CPTS
HTB Certified Penetration Testing Specialist · Hack The Box
The CPTS is Hack The Box’s flagship penetration testing certification: after a 28-module path, a 10-day exam on a large network ends with a commercial-grade report. It is reputed to be one of the toughest intermediate exams and is gaining recognition quickly, including in France. Its strength is depth and realism (Active Directory, web, report) at a low price; its limits are HR recognition still behind the OSCP and a learning path that takes months.
- Exam
- 10-day practical exam on a realistic corporate network: collect enough flags to reach the required points and submit a commercial-grade report. Two attempts per voucher; results within 20 business days.
- Exam price
- $210Voucher excluding VAT (US$249.90 including VAT). The required Academy path needs a subscription; Silver Annual (US$490 a year) includes one voucher.
- Required experience
- Complete 100% of the Penetration Tester job-role path on HTB Academy (28 modules) before starting the exam.
- Validity and maintenance
- No expiry date according to Hack The Box. Passing also earns 40 CPE credits that can be claimed with ISC2.
- Format
- Hands-on
Who is it for?
Juniors and intermediate penetration testers ready to invest several months, and OSCP holders who want a deeper, more realistic exam with a real report.
Domains covered
- Penetration testing process and attack planning
- Enumeration and information gathering
- Exploitation of network services
- Web application attacks
- Windows and Linux privilege escalation
- Active Directory attacks
- Pivoting, tunnelling and lateral movement
- Documentation and commercial-grade reporting
Nestor’s take
Information checked on 2 October 2026 against the official site. Prices exclude tax and training, and may change.
The certification names mentioned are trademarks of their respective owners. KrakenShield is not affiliated with any certification body and does not reproduce any exam question.
