CRTP Study Plan

The most popular beginner-friendly on-ramp into AD attacks. A free, day-by-day CRTP schedule built from the official Attacking and Defending Active Directory syllabus, scaled to your exam date and weekly hours.

Approx. cost: $249–$499
Difficulty: ♥♥♥♥♥
Study time: about 124h
Start level: Junior

▶ Build my CRTP plan

> How long does CRTP take?

The plan assumes about 124 study hours. Here is how that stretches across different weekly schedules.

Hours per week	Time to finish
5 hours	about 25 weeks (5.8 months)
10 hours	about 13 weeks (3.0 months)
15 hours	about 9 weeks (2.1 months)
20 hours	about 7 weeks (1.6 months)
30 hours	about 5 weeks (1.2 months)

> CRTP exam format

Altered Security · Attacking and Defending Active Directory

24-hour hands-on exam + 48h to submit a report
A foothold machine plus 5 target servers across multiple domains/forests
Goal: OS-level command execution on every target
Fully patched Server 2022 environment; wins come from feature abuse, not exploits
Certification valid 3 years, with a free renewal exam

Official CRTP page ↗

> CRTP 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.

Enumeration & Tradecraft

Map the domain and learn to operate without tripping Defender.

Active Directory Enumeration8h · learn
Offensive PowerShell Tradecraft6h · learn
Offensive .NET Tradecraft6h · learn

Escalation

From a normal user to Domain Admin.

Local Privilege Escalation6h · learn
Domain Privilege Escalation10h · learn

Domination & Cross-Trust

Stay in control and reach across trust boundaries.

Domain Persistence and Dominance8h · learn
Cross Trust Attacks6h · learn
Abusing AD CS6h · learn

Defenses & Detection

Know what the blue team sees, so you can stay under it.

Defenses and Bypass: MDE EDR6h · learn
Defenses and Bypass: MDI5h · learn
Architecture & Work Culture Hardening3h · learn
Defenses: Monitoring3h · learn
Defenses and Bypass: Deception4h · learn

Range Time

Rehearse the whole chain on a fresh domain.

Redo the lab domain from memory16h · lab
Extra practice on a GOAD-style range16h · lab

Final Boss Prep

A cheat sheet and a full-length dry run.

Build an AD attack-path cheat sheet5h · review
24-hour mock exam dry run10h · review

> Where to practise for CRTP

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

GOAD: build your own multi-forest AD lab (GitHub)
Pro Labs (enterprise-style networks) (Hack The Box)
Red Teaming path (TryHackMe)

> CRTP 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 feature-abuse attack paths: the exam environment is fully patched
Complete a full-length timed practice run (24 hours if you can) 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
Stop new attacks with enough time left to verify your evidence

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

Hour 0 to 0:30. Connect, confirm the VPN, read the brief and set up your notes.
Hour 0:30 to 2. Enumerate everything first. Rank targets by points and how promising they look.
Through the day. Work in blocks of about 90 minutes with a 10-minute break after each. Time-box each target and rotate when stuck.
Meals. Eat real meals away from your desk roughly every 5 to 6 hours.
Around hour 12. Decide on a sleep window of 4 to 6 hours. A rested brain spots what a tired one misses.
Last 3 hours. Stop new attacks unless you are very close. Verify proof, collect screenshots and outline the report.
After the hands-on part. Write the report in one focused block, proofread, and submit with a buffer before the deadline.

▶ Open the interactive CRTP 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 CRTP with PWN PATH

No CRTP 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 CRTP?

PWN PATH builds the CRTP plan on about 124 study hours. At 10 hours a week that is roughly 13 weeks, and at 20 hours a week roughly 7 weeks. Your own timeline depends on how much of the material you already know.

What is the CRTP exam like?

24-hour hands-on exam + 48h to submit a report. A foothold machine plus 5 target servers across multiple domains/forests. Goal: OS-level command execution on every target. Fully patched Server 2022 environment; wins come from feature abuse, not exploits. Certification valid 3 years, with a free renewal exam.

How hard is CRTP?

We rate CRTP 2 out of 5. It suits anyone who wants to learn Active Directory attacks and defences without a huge budget. Basic pentest knowledge and comfort with Windows and PowerShell.

How much does CRTP cost?

Priced by lab length: about $249 for 1 month, $379 for 2 and $499 for 3. Exam attempt included. 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 CRTP?

Start with the "Enumeration & Tradecraft" phase: Active Directory Enumeration, Offensive PowerShell Tradecraft, Offensive .NET Tradecraft. The planner puts topics in a sensible order and scales the hours to the time you have.

What are the prerequisites for CRTP?

Basic pentest knowledge and comfort with Windows and PowerShell.

What should I do the week before the CRTP 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 CRTP exam?

Hour 0 to 0:30: Connect, confirm the VPN, read the brief and set up your notes. Hour 0:30 to 2: Enumerate everything first. Rank targets by points and how promising they look. Through the day: Work in blocks of about 90 minutes with a 10-minute break after each. Time-box each target and rotate when stuck. Meals: Eat real meals away from your desk roughly every 5 to 6 hours.

What should I take after CRTP?

Common next steps are CRTE, CRTO, CAPE, OSEP. 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

Good stepping stones before CRTP:

Where it leads: