eJPT Study Plan

Your first practical pentesting badge. A free, day-by-day eJPT schedule built from the official INE Penetration Testing Student (PTS) syllabus, scaled to your exam date and weekly hours.

Approx. cost
$249–$299
Difficulty
♥♥♥♥♥
Study time
about 84h
Start level
Beginner

▶ Build my eJPT plan

> How long does eJPT take?

The plan assumes about 84 study hours. Here is how that stretches across different weekly schedules.

Hours per weekTime to finish
5 hoursabout 17 weeks (3.9 months)
10 hoursabout 9 weeks (2.1 months)
15 hoursabout 6 weeks (1.4 months)
20 hoursabout 5 weeks (1.2 months)
30 hoursabout 3 weeks (0.7 months)

> eJPT exam format

INE Security · INE Penetration Testing Student (PTS)

  • 48-hour exam window, auto-graded
  • Mix of multiple-choice questions and hands-on lab objectives
  • Covers assessment methodology, host/network auditing, pentesting & web testing
  • 70% passing score required
  • Valid 3 years; one free retake included

Official eJPT page ↗

> eJPT 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.

Fundamentals

Networking and command-line basics before the exam domains.

  • Networking & TCP/IP refresher6h · learn
  • Linux & Windows command line basics6h · learn

Assessment Methodologies

25% of the exam: how to approach a target before exploiting it.

  • Assessment Methodologies10h · learn

Host & Network Auditing

25% of the exam: what you can learn once you have access.

  • Host & Network Auditing10h · learn

Host & Network Penetration Testing

35% of the exam: the biggest single domain.

  • Exploitation with Metasploit8h · learn
  • Pivoting & Password Attacks8h · learn

Web Application Penetration Testing

15% of the exam: the web side of the house.

  • Web Application Penetration Testing6h · learn

Training Grounds

Rep the fundamentals until they click.

  • Work INE's PTS labs end to end10h · lab
  • Beginner boxes on TryHackMe / HTB10h · lab

Final Boss Prep

A short, sharp review before the exam window opens.

  • Review Metasploit workflow & notes template4h · review
  • Timed practice exam6h · review

> Where to practise for eJPT

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

> eJPT 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
  • Plan your 48-hour window: start when you can work in focused blocks
  • Practice answering questions from your own lab findings
  • Complete a full-length timed practice run (48 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

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 access to the exam platform and check any browser or device requirements
  • 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
  • Stop new attacks with enough time left to verify your evidence

Finishing

  • Review how your results are submitted or scored so nothing is missed before you close the lab

Suggested exam-day rhythm

  • Hour 0 to 1. Connect, confirm the VPN, read the brief, set up your notes and plan the first day.
  • Day 1. Enumerate everything, then go after the most promising targets in 90-minute blocks with short breaks.
  • 1 sleep window. Plan 6 or more hours each night. Write down where you stopped and your next three ideas before you sleep.
  • Meals and movement. Eat proper meals away from the desk and walk outside at least once a day.
  • Last 5 hours. Stop new attacks, verify evidence and outline the report while everything is fresh.
  • After the hands-on part. Confirm your submission or score is recorded.

▶ Open the interactive eJPT 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 eJPT with PWN PATH

No eJPT 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 eJPT?

PWN PATH builds the eJPT plan on about 84 study hours. At 10 hours a week that is roughly 9 weeks, and at 20 hours a week roughly 5 weeks. Your own timeline depends on how much of the material you already know.

What is the eJPT exam like?

48-hour exam window, auto-graded. Mix of multiple-choice questions and hands-on lab objectives. Covers assessment methodology, host/network auditing, pentesting & web testing. 70% passing score required. Valid 3 years; one free retake included.

How hard is eJPT?

We rate eJPT 1 out of 5. It suits complete beginners who want a structured, low-risk first hands-on cert. None. Basic networking and Linux help.

How much does eJPT cost?

Exam voucher is about $249 with a free retake; INE’s annual subscription is about $299 and includes the training. 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 eJPT?

Start with the "Fundamentals" phase: Networking & TCP/IP refresher, Linux & Windows command line basics. The planner puts topics in a sensible order and scales the hours to the time you have.

What are the prerequisites for eJPT?

None. Basic networking and Linux help.

What should I do the week before the eJPT exam?

Re-read the official exam guide for rules and banned tools, test your machine, network and exam platform access, 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 eJPT exam?

Hour 0 to 1: Connect, confirm the VPN, read the brief, set up your notes and plan the first day. Day 1: Enumerate everything, then go after the most promising targets in 90-minute blocks with short breaks. 1 sleep window: Plan 6 or more hours each night. Write down where you stopped and your next three ideas before you sleep. Meals and movement: Eat proper meals away from the desk and walk outside at least once a day.

What should I take after eJPT?

Common next steps are PNPT, eCPPT, 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:

PNPTeCPPTCPTSOSCP+

More in network pentesting:

CPTAPNPTeCPPTCPTSOSCP+

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