OSCP Certification Cost 2026
Pass your OSCP Certification Cost exam on the first attempt. Practice questions with detailed answer explanations, hints, and instant scoring.
The cost of obtaining the Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) certification is a topic that often raises eyebrows and initiates discussions among aspiring cybersecurity professionals. With a price tag of $800 for the exam, plus additional fees for training materials and lab access, some may hesitate to pursue this highly regarded certification. However, it is important to consider the value that comes with OSCP. The OSCP certification focuses on practical skills rather than theoretical knowledge, making it highly respected in the industry. The cost reflects the extensive hands-on training provided by Offensive Security, which includes 30 days of guided lab access and a comprehensive courseware package. Practice with the free OSCP - Offensive Security Certified Professional practice test on PracticeTestGeeks (7 questions with answer explanations).
This immersive environment allows candidates to gain real-world experience in penetration testing and vulnerability assessment. Ultimately, investing in OSCP can significantly boost career opportunities and potentially lead to higher salaries in the long run. While the price may initially seem steep, other certifications with similar recognition often carry comparable or even higher costs. Moreover, compared to traditional education paths such as earning a degree or attending an extended bootcamp program, OSCP provides a focused and cost-effective option for gaining specific skills in offensive security. Aspiring professionals should carefully weigh these factors before dismissing its worth based solely on its price tag.
If you are budgeting for multiple cybersecurity and IT certifications alongside the OSCP, you may also want to explore the AACC practice test to prepare efficiently without overspending on study materials.
Many candidates pursuing the OSCP also work toward complementary technical credentials, so practicing with a A2L practice test can help you build a broader skill set while managing your overall certification costs.
Free OSCP - Offensive Security Certified Professional Study Tools
Interactive OSCP - Offensive Security Certified Professional resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:
- OSCP - Offensive Security Certified Professional flashcards — review key terms and concepts card by card
- OSCP - Offensive Security Certified Professional study guide — topic-by-topic overview of what the exam covers
- OSCP - Offensive Security Certified Professional cheat sheet — one-page printable summary for last-minute review
Pro Tip: Focus your OSCP study time on the areas where you score lowest in practice tests. Most exam questions test application of knowledge, not memorization.
- ✓Review the official OSCP exam content outline
- ✓Take a diagnostic practice test to identify weak areas
- ✓Create a study schedule (4-8 weeks recommended)
- ✓Focus on your weakest domains first
- ✓Complete at least 3 full-length practice exams
- ✓Review all incorrect answers with explanations
- ✓Take a final practice test 1 week before exam day
OSCP Practice Test Questions
Prepare for the OSCP - Offensive Security Certified Professional exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
OSCP Buffer Overflow
OSCP Exam Questions covering Buffer Overflow. Master OSCP Test concepts for certification prep.
OSCP Kali Linux
Free OSCP Practice Test featuring Kali Linux. Improve your OSCP Exam score with mock test prep.
OSCP Network Scanning and Enumeration
OSCP Test Prep for Network Scanning and Enumeration. Practice OSCP Quiz questions and boost your score.
- +Industry-recognized credential boosts your resume
- +Higher earning potential (10-20% salary increase on average)
- +Demonstrates commitment to professional development
- +Opens doors to advanced career opportunities
- −Exam preparation requires significant time investment (4-8 weeks)
- −Certification fees can be $100-$400+
- −May require continuing education to maintain
- −Some employers may not require certification
Sample OSCP - Offensive Security Certified Professional Practice Questions
Try these questions from our free OSCP - Offensive Security Certified Professional practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.
What is a 'pass-the-hash' (PtH) attack and when is it used in OSCP?
- A. Cracking an NTLM hash and using the plaintext password
- B. Authenticating to Windows services using an NTLM hash directly without cracking it
- C. Passing a hash to a password cracker for offline analysis
- D. Hashing a plaintext password to bypass a password strength requirement
Answer: B. Authenticating to Windows services using an NTLM hash directly without cracking it
Pass-the-hash allows an attacker to authenticate to Windows services (SMB, WMI, RDP) using a captured NTLM hash directly, without needing to crack it to plaintext.
During OSCP buffer overflow labs, the 'spike' tool is used. What is its primary function?
- A. It generates cyclic De Bruijn sequences for offset finding
- B. It performs protocol fuzzing by sending malformed data to network services
- C. It scans for JMP ESP gadgets in loaded modules
- D. It captures crash dumps from a running process
Answer: B. It performs protocol fuzzing by sending malformed data to network services
SPIKE is a fuzzing framework that sends progressively mutated protocol-aware input to network services to identify crash-inducing inputs.
When enumerating NFS shares during OSCP, which command shows available exports on a target?
- A. showmount -e
- B. nfsstat -m
- C. mount -t nfs :/
- D. rpcinfo --list
Answer: A. showmount -e
The 'showmount -e' command queries the NFS server and displays its list of exported directories along with any access restrictions.
During an OSCP exam, you notice a service running as root that reads a config file from /tmp. What attack is this vulnerable to?
- A. ARP poisoning
- B. Symlink attack — replace the config file with a symlink to /etc/shadow
- C. DNS rebinding
- D. CSRF attack
Answer: B. Symlink attack — replace the config file with a symlink to /etc/shadow
If a root process reads from an attacker-writable location like /tmp, a symlink placed there can redirect the read to any file, leaking sensitive data or causing unintended writes.
Take the full OSCP - Offensive Security Certified Professional practice test
How this page was made: written with AI tools and published by Nathan Beja, founder of Practice Test Geeks, who is responsible for its content. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy
Sources & references
Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy
- help.offsec.com — Test delivery, score release, eligibility, retake fee, renewal, test dates, retake policy · verified Nov 2026
- offsec.com — Score validity, exam format · verified Oct 2026