eJPT Certification: The Ultimate 2025 Guide to Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing

What Is the eJPT Certification?

The eJPT (eLearnSecurity Junior Penetration Tester) is an entry-level, hands-on certification designed to validate core offensive security skills. It’s issued by INE Security (the successor to eLearnSecurity), and emphasizes practical ability over theory. You complete the exam in a browser-based lab environment that simulates the actual tasks a junior pentester handles on the job. Credentials are blockchain-verifiable, so employers can confirm authenticity quickly. Sources: INE certification info page; credential verification examples.

What you’re signaling with eJPT:

• You can scope and run basic recon and enumeration.

• You can identify and exploit common weaknesses across hosts, networks, and basic web apps.

• You can pivot and transfer files in a controlled lab environment.

• You can tie your technical findings to evidence-driven answers.

Actionable takeaway:

• If your goal is to get into offensive security without being overwhelmed, eJPT puts you on a structured path with practical outcomes.

Why eJPT Is a Strong First Offensive Cert

Several features make eJPT stand out for students and early-career learners:

• It’s open-book and practical. You’ll perform hands-on tasks and answer questions based on your own findings. You get a generous time window to complete the exam.

• Objectives and weightings are published, so you know exactly what to study (no guesswork).

• Results are auto-graded, usually available within hours of submission, so you aren’t stuck waiting weeks.

• It ties directly to INE’s Penetration Testing Student (PTS) learning path, which mirrors exam skills and includes guided labs.

Actionable takeaway