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OSCP - Offensive Security Certified Professional

OSCP - Offensive Security Certified Professional vs 3 alternatives compared

Exam fee, level, duration, validity and salary side by side. Blank cells mean we do not have verified data yet.

OSCP - Offensive Security Certified ProfessionalCISSP - Certified Information Systems Security ProfessionalCEH - Certified Ethical HackerCompTIA Security+
VendorOffensive SecurityISC2EC-CouncilCompTIA
LevelAdvancedAdvancedIntermediateBeginner
Exam fee$1,699$749$1,199$425
Duration24 hours—4 hours (MCQ) + 6 hours (practical)—
Passing score————
Valid for————
Typical salary$120K–$165K$140K–$175K$95K–$130K$75K–$100K
PrerequisitesHands‑on practical knowledge of Linux and Windows administration, networking, and network…———

Which should you choose?

Should I take OSCP - Offensive Security Certified Professional or CISSP - Certified Information Systems Security Professional first?

Both are rated Advanced. Pick the one whose exam domains match the job you want, and check which one employers in your area ask for.

Should I take OSCP - Offensive Security Certified Professional or CEH - Certified Ethical Hacker first?

CEH - Certified Ethical Hacker is the lower-level certification (Intermediate vs Advanced), so it is usually the better first step.

Should I take OSCP - Offensive Security Certified Professional or CompTIA Security+ first?

CompTIA Security+ is the lower-level certification (Beginner vs Advanced), so it is usually the better first step.