The OSCP is a hands-on penetration testing certification offered by (formerly Offensive Security). Unlike many certifications that rely on multiple-choice questions, the OSCP is 100% practical. To earn it, you must pass the PEN-200: Penetration Testing with Kali Linux course and successfully compromise a series of machines in a restricted exam environment. The "Try Harder" Philosophy
This is the most critical phase. If you miss a hidden directory or a misconfigured service during your scan (using tools like Nmap or GoBuster), you’ll hit a wall.
You have 23 hours and 45 minutes to complete the technical portion and another 24 hours to submit a professional-grade penetration testing report.