CPTA Study Plan

A junior-to-intermediate on-ramp spanning AD, web and AWS in one course. A free, day-by-day CPTA schedule built from the official CPTA Certification Course syllabus, scaled to your exam date and weekly hours.

Approx. cost: £399
Difficulty: ♥♥♥♥♥
Study time: about 118h
Start level: Beginner

▶ Build my CPTA plan

> How long does CPTA take?

The plan assumes about 118 study hours. Here is how that stretches across different weekly schedules.

Hours per week	Time to finish
5 hours	about 24 weeks (5.5 months)
10 hours	about 12 weeks (2.8 months)
15 hours	about 8 weeks (1.8 months)
20 hours	about 6 weeks (1.4 months)
30 hours	about 4 weeks (0.9 months)

> CPTA exam format

Centri · CPTA Certification Course

Three-part practical exam, no multiple-choice questions
One free resit included with the course
Score 90%+ on your first attempt for the gold challenge coin; pass for silver
No formal entry requirements, though completing every lab first is strongly recommended
4 months of on-demand course access from your start date

Official CPTA page ↗

> CPTA 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.

Foundations

Networking, OS and scripting basics before the pentest content starts.

Introduction to Penetration Testing3h · learn
Networking Essentials4h · learn
Linux Essentials4h · learn
Windows Essentials4h · learn
Python Essentials4h · learn
Introduction to Databases3h · learn

Methodology & Recon

How to approach a target before exploiting it.

Penetration Testing Process3h · learn
Network Discovery4h · learn
Vulnerability Assessment4h · learn
Password Attacks4h · learn

Exploitation & Post-Exploitation

From a foothold to full control on Linux and Windows.

Exploitation Essentials5h · learn
File Transfer & Data Movement2h · learn
Linux Privilege Escalation4h · learn
Windows Privilege Escalation5h · learn
Lateral Movement Essentials4h · learn

Active Directory

Enumerate, attack and persist inside a domain.

Introduction to Active Directory4h · learn
Introduction to Active Directory Attacks5h · learn
Persistence Essentials3h · learn

Web & Cloud

Web application testing and AWS exploitation.

Web Application Essentials4h · learn
Introduction to Web Application Attacks4h · learn
AWS Essentials3h · learn
Introduction to AWS Penetration Testing4h · learn

Red Team Primer

A first look beyond single-engagement pentesting.

Introduction to Command & Control (C2) & Red Teaming3h · learn

Practice Labs & Exam Prep

The course's own 60+ hands-on labs, worked end to end.

60+ hands-on labs across every domain20h · lab

Final Boss Prep

Pull it all together before the three-part practical exam.

Build a cross-domain methodology checklist5h · review
Timed practice run across all three exam parts6h · review

> Where to practise for CPTA

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

Junior Penetration Tester path (TryHackMe)
Starting Point (guided beginner machines) (Hack The Box)
Downloadable vulnerable VMs (VulnHub)

> CPTA 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
Practise all three exam parts, not just your strongest
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
Confirm whether the exam is proctored and what ID, camera or screen sharing you need

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

Proctoring and room (if required)

Test your webcam, microphone and screen sharing on the proctoring platform
Clear your desk and room as the rules require, and tell housemates not to interrupt
Confirm what is allowed at your desk (second monitor, phone, notes, paper) and follow it exactly
Learn the rules for breaks and for leaving the camera view
Have your ID ready and know the check-in steps

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 (if required)

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 CPTA 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 CPTA with PWN PATH

No CPTA 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.

> Recent CPTA changes

Sep 30, 2026 Data CPTA, eCPPT: Added exam pricing for CPTA (£399) and eCPPT ($599)

Full changelog

> Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to prepare for CPTA?

PWN PATH builds the CPTA plan on about 118 study hours. At 10 hours a week that is roughly 12 weeks, and at 20 hours a week roughly 6 weeks. Your own timeline depends on how much of the material you already know.

What is the CPTA exam like?

Three-part practical exam, no multiple-choice questions. One free resit included with the course. Score 90%+ on your first attempt for the gold challenge coin; pass for silver. No formal entry requirements, though completing every lab first is strongly recommended. 4 months of on-demand course access from your start date.

How hard is CPTA?

We rate CPTA 2 out of 5. It suits beginners who like a broad, guided course covering Linux, AD, web and cloud basics. None.

How much does CPTA cost?

Sold as a course with a bundled exam and resit. Price is in GBP; check Centri for current pricing. 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 CPTA?

Start with the "Foundations" phase: Introduction to Penetration Testing, Networking Essentials, Linux Essentials. The planner puts topics in a sensible order and scales the hours to the time you have.

What are the prerequisites for CPTA?

None.

What should I do the week before the CPTA 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 CPTA 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 CPTA?

Common next steps are PNPT, CPTS, OSCP+. See the roadmap to compare them.

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

Where it leads: