⚔️ 2 – Intermediate Offensive Security Certifications (Ethical Hacking & Pentesting)
Intermediate offensive security certifications are designed for professionals who want to move beyond basic theoretical knowledge and begin applying real-world penetration testing techniques. These certifications focus on identifying, exploiting, and reporting security vulnerabilities across networks, web applications, wireless systems, and enterprise environments.
They are ideal for aspiring ethical hackers, junior penetration testers, and security enthusiasts who already possess foundational cybersecurity knowledge and wish to prove their skills through hands-on, practical exams. These certifications cover topics such as enumeration, exploitation, privilege escalation, network segmentation, password cracking, and basic red team tactics.
While they do not reach the expert complexity of certifications like the OSCP or CRTP, intermediate credentials serve as critical stepping stones. They help professionals build confidence, validate practical capabilities, and prepare for more advanced red teaming and exploit development roles.
Whether you’re entering the field through eJPT, refining your wireless security skills with OSWP, or gaining structured offensive experience through PenTest+ or PNPT, these certifications offer an excellent balance of theory and application.
🔑 Certifications that go beyond the basics but have not yet reached expert-level like OSCP. These are ideal for hands-on practitioners looking to develop technical depth in ethical hacking, exploit development, and red teaming scenarios.
| Certification | Organization |
| 🟢 eJPTv2 – Junior Penetration Tester (v2) | INE / eLearnSecurity |
| 🟢 CompTIA PenTest+ | CompTIA |
| 🟢 CPENT – Certified Penetration Tester | EC-Council |
| 🟢 GPEN – GIAC Penetration Tester | GIAC / SANS |
| 🟢 C)PTE – Certified Penetration Testing Engineer | Mile2 |
| 🟢 PNPT – Practical Network Penetration Tester | TCM Security |
| 🟢 OSWP – Wireless Professional | Offensive Security |
| 🟢 Red Team Ops I | Tiberius |
💡 Tip: These certifications emphasize hands-on skills and real-world attack simulations. Ideal for penetration testers, red team apprentices, and aspiring ethical hackers looking to demonstrate applied technical ability.
| Certification | Duration | Cost | Prerequisites | Avg. Salary (USD) | Europe Salary Range | USA Salary Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| eJPTv2 – Junior Penetration Tester (v2) | Self-paced | $200–$400 | Basic networking and security knowledge | $100,000 | $60,000–$90,000 | $70,000–$110,000 |
| CompTIA PenTest+ | 165 minutes (exam) | $392 | Network+, Security+, or 3–4 years in security | $105,000 | $60,000–$85,000 | $70,000–$120,000 |
| EC-Council CPENT | 24-hour exam | $2,199–$3,499 | 2+ years in InfoSec or CEH certification | $121,663 | $67,500 | $90,000–$140,000 |
| GIAC GPEN | 3 hours (exam) | $2,499 | 1–2 years of penetration testing experience | $114,861 | $70,000–$100,000 | $78,000–$158,000 |
| Mile2 C)PTE | 2–3 days (course + exam) | $500–$900 | Basic networking and IT security knowledge | $85,000 | $60,000–$80,000 | $70,000–$100,000 |
| TCM PNPT | Self-paced | $299 | Basic networking and security knowledge | $100,000 | $60,000–$90,000 | $70,000–$110,000 |
| OSWP – Wireless Professional | Self-paced | $450 | Basic wireless networking knowledge | $70,000 | $40,000–$70,000 | $50,000–$90,000 |
| Red Team Ops I | Self-paced | $200–$400 | Basic red teaming knowledge | $95,000 | $65,000–$95,000 | $80,000–$140,000 |