Looking to become a pentester in 2025 but not sure which certification path to follow? Whether you’re just starting out in cybersecurity or aiming to boost your career with credentials like CPTS, OSCP, OSEP, or OSWE, this guide is your complete roadmap. I’ll break down the most valuable penetration testing certifications for 2025 — comparing difficulty, hands-on value, and career impact — so you can confidently choose the best path to land your first pentester job or level up in the field.

I began with the Brazilian DCPT certification, which gave me just enough foundational knowledge to see the path ahead. Hungry for more, I soon dove into a postgraduate program in Cyber Warfare and took on the legendary OSCP challenge. Each step gave me a different piece of the puzzle — and taught me how important it is to build both hands-on skills and formal credentials if you want to succeed as a pentester.

But honestly? If I were starting out in penetration testing today, I’d take a different route. My advice for anyone looking to break into the field in 2025 is to begin with the CPTS certification from Hack The Box. It’s practical, recognized, and perfectly designed for newcomers. Once you’ve nailed those fundamentals, then move on to the big league certifications from Offensive Security — like OSCP, OSEP, and OSWE. This strategy gives you a roadmap that’s proven, affordable, and perfectly aligned with what the job market is looking for.

Because here’s the truth: breaking into cybersecurity in 2025 is about much more than just hacking skills. To really stand out as a penetration tester, you need a strategic blend of respected certifications, hands-on lab work, and knowledge that’s actually relevant in real-world jobs. Certifications like OSCP, OSEP, OSWE, and CPTS are more than just badges — they’re your ticket to credibility and real opportunities in cybersecurity.

In the article below, you’ll find a clear and straightforward guide to the main penetration testing certifications that can boost your cybersecurity career in 2025. We’ll break down what each certification truly offers — from beginner to advanced — and how they fit into your personal pentesting roadmap. We’ll look at the pros, cons, and practical tips for planning your journey, whether you’re just starting out or looking to specialize. By the end, you’ll know exactly which certification path matches your goals and how to stand out in the information security job market.

For everything I mentioned above, I highly recommend building your foundation with the CompTIA PenTest+ certification. Offered by the Computing Technology Industry Association, PenTest+ is designed to assess the most up-to-date pentesting, risk assessment, and management skills you’ll need to really evaluate a network’s resilience. It’s even approved by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to meet the standards for both government employees and contractors (8140/8570.01-M), which says a lot about its credibility.

PenTest+ is one of the more advanced certifications out there, but keep in mind — it’s very theory-focused. To pass, you’ll face up to 85 questions in 165 minutes, and you need a score of at least 750 out of 900. The exam covers everything from planning and scoping, information gathering, and vulnerability assessment, to attacks, exploitation, reporting, communication, tools, and even some code analysis. It’s a solid way to make sure you’re covering all the bases before you move on to more hands-on and technical certifications.

If you’re looking for something truly hands-on — real “mão na massa” — the CPTS certification from Hack The Box is a fantastic choice. Even though it’s a relatively new entry-level cert, it’s already making waves among recruiters. Part of what makes CPTS so appealing is the Hack The Box name, which is already trusted in the cybersecurity community. With CPTS, you don’t just get dry theory; you dive into practical skills, testing what you’ve learned in labs that feel like real-world scenarios.

One thing to keep in mind: while CPTS does a great job at teaching you how to conduct an actual pentest, it doesn’t go deep into risk assessment or network resilience management — the broader concepts covered in more traditional certifications. But if your goal is to be ready for the real world and know how to execute a pentest from start to finish, CPTS will absolutely get you there.

The Penetration Testing Specialist (CPTS) program is modular and hands-on, with 28 labs that guide you through everything: reconnaissance, exploitation, and even writing up your report, all in environments that look and feel like an actual corporate network.

To be honest, I’m right in the middle of the CPTS journey myself. My path has been a bit unconventional — I actually tackled the OSCP first, and only later circled back to CPTS on Hack The Box. It wasn’t really a planned move; it just happened as new opportunities opened up in my career. Still, diving into CPTS has been a great experience. The way they deliver the content is engaging and clear, and I found myself revisiting and actually practicing topics I thought I already had down. I’ve had to pause my CPTS studies for now because I’m focusing on OSWE, but I can’t wait to come back and wrap up those labs.

If you want a certification that gives you both a strong foundation and a ton of practical, real-world experience, CPTS is well worth your time. It’s the kind of journey that really helps you grow — step by step, lab by lab.

If you haven’t heard of OffSec, they’re the creators and maintainers of Kali Linux — the go-to Linux distribution for offensive security and the toolkit of choice for pentesters around the world. So, there’s something special about earning a certification directly from the team behind this legendary operating system.

