COAE Study Plan

Red team AI systems, co-developed with Google. A free, day-by-day COAE schedule built from the official HTB Academy: AI Red Teamer Job Role Path syllabus, scaled to your exam date and weekly hours.

Approx. cost
$490–$1,400
Difficulty
♥♥♥♥♥
Study time
about 179h
Start level
Intermediate

▶ Build my COAE plan

> How long does COAE take?

The plan assumes about 179 study hours. Here is how that stretches across different weekly schedules.

Hours per weekTime to finish
5 hoursabout 36 weeks (8.3 months)
10 hoursabout 18 weeks (4.2 months)
15 hoursabout 12 weeks (2.8 months)
20 hoursabout 9 weeks (2.1 months)
30 hoursabout 6 weeks (1.4 months)

> COAE exam format

Hack The Box · HTB Academy: AI Red Teamer Job Role Path

  • Hands-on AI red-team assessment against realistic ML/LLM-integrated infrastructure
  • Must complete 100% of the AI Red Teamer job-role path first
  • No multiple-choice questions; a letter of engagement sets the scope
  • Commercial-grade report with remediation required to pass
  • Curriculum co-developed with Google, mapped to the OWASP ML/LLM/Agentic Top 10

Official COAE page ↗

> COAE syllabus and study hours

Every topic in the plan, in order, with its baseline hours. The planner shrinks or stretches these to fit your dates.

AI Foundations

The theory and applied ML groundwork before any attacks.

  • Fundamentals of AI13h · learn
  • Applications of AI in InfoSec14h · learn
  • Introduction to Red Teaming AI6h · learn

Attacking AI Systems

Prompt-level, output-level, and data-level attacks on AI applications.

  • Prompt Injection Attacks7h · learn
  • LLM Output Attacks8h · learn
  • AI Data Attacks14h · learn
  • Attacking AI - Application and System8h · learn

Evasion, Privacy & Defense

Inference-time evasion, privacy attacks, and how to defend against both.

  • AI Evasion - Foundations7h · learn
  • AI Evasion - First-Order Attacks13h · learn
  • AI Evasion - Sparsity Attacks15h · learn
  • AI Privacy12h · learn
  • AI Defense12h · learn

Training Grounds

Rep the techniques against fresh model deployments.

  • Redo every module lab from memory16h · lab
  • Extra practice: PortSwigger LLM labs & AI CTFs14h · lab

Final Boss Prep

Methodology, reporting, and a full dry run.

  • Build an AI red team methodology checklist6h · review
  • Report template & findings library4h · review
  • Mock engagement against a fresh target10h · review

> Where to practise for COAE

Each task in your plan lists practice labs for its own topic. These are the best places to put in extra hands-on hours:

> COAE exam-day checklist

General logistics for exam week. The official exam guide always takes priority if it differs.

One to two weeks before

  • Schedule your exam and add the start time, time zone and deadline to your calendar
  • Read the official exam guide end to end: rules, allowed and banned tools, and what counts as proof
  • Have your AI red-team methodology checklist and findings library ready
  • Complete a full-length timed practice run on your exam setup
  • Finalize your note-taking setup and templates (see the notes starter below)
  • Build and review your cheat sheets and command references
  • Arrange time off, tell people you will be unavailable, and plan your meals ahead

Machine and network

  • Charge and test a backup device or phone hotspot, and know how to contact support if your connection drops
  • Plug in your laptop and turn off sleep, updates and notifications for the exam
  • Test the VPN or lab connection early and know how to reconnect after a drop
  • Update your attack VM, take a clean snapshot and keep a spare
  • Install and test every tool you plan to use, and check none of them are banned
  • Test your screenshot hotkeys and make sure you have plenty of free disk space

During the exam

  • Sleep well the night before, and skip last-minute cramming
  • Prepare food and water, and set timers for break reminders
  • Read the brief and scope carefully before you touch anything
  • Write notes and capture proof as you go, not at the end
  • Time-box each target and move on when stuck. You can come back later

Report and submission

  • Copy your report template and fill in the easy parts (scope, methodology) while you work
  • Check every finding has reproducible steps and screenshots
  • Proofread: could someone else follow each step?
  • Export in the exact format and naming the exam guide requires
  • Submit with a buffer before the deadline and confirm it was received

Suggested exam-day rhythm

  • Before you start. Check how long the exam window is and work backwards from the deadline.
  • Daily. Fixed working blocks of about 90 minutes, a 10-minute break after each, and a proper stop at night.
  • Each day. Update notes, list your next ideas and back up your evidence.
  • Near the end. Stop new attacks early enough to verify findings and write the report.
  • Submission. Submit with a buffer before the deadline and confirm it was received.

▶ Open the interactive COAE exam kit

The kit lets you tick items off, download a notes starter and report template, and see a readiness score from your plan progress.

> Passed COAE with PWN PATH

No COAE debriefs yet

Passed a cert? A short debrief helps the next learner plan their own run, and it only takes a couple of minutes.

▶ Share my debrief

Debriefs are self-reported. See all pass stories.

> Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to prepare for COAE?

PWN PATH builds the COAE plan on about 179 study hours. At 10 hours a week that is roughly 18 weeks, and at 20 hours a week roughly 9 weeks. Your own timeline depends on how much of the material you already know.

What is the COAE exam like?

Hands-on AI red-team assessment against realistic ML/LLM-integrated infrastructure. Must complete 100% of the AI Red Teamer job-role path first. No multiple-choice questions; a letter of engagement sets the scope. Commercial-grade report with remediation required to pass. Curriculum co-developed with Google, mapped to the OWASP ML/LLM/Agentic Top 10.

How hard is COAE?

We rate COAE 4 out of 5. It suits people who want a structured AI red-teaming path mapped to the OWASP LLM and ML lists. Basic pentest and Python skills. Must finish the whole job-role path.

How much does COAE cost?

HTB Academy subscription plus a $210 exam voucher. Silver Annual is about $490–550 with a voucher included; some advanced paths need Gold. Prices are approximate, in US dollars unless a currency is shown, and change often. Confirm with the vendor before you buy.

What should I study first for COAE?

Start with the "AI Foundations" phase: Fundamentals of AI, Applications of AI in InfoSec, Introduction to Red Teaming AI. The planner puts topics in a sensible order and scales the hours to the time you have.

What are the prerequisites for COAE?

Basic pentest and Python skills. Must finish the whole job-role path.

What should I do the week before the COAE exam?

Re-read the official exam guide for rules and banned tools, test your machine, network and VPN or lab connection, finish a full timed practice run, finalize your notes and cheat sheets, and plan your meals, breaks and sleep. The exam-day checklist on this page covers it step by step.

How should I handle breaks and sleep during the COAE exam?

Before you start: Check how long the exam window is and work backwards from the deadline. Daily: Fixed working blocks of about 90 minutes, a 10-minute break after each, and a proper stop at night. Each day: Update notes, list your next ideas and back up your evidence. Near the end: Stop new attacks early enough to verify findings and write the report.

What should I take after COAE?

COAE is one of the furthest steps in its track. The roadmap shows related certs in other tracks.

Is the PWN PATH study planner free?

Yes. There are no accounts and no sign-up. Your plan and progress are saved in your browser, and you can export a backup file, add the schedule to your calendar or print it.

> Plan your path

Good stepping stones before COAE:

CWES

More in ai red teaming:

OSAI+

Not sure COAE is right for you? Take the one-minute cert quiz.