In this article, you'll discover comprehensive responses to frequently asked questions regarding certification paths, policies, retakes, and other pertinent topics, ensuring a smoother and more manageable journey toward certification success.
- OffSec Certification Paths
- OffSec's Exam Policies
- Exam Retake Protocols
- OffSec Certification Validity and Retake Options
- Additional Resources and Support
OffSec Certification Paths
Can I take a certification exam without buying or taking its corresponding training?
Currently, only the OSCP+ certification exam can be purchased without enrolling in its associated training. Starting November 1, 2024, you may purchase the Standalone OffSec Certification Exam for OSCP+, which is offered separately from the training. For additional details, please refer to this article.
How can I take the exam?
If you're new to our training programs, below are some options designed to help you achieve certification. The time commitment and certification outcomes vary, so select the one that aligns best with your goals:
- Learn One Subscription: Offers 1-year access to training and 2 exam attempts for your chosen main course.
- Course & Cert Exam Bundle: Includes 90 days of training and 1 exam attempt for a main course.
- Learn Unlimited Subscription: Grants 1-year access to all our training materials and provides unlimited exam attempts for corresponding courses (OSCP, OSDA, OSWA, OSWP, KLCP, OSWE, OSEP, OSED, OSMR, OSCC, OSTH & OSIR).
- Learn Fundamentals Subscription: Offers yearly access to all Fundamental Learning Paths and includes certification attempts for OSWP and KLCP.
- Learn Enterprise Subscription: Offers access to all learning materials, labs, Cyber Range, PG Play, and PG Practice, along with 1 KLCP and 1 OSWP exam attempts.
- CyberCore - Security Essentials: Includes 1 year access of the security essentials contents and 2 OSCC exam attempts.
- Standalone OffSec Certification Exam: Includes 2 OSCP exam attempts, both valid for 120 days from the date of purchase.
We recommend visiting our 'What's Included in Your Library FAQ' for comprehensive details on our products' inclusions. Additionally, you may find it helpful to review the overview of 'Which OffSec certifications have a digital certificate and/or badge?'.
If you're an active student with a valid exam attempt on your account, you can schedule your exam by going through the steps here. Upon successfully scheduling your exam, you will promptly receive a confirmation email containing detailed instructions on exam preparation and how to join your proctored exam.
Can I schedule my exam right away after completing the registration process?
You may schedule your exam once your course access has commenced. However, if you've enrolled in the course via the OffSec Course & Cert Exam bundle and specified a future course start date during registration, you'll need to wait until your access begins before scheduling your exam.
How can I schedule my exam?
To schedule an exam, kindly go through the steps outlined here.
How can I reschedule my exam?
- Login to your OffSec Learning platform account.
- Navigate to your Course page and click 'Exam'.
- On the exam scheduling page, view your current exam appointment details.
- Select a new date and time from available options.
- Click "Reschedule" to confirm changes.
OffSec's Exam Policies
What is the validity period for an exam attempt?
The validity of an exam attempt varies based on how the exam attempt was obtained:
- Course & Certification Exam Bundles: Exams are valid for 120 days from the end date of lab access associated with the bundle. If you purchase a lab extension while having a valid exam attempt, your exam expiry will be moved to 120 days from your new lab end date.
- Learn Subscriptions: Exam validity aligns with the subscription period.
- Independent Exam Retakes: Valid for 120 days from the date of purchase.
- Standalone OffSec Certification Exam (OSCP): Includes 2 OSCP exam attempts, both valid for 120 days from the date of purchase. Make sure to schedule with enough time in case a retake is needed before the exam expiry date. This is especially important due to the mandatory cooling-off period after an unsuccessful attempt, allowing you to use your remaining exam attempt.
- OffSec Recertification Exam (OSCP): Includes 1 exam attempt, valid for 120 days from the date of purchase. This allows OSCP certification holders to retake the exam and extend their certification's validity by 3 more years upon passing.
Can I schedule multiple exams for the same course simultaneously if I have multiple exam attempts available?
Scheduling multiple exam attempts at the same time for the same course is not possible. If you need to retry, you can schedule your next attempt after completing the first exam and receiving your results.
Can I schedule another exam attempt anytime after failing?
If you have an available exam attempt remaining, you can schedule your next exam after the results of your failed attempt are released.
If you've used all your exam attempts, you can purchase a retake and schedule once the previous attempt's results are released.
