OSCP training: the PEN-200 course, live classes and bootcamps

The official OSCP course: PEN-200

The Offensive Security Certified Professional OSCP course — today OffSec calls the company OffSec and the credential the OffSec Certified Professional — is PEN-200. OffSec describes it as hands-on and self-paced, with course content, videos, interactive exercises and a virtual lab, and the exam that follows is the OSCP+ exam. Passing it awards both OSCP+ and OSCP.

The topics on the PEN-200 page run from Introduction to Cybersecurity, Information Gathering and Vulnerability Scanning to web application attacks, SQL injection, client-side attacks, and locating and fixing public exploits. Report Writing for Penetration Testers is a topic of its own, because the exam is graded on a written report as well as on the machines you compromise.

OffSec states there are no formal prerequisites, but recommends a solid foundation in networking and basic familiarity with Linux and Windows. If that is missing, its Network Penetration Testing Essentials learning path is the preparation OffSec itself points to.

Source: OffSec — PEN-200 course. Checked 9 October 2026.

OSCP certification course options and what they include

On 9 October 2026 the PEN-200 page listed these ways to buy the OSCP certification course:

• Single course bundle — $1,649 once: 90 days of access to one course, its labs and one exam attempt. OffSec notes the 90 days cannot be paused once started.
• Best value — $2,599 per year: one year of lab access, one course and two exam attempts.
• All access — $5,799 per year: unlimited OffSec Learning Library access and unlimited exam attempts for one year.
• Learn One — an annual subscription with one course, two exam attempts and 365 days of lab access; the PEN-200 page did not show its price.
• Large teams — priced on request.

Source: OffSec — PEN-200 course. Checked 9 October 2026.

A note on OffSec’s own price differences

OffSec’s pricing page has shown different figures from the PEN-200 page — on 8 October 2026 it listed the Course + Cert Bundle at $1,749 and Learn One at $2,749 per year. The price shown at checkout is the binding one; compare it with the access period and number of exam attempts, not with a figure on a third-party site.

Source: OffSec — Pricing. Checked 8 October 2026.

Choosing between the options

The real difference between the options is time and attempts. The 90-day bundle suits you if you already have the networking, Linux and Windows basics and can study most days; once started, the clock runs. The yearly options buy you lab time and a second attempt, which matters if you are still building foundations or have limited hours per week.

Check the exam deadline as well as the lab period. For the Course & Cert Exam Bundle, OffSec’s FAQ says the exam attempt is valid within 120 days of the end of your lab access. If you need more attempts, they can be bought via the Buy More page, subject to a cooling-off period under OffSec’s retake policy.

Source: OffSec — Course & Cert Exam Bundle FAQ. Checked 9 October 2026.

Live OSCP training and instructor-led classes

PEN-200 itself is self-paced, but live OSCP training exists in two official forms. For organisations, OffSec offers a week of in-person, instructor-led training at the customer’s location, with pricing on request. For individuals, OffSec’s training events page lists upcoming live PEN-200 sessions hosted by other organisations, virtual and in person, in several languages.

Those classes are run within OffSec’s partner programmes. OffSec’s instructor FAQ says that instructors complete the OffSec Instructor Bootcamp to teach OffSec content, that their authorisation is valid for a year, and that the instructor manages the learner licences. OffSec’s help centre also explains how to check whether it has a partner in your country.

Source: OffSec — Upcoming live training. Checked 9 October 2026.

OSCP bootcamp: what to check before you pay

An OSCP boot camp is any intensive, usually instructor-led programme aimed at the exam. We do not name or rank providers. What we can tell you is what distinguishes a useful OSCP bootcamp from an expensive one:

• Official content and labs: does the price include a PEN-200 learner licence with lab access, or only the provider’s own material?
• Exam attempt: is an OSCP exam attempt included, and how many? OffSec’s instructor FAQ does not say that partner classes include one, so ask.
• Authorisation: is the provider part of OffSec’s partner programme, and is the instructor’s authorisation current? OffSec says authorisations are valid for a year.
• Lab time after the class: the exam rewards hours of hands-on practice; a week of teaching without lab access afterwards rarely closes that gap.
• Report writing: does it practise the exam report? OffSec states that insufficient documentation means reduced or zero points.

Source: OffSec — Authorized instructor FAQ. Checked 9 October 2026.

What any OSCP training course has to prepare you for

Whatever OSCP training you choose, it has to match the exam OffSec sets: 23 hours 45 minutes against three stand-alone machines (60 points) and an Active Directory set of three machines (40 points), 70 points to pass, then 24 hours to upload your report.

The rules matter as much as the techniques. Metasploit modules and the Meterpreter payload may be used against only one target machine of your choice; spoofing, commercial tools, automatic exploitation tools and mass vulnerability scanners are not allowed; and using LLMs and AI chatbots is strictly prohibited. A course that leans on automated tooling trains habits you cannot use on exam day.

Source: OffSec — OSCP+ Exam Guide (updated 20 April 2026). Checked 9 October 2026.

OSCP certification training and Certsqill

Certsqill does not sell OSCP certification training. Its OSCP question bank has expert-developed questions that explain every answer option, as a concept check alongside the labs rather than a replacement for them.

OSCP training & courses: questions people ask

What is the official OSCP course?

PEN-200, Penetration Testing with Kali Linux, from OffSec. It is self-paced, includes a virtual lab, and every purchase option includes at least one exam attempt. Source: OffSec, checked 9 October 2026.

How much is the OSCP training course?

On 9 October 2026 the PEN-200 page listed $1,649 for 90 days with one exam attempt, $2,599 per year with two attempts, and $5,799 per year for all access with unlimited attempts. The checkout price is binding.

Is there official live OSCP training?

OffSec offers onsite instructor-led training for organisations, and its events page lists live PEN-200 sessions hosted by other organisations within its partner programmes.

Do I need an OSCP bootcamp to pass?

No. OffSec sets no formal prerequisites and PEN-200 is self-paced. A bootcamp can help with structure, but lab practice and report writing are what the exam measures.

Does an OSCP boot camp include the exam?

Not necessarily. OffSec’s instructor FAQ does not say partner classes include an exam attempt, so confirm it with the provider before paying.

How long do I have to use the exam attempt from the course bundle?

Within 120 days of the end of your lab access, according to OffSec’s Course & Cert Exam Bundle FAQ, checked 9 October 2026.