a test of professional grit and methodology. To pass, you must demonstrate proficiency in everything from initial reconnaissance to complex Active Directory exploitation, culminating in a professional-grade report. 1. The Exam Structure: Points and Persistence The exam is points-based, requiring a minimum of 85 points out of 100 The Flags:
The corporate network spans multiple segmented subnets. You must be proficient with deep pivoting methodologies: cpts exam
10 days total (5 days for testing + 5 days for reporting). Format: 100% Practical/Hands-on.
Comprehensive screenshots and exact command snippets used during the assessment. Preparation and Costs
Here’s an interesting feature idea for the (Certified Penetration Testing Specialist, offered by Hack The Box): The CPTS exam is arguably the most accurate
You cannot walk into the CPTS exam without structured preparation. The official route is the on Hack The Box Academy.
Success is not just based on technical compromise; a commercial-grade penetration test report must be submitted for grading.
Before booking your exam, test your skills in the main HTB lab environment. Focus on "Medium" and "Hard" difficulty machines. If you have the budget, enrolling in Pro Labs like or RastaLabs provides excellent practice for pivoting through enterprise-scale networks. Survival Tips for the 10-Day Exam is not just a test of technical skill;
Effective OSINT, port scanning, service enumeration, and web footprinting.
Injection vulnerabilities (SQLi, Command Injection, SSRF, XXE). Authentication bypass and broken access controls.
This is the "performance" aspect of the exam. Candidates are tested on: and body language.