How to Become an OSCP: The Complete Guide

Want to become one of the most elite hackers in the world? Then your goal should be to earn the legendary OSCP certification.

As your personal guide, I‘ll tell you everything you need to know to conquer the OSCP exam and get certified.

By the end of this, you’ll have the tips, resources, and information to confidently pass the OSCP on your first attempt. Let‘s do this!

What Exactly is OSCP?

OSCP stands for Offensive Security Certified Professional. It‘s the most respected ethical hacking certification out there.

Obtaining the OSCP certifies that you possess advanced skills in penetration testing, vulnerability assessment, exploitation, and most importantly—the ability to hack like a pro.

This certification is issued by Offensive Security, the leading cybersecurity training company behind the tool Kali Linux.

To earn the OSCP, you must complete the grueling "Penetration Testing with Kali Linux" course and pass a hands-on 24-hour exam where you hack into a network of machines to gain root access.

It will push your skills to the limit. But once achieved, you join the ranks of the most elite hackers worldwide.

And it immensely boosts your chances of landing an awesome cybersecurity job.

According to recent surveys by CyberSecurity Jobs and ITJobsWatch, ethical hacking and penetration testing roles are some of the most in-demand and highest paying within information security:

Cybersecurity Job Role	Average Salary	Growth
Penetration Tester	$108,000	21%
Ethical Hacker	$103,000	32%
Security Auditor	$93,000	22%

As you can see, obtaining the OSCP certification opens the door to lucrative and future-proof infosec careers.

Why Should You Get OSCP Certified?

You‘re probably wondering, why go through the pain of getting OSCP certified?

Here are the top 5 reasons why the OSCP is worth the effort:

1. Proof of elite hacking skills

The OSCP certification is like the black belt of ethical hacking. It proves you possess advanced technical knowledge and hands-on skills.

Many cybersecurity employers actually require OSCP certification for penetration testing roles.

It shows you understand how to hack systems like the pros do.

2. Worldwide recognition

The OSCP enjoys global recognition as a premium infosec certification.

Offensive Security has kept the exam extremely challenging which bolsters its prestige and respect in the industry.

Most seasoned cybersecurity leaders consider OSCP the best indicator of hacking ability.

3. Boosts your career

Because the OSCP is so valued and globally recognized, it becomes a huge asset for your career.

Infosec hiring managers know OSCP holders have serious skills, making you irresistible.

You can expect doors to open and promotions to come faster with this certification on your resume.

It instantly separates you from the pack in the competitive cybersecurity job market.

4. Learn by doing

The entire PWK course and OSCP exam is hands-on learning.

Rather than just studying theory, you gain real-world experience and learn by doing.

Testing your skills against actual networks is invaluable preparation for pentesting careers.

The hands-on nature of OSCP also makes the knowledge stick better too.

5. Sharpen your skills

Preparing for the OSCP forces you to sharpen and master many hacking techniques.

By the end, your reconnaissance, enumeration, exploitation, privilege escalation, and pivoting skills will have dramatically improved.

You‘ll reach an entirely new level of technical capability and be able to hack like a pro.

While the OSCP journey will be challenging, it‘s fun and teaches skills that pay dividends for life.

What Exactly Does OSCP Certification Prove?

Let‘s dig into what exactly is validated by holding the OSCP certification:

You have advanced penetration testing and ethical hacking skills, backed by true hands-on ability to find and exploit vulnerabilities in networks.
You possess the technical knowledge and prowess to identify security flaws across operating systems, networks, and applications during assessments.
You can hack actively, obtaining unauthorized access to systems and escalating privileges—all in a controlled and professional manner.
You know how to rewrite exploits, use offensive tools like Metasploit, and customize payloads to compromise systems effectively, mimicking real hacking scenarios.
You can provide solutions to mitigate the security flaws and weaknesses found during penetration tests.
You can document and report findings from assessments professionally as expected by clients.

In summary, the OSCP proves you have sophisticated technical ability combined with critical knowledge to conduct complex security engagements and hack ethically.

Companies worldwide value this certification because it means hiring someone capable of assessing their systems‘ security with a true hacker skillset.

Who Issues the OSCP & What‘s the Exam Like?

Offensive Security created the OSCP certification, and they issue it to those who pass the exam.

OffSec is a cybersecurity training and certifications company renowned for tools like Kali Linux which they maintain.

Their courses and certs are considered "best of breed" within the industry.

Earning the OSCP is tied to their "Penetration Testing with Kali Linux" (PWK) course. You must take this course to qualify for the OSCP exam.

Here‘s an overview of the OSCP exam format:

24-hour hands-on exam in a virtual private network that simulates a client engagement
Given access to around ~5 machines/networks to hack using hundreds of tools/techniques
Objective is to gain root/admin access through exploitation then privilege escalation
Must document steps taken, including proof of hacking each system
100 total points available, requirement of 70 points to pass

As you can see, this cert is not theoretical. It validates hands-on skills in the same way a developer must prove they can code.

