Hi everyone, in this article, I’ll be talking about the Hack The Box Certified Penetration Testing Specialist (CPTS) exam.

I had plans to take the OSCP exam, however, after spending about three to four months of grinding for the OSCP, a casual scroll through Reddit led me to a different challenge: the Hack The Box Certified Penetration Testing Specialist (CPTS).

It’s often compared to the OSCP, but unlike OSCP, it allows the use of AI, sqlmap, and focusing heavily on real-world reporting. Here is how I navigated the 10-day exam window and passed.

The Prerequisites

Unlike some certifications where you can jump straight into the exam, HTB requires you to earn your stripes first.

• The CPTS Path: You must complete the entire job role path on HTB Academy. Depending on your pace, this takes about a month to 40 days of dedicated study.
• Eligibility: Only after completing the path do you unlock the exam attempt.

Exam Breakdown

You have 10 days to complete the technical portion and the report.

• The Objective: 14 flags totaling 100 points.
• Passing Score: You need approximately 85 points (roughly 12…