CPENT AI: Exam Format, Eligibility, Syllabus and Cost

CPENT AI is EC-Council's advanced penetration testing certification, and its exam is entirely hands-on. Nobody answers multiple-choice questions: you attack live networks under the clock and then write a report. These are the details people ask first. They come from EC-Council's CPENT AI page, read on November 5, 2026. EC-Council changes its rules and fees, so confirm current terms before you register.

What CPENT AI Is

EC-Council describes CPENT AI as a guided penetration testing program that combines teaching with practice ranges, covering scoping, testing and reporting from small networks up to enterprise environments. It lists more than 110 labs, more than 50 tools, live cyber ranges and CTF challenges, with AI techniques added to each phase of a test. It is also explicit that CPENT is not for beginners.

Exam Format

• 100% practical and proctored. You take it online, remotely, on multi-disciplinary network ranges.
• Two ways to sit it. Either two sessions of 12 hours each or one 24-hour exam.
• A report on top. You must submit a penetration testing report within seven days of the final session.

The report matters as much as the hacking. A successful attack you cannot explain clearly earns little. Our report-writing guide shows what a good one contains.

Scoring, and a Detail to Check

EC-Council's page says in one place that you must score at least 70% to earn CPENT, and in its FAQ that the pass score varies by exam form, between 60% and 85%, with a score of 90% or more earning CPENT + LPT (Master). The two statements do not match exactly, so ask EC-Council or your training provider which cut score applies to your exam form before you plan around a number.

Who Can Take It

EC-Council says anyone with at least two years of information security experience, or the CEH certification, or similar knowledge is eligible to apply. It also says there are no predefined eligibility criteria for attending the exam alongside the course, but you need a basic understanding of cybersecurity domains and techniques. In practice, a fresher without hands-on lab hours will struggle. Build the foundation first; our CEH vs CPENT AI guide suggests an order.

The 14 Modules

• 1. Introduction to Penetration Testing and Methodologies
• 2. Penetration Testing Scoping and Engagement
• 3. Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT)
• 4. Social Engineering Penetration Testing
• 5. Web Application Penetration Testing
• 6. API and JSON Web Token Penetration Testing
• 7. Perimeter Defense Evasion Techniques
• 8. Windows Exploitation and Privilege Escalation
• 9. Active Directory Penetration Testing
• 10. Linux Exploitation and Privilege Escalation
• 11. Reverse Engineering, Fuzzing and Binary Exploitation
• 12. Lateral Movement and Pivoting
• 13. IoT Penetration Testing
• 14. Report Writing and Post-Testing Actions

EC-Council also lists self-study modules, including the Metasploit Framework, scripting in PowerShell, Bash and Python, wireless, OT and SCADA, cloud, database and mobile testing.

What Makes the Exam Different

EC-Council stresses that CPENT makes you pivot across separate networks, get past filtering devices and, in its description, double pivot. If those words are new, read our pivoting guide first. Most students find that moving between network segments, not the first exploit, is where time disappears.

Validity, Delivery and Cost

EC-Council states that the certification is valid for one year from the date you obtain it and is maintained under its continuing education policy; check cert.eccouncil.org for the current rules. Training comes as self-study (iLearn), live online (iWeek) or in person through a training partner, and EC-Council says the price varies by delivery method. Our CPENT AI fee is ₹45,000 + 18% GST (₹53,100 in total). Each EC-Council certification fee includes one exam attempt. Remote proctoring charges, if any, are confirmed in writing. Everything else, including the exam table, is on the CPENT AI page.