OffSec designed the OSCP exam to be an accurate measure of real-world penetration testing ability.

Prerequisites & Requirements for OSCP

While Offensive Security does not list any required prerequisites, certain experience will help you pass the OSCP exam.

Here are some recommended prerequisites before tackling the OSCP:

Strong understanding of TCP/IP, networking, and typical server configurations
Familiarity administering and using Linux distributions like Debian, CentOS, Ubuntu, etc.
Familiarity administering Windows servers and desktop environments
Knowledge of common penetration testing tools like Burp Suite, Metasploit, etc.
Some scripting experience in Python, Bash, PowerShell, etc. to build custom tools
Patience and persistence to try multi-hour attacks until succeeding

Again, nothing is mandatory, but having that baseline experience will make your OSCP journey smoother.

Some real-world systems administration or security experience is also extremely helpful before attempting this advanced certification.

How Should You Prepare and Study for the OSCP Exam?

Preparing to pass the notoriously difficult OSCP exam requires consistent practice and dedication.

Here is my recommended game plan for OSCP success:

1. Take the Penetration Testing with Kali Linux (PWK) course

The PWK contains the official OSCP training, recommended for around 60-90 days of study. It includes the full curriculum, hundreds of tools, labs, and 24/7 coaching.

Invest in the 90-day lab package to get adequate hands-on practice time.

2. Read and understand all the PWK course material

The PWK PDF and videos cover everything you need to pass the exam. Read and watch all of it to fully grasp the concepts.

Understand both high-level strategy and technical exploitation techniques.

3. Practice hacking daily in PWK labs

The labs let you attack networks and machines that mimic the OSCP exam environment.

Practice hacking into all devices, enumerating deeply, finding holes, escalating privileges, and pivoting through networks.

4. Practice report writing

Learn how to professionally document penetration tests. Treat labs as client engagements and write reports.

Mimic the documentation and evidence you must provide during the OSCP exam.

5. Attempt OSCP exam replications

Use platforms like Hack The Box, VulnHub, and Virtual Hacking Labs to practice attacking networks under 24-hour time limits to simulate the OSCP exam.

6. Read blogs and forums

Visit /r/oscp on Reddit, read blogs, and use other resources to learn exam strategies from those who passed.

7. Develop mental stamina

Prepare to go 24 hours with little sleep. Build mental grit through challenges that force concentration and persistence.

Having unbreakable determination will be key to tackling those critical exam machines.

Follow this game plan, and you‘ll walk into the exam fully prepared and ready to crush it!

Helpful Supplementary Resources for OSCP Prep

To supplement my recommended routine above, here are some additional resources that can further improve your chances of OSCP success:

Books

The Web Application Hacker‘s Handbook – Dafydd Stuttard
Metasploit: The Penetration Tester‘s Guide – David Kennedy
The Hacker Playbook 2 – Peter Kim
Ghost in the Wires – Kevin Mitnick

Online Training

Hack The Box
Udemy
Cybrary
SANS SEC560 Course

Labs & Practice Exams

VulnHub
Virtual Hacking Labs
eLearnSecurity OSCP Exam Preparation

Blogs & Forums

/r/oscp Subreddit
NetSec Focus OSCP Guide
Darknet OSCP Lab Guide

YouTube Channels

The Cyber Mentor
John Hammond
Hackersploit

Podcasts

Darknet Diaries
Hackable?
Down the Security Rabbithole

As you can see, there are ample free and paid resources available online to help reinforce the core PWK material and sharpen your hands-on hacking skills.

Leverage as many as possible to get adequate practice for the OSCP exam.

How Much Does Earning OSCP Certification Cost?

Let‘s break down the costs involved with obtaining the OSCP certification:

PWK Course w/ Lab Access – $999.99
Exam attempts – You get 4 attempts included. More are $200 per retake.
PWK Labs – Prices range from $60 for 30 days up to $600 for 365-day access.

Many students take 2 or more attempts to pass the exam, so budget $1400–$1600 to account for that.

While not cheap, the knowledge and skills gained make OSCP extremely valuable for advancing your cybersecurity career.

Compared to the CISSP which costs $700 just for the exam itself, the OSCP is priced very competitively for what you get.

Think of the OSCP as an investment into your future versus a simple cost. The career impact it provides quickly offsets the price.

What‘s the Best Way to Schedule and Take the OSCP Exam?

Once you complete the PWK course and feel ready to attempt certification, here are some tips for taking the exam itself:

Choose your timing wisely – Don‘t schedule the exam when you have other major commitments going on. Make it your sole focus those 24 hours.
Take time off work – Get proper rest leading up to the exam and take the next day or two off work to recover afterwards.
Prepare your space – Ensure you have a quiet, comfortable space to focus for a full 24 hours. Stock up on food, caffeine, etc.
Read instructions – Carefully read all exam instructions to understand procedures, requirements, scoring, submission, etc.
Time management – Don‘t waste time early on. Identify quick wins first, then allot time to write your report.
Persist when stuck – Try every exploit technique you know when stuck on a system. Google new methods. Don‘t give up!
Stay calm – Frustration and stress can happen given the difficulty. Stay mentally calm, take breaks if needed, and power through.
Write a great report – Thoroughly document your methodology, commands used, findings, proof (screenshots), etc. This is important for points!