Can I schedule and take my exam included in my Learn subscription after my subscription ends?
Exam attempts within any Learn subscription remain valid only while the subscription is active. Scheduling or taking the exam after your subscription expires is not possible. Any unused exam attempts expire once the subscription ends.
Exam Retake Protocols
What is an exam retake?
OffSec’s exam retake offers learners the chance to make another attempt at an exam following an unsuccessful attempt. To retake the exam, they must have a new valid exam attempt available on their account.
Moreover, if a learner misses their scheduled proctored exam, choose not to sit for it, or experiences an exam cancellation due to failure to meet technical requirements or identity verification processes, they must acquire an independent exam retake if they no longer possess a valid exam attempt before rescheduling and taking the exam. Please note that canceled exam attempts do not affect the cooling-off period.
Learners who enrolled in the course via the Course & Cert Exam bundle or the Learn One subscription are eligible to purchase an independent exam retake if they exhaust their exam attempts or if they fail to schedule their exam before the attempts expire.
What are the rules for retaking exams?
OffSec allows learners to schedule and reattempt certification exams based on specific products and cooling-off periods. New exam retakes are valid for 120 days from the purchase date. Should a learner purchase an exam retake while still being in their cooling off period, the exam retake will be valid for 120 days from the cooling off end date. The cooling off period details vary depending on the product. For additional information, kindly refer to What is the Exam Retake Policy? page.
Can I purchase an exam retake if I am subscribed to the Learn Unlimited, Learn One, CyberCore or a Course & Cert Exam Bundle?
- With the Course & Cert exam bundle, you can purchase an exam retake if you fail or your initial exam attempt expires.
- With the Learn One subscription, you have the flexibility to purchase an exam retake for your chosen primary course, in case you fail and have used up all the included exam attempts or if your exam attempts expire.
- With the Learn Unlimited subscription, regrettably, purchasing an exam retake is not possible once your subscription expires. While your Learn Unlimited subscription is active, you enjoy unlimited exam attempts until certification success or until the subscription period ends.
- With CyberCore, you can purchase an exam retake in case you fail and have used up all the included exam attempts or if your exam attempts expire.
Can I buy an exam retake after my course bundle or subscription ends?
For the Course & Cert exam bundle, you can purchase an exam retake in case of failure or if your initial exam attempt expires.
With the Learn One subscription, you can acquire an exam retake for your selected primary course if you fail and exhaust all included exam attempts.
However, with the Learn Unlimited subscription, purchasing an exam retake is not possible after subscription expiration. While your Learn Unlimited subscription is active, you have the advantage of unlimited exam attempts until you pass the certification exam or until your subscription ends.
For CyberCore, you can purchase an exam retake in case you fail and have used up all the included exam attempts or if your exam attempts expire.
How do I purchase a new certification attempt?
If you're studying in the Learning Library, additional exam attempts can be purchased via the "Buy More" option. Exam retakes for specific courses have different cooling-off periods before they can be attempted again.
If you want to purchase an exam retake for OSEE, please submit a request and we will be glad to assist.
Is there a limit on the number of exam attempts?
There is currently no limit on the number of times a learner can attempt a certification exam before passing.
OffSec Certification Validity and Retake Options
What is the validity period for OffSec certifications?
OffSec certifications, with the exception of the OSCC certification, do not have an expiration date. Once you earn an OffSec certification, it remains valid indefinitely.
As an existing OffSec certification holder, am I eligible to retake the exam?
While OffSec certifications do not typically require recertification, individuals may be permitted to retake the exam for certification equivalency purposes, such as with organizations like CREST. If you require a retake for equivalency, please submit a request, and our support team will assist you accordingly.
Additional Resources and Support
What other information I need to know about OffSec certification exams?
For additional information about OffSec certification exams, kindly refer to the following FAQs:
- OSCP Exam FAQ
- OSDA Exam FAQ
- OSWA Exam FAQ
- OSED Exam FAQ
- OSWE Exam FAQ
- OSEP Exam FAQ
- OSMR Exam FAQ
- OSCC Exam FAQ
- Exams: Scheduling, Expiry, Rules and Recommendations
Still have questions?
Please submit a request and our support team will gladly assist, or you may also try asking OSCAR (OffSec Support Chatbot Assistance Resource), it is an AI-powered chatbot here to provide you with quick and efficient support for your general inquiries related to OffSec services and offerings.