Once you feel confident with the fundamentals, it’s time to prove your skills under real pressure. That’s where the Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) exam comes in — a 24-hour gauntlet that’s still the most respected and hands-on test of practical pentesting skills in the industry. Passing it isn’t just about knowing theory; it’s about demonstrating you can compromise live targets, think creatively, and keep your cool when the clock is ticking.

Offensive Security (OffSec) now offers both the OSCP and the newly introduced OSCP+. Here’s the deal: when you pass the exam, you actually earn both certifications. The difference is that the original OSCP certification never expires, while OSCP+ is valid for three years and requires ongoing training to keep it current — which makes it especially attractive to employers who want to see up-to-date skills.

Ask around, and you’ll hear it again and again: OSCP is considered one of the most challenging and rigorous certifications in cybersecurity. It’s not for beginners — it’s a test designed for pentesters who want to push their technical and practical limits. But the reward? You walk away with industry credibility and a real sense of achievement, straight from the team that built the tools you’ll use on the job.

📚 Unlock your cybersecurity career 📚 — download my new eBook for instant access to practical offensive security tips and Hack The Box labs. Take your first step and start hacking smarter today!

If you prefer a vendor-neutral track, you can first validate entry-level abilities with:

eLearn Security Junior Penetration Tester (eJPT) — entry-level, fully practical exam that validates basic recon, exploitation, and reporting skills.

eLearnSecurity Certified Professional Penetration Tester (eCPPT) — intermediate follow-up to eJPT; simulates real red-team engagements across network and web layers.

GIAC Penetration Tester (GPEN) — broad, process-oriented certification covering scoping, in-depth scanning, exploitation, and post-exploitation in a proctored setting.

Offensive Security Web Expert (OSWE)

Offensive Security, the creators and maintainers of Kali Linux, offer the OSWE certification to validate expertise in advanced web application security. This certification focuses on white-box testing methodologies, requiring candidates to analyze source code to identify and exploit vulnerabilities. The associated course, WEB-300: Advanced Web Attacks and Exploitation, covers topics such as JavaScript prototype pollution, advanced SSRF, and .NET deserialization. The OSWE exam is a 48-hour hands-on assessment where candidates must compromise multiple web applications in a controlled environment.

Offensive Security Experienced Penetration Tester (OSEP)

Offensive Security — the same team behind Kali Linux — also offers the OSWE certification, which is all about proving you have advanced skills in web application security. OSWE is focused on white-box testing, meaning you’ll actually analyze real source code to hunt for and exploit vulnerabilities, instead of just poking at a black box from the outside. The course behind this cert, WEB-300: Advanced Web Attacks and Exploitation, dives into some serious topics — think JavaScript prototype pollution, advanced SSRF, and .NET deserialization. The exam is intense: you get 48 hours to work through a set of web applications in a controlled lab, finding and exploiting bugs just like you would in a real-world engagement. If you want to show you’re not just clicking tools, but truly understand web security down to the code, OSWE is the badge to aim for.

Offensive Security Exploit Developer (OSED)

If you want to go even deeper and specialize in exploit development, the OSED certification is a fantastic milestone. OSED proves that you can actually craft your own custom exploits for Windows user-mode applications — a skill that goes way beyond automated tools. The course behind this cert, EXP-301: Windows User Mode Exploit Development, covers everything from reverse engineering and shellcode creation to bypassing modern security protections like DEP and ASLR. The exam itself is a real test of skill: you get 48 hours to analyze provided applications and write your own working exploits. It’s challenging, hands-on, and perfect for anyone who wants to show real, technical expertise in the art of exploit development.

Offensive Security Certified Expert (OSCE³)

The OSCE³ is a prestigious title for anyone aiming for the top in offensive security. You earn it by completing the trifecta: OSWE, OSEP, and OSED certifications. Holding the OSCE³ means you’ve mastered web application security, advanced penetration testing, and exploit development — all the pillars that matter in real-world offensive security. Achieving this badge is a serious accomplishment. It shows not just skill, but dedication, resilience, and a true passion for the craft. If you want proof that you’re among the best, the OSCE³ is the mark to shoot for.

Now, if your focus is pentesting, I highly recommend starting with the CPTS. With a student account, you can access the entire HTB Academy for just 8 dollars a month, and when you’re ready for the exam, the test costs about 210 dollars. Honestly, I think this is the most affordable way to earn your first quality certification — and get truly ready for the OSCP. In fact, with the CPTS under your belt, you might even land your first job in cybersecurity before you go after the OSCP.

And if you have the opportunity, consider pursuing a college degree in IT or Cybersecurity as well. While certifications are powerful, a degree can open even more doors and help round out your skill set for the long term.

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