Follow this advice to ace the exam itself and not derail due to lack of preparation for the exam day.

Any Other Tips to Succeed at the OSCP Exam?

Here are a few more tips from fellow OSCP certified hackers on how to tackle the exam successfully:

"Own your methodology" – Don‘t just run tools blindly. Have a methodical process and reason behind your actions.
"Enumerate, enumerate, enumerate" – Aggressively map out target networks and systems. It leads to exploits.
"Read those prompts" – Exam machines leave hints in messages and prompts to guide you.
"Script everything" – Script commands to save time with automation. Exports results too.
"Always check for contingencies" – Verify exploits worked fully, else access can be lost.
"Create quick system access" – Always maintain multiple forms of access like reverse shells, VPN tunnels, etc. in case one dies.
"Manage your time wisely" – You have 23.5 hours. Use a timeline to allocate time properly across targets.

By incorporating this wisdom from OSCP veterans, you‘ll stand a great chance of joining their ranks upon completion!

How Do You Maintain OSCP Certification Status?

The awesome thing about OSCP certification is that it does not expire!

You do not need to pay renewal fees, earn CPEs, or retest to maintain your OSCP status.

However, since hacking techniques constantly evolve, it is wise to retake the PWK course every few years.

This will keep your skills sharp and ensure you stay updated on the latest tactics and tools.

OffSec releases new PWK courseware frequently to cover emerging penetration testing methods.

Overall, treat OSCP certification as just the starting point on your ethical hacking journey versus the destination.

Which Certifications Are Comparable Alternatives to the OSCP?

While the OSCP is renowned as the most hands-on penetration testing certification, here are a few other respected certs in that space:

Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) – Broad ethical hacking education focused on tools. Light on technical depth.
CREST Registered Tester (CRT) – Advanced pentesting cert from UK‘s CREST organization.
GIAC Exploit Researcher (GXPN) – Revered for advanced exploit development skills.
eLearnSecurity eCPPT – Similar hands-on penetration testing cert as OSCP.
Mile2 CPTE – Affordable and respected ethical hacking certification.

However, none offer the extensive hands-on labs and ultra-challenging exam like OffSec‘s OSCP does.

This makes it stand alone atop the infosec mountain as the best measure of real-world penetration testing skills.

Will OSCP Certification Help Me Get an Ethical Hacking Job?

In short – yes, absolutely!

Earning the OSCP certification puts you in an elite group of cybersecurity professionals worldwide.

You instantly gain credibility and respect from IT hiring managers who know OSCP holders have serious skills.

It can fast-track your ability to land high-salary penetration testing roles that otherwise would take years more experience to obtain.

Here are just some of the awesome hacking jobs attainable once you achieve the OSCP:

Penetration Tester
Ethical Hacker
Security Consultant
Security Auditor
Cybersecurity Analyst
Vulnerability Assessment Specialist

And while pay varies based on experience, OSCP certification gives you major negotiation leverage with salaries averaging $95K-$120K.

Given how critical security skills are in today‘s digital landscape, being OSCP certified ensures you will enjoy lucrative hacker job opportunities.

Is OSCP the Best Path for an Aspiring Penetration Tester?

For anyone looking to enter an exciting and high-paying career in penetration testing and ethical hacking, the OSCP certification is absolutely the best path forward.

Here are some key reasons the OSCP is ideal for aspiring pentesters:

It provides the real-world hands-on training essential to becoming an expert ethical hacker.
The OSCP journey develops all the core technical skills needed for penetration testing engagements.
It teaches crucial concepts like attack methodology, report writing, and communication skills.
OSCP certified individuals are heavily recruited by security firms given how valued the cert is.
The certification never expires, so it brings value for your entire career.
Passing OSCP proves you can hack with the best of them which brings immense respect.

While the OSCP journey will be intense and require months of consistent studying, it will equip you with elite hacking skills coveted in the real-world.

No certification will advance your penetration testing career faster than the legendary OSCP. The effort is well worth it.

Final Thoughts on the OSCP Certification

I hope this guide has demystified the OSCP and prepared you to tackle it with confidence.

Earning this premier hacker certification will prove your skills, garner immense respect, and allow you to launch an amazing ethical hacking career.

The path will be challenging. But with diligent preparation using the PWK course, labs, and other resources—OSCP certification is absolutely attainable.

Stay determined, embrace the grind, and imagine the rewards once you become an Offensive Security Certified Professional.

You got this! Now go show the world you know how to hack systems like a real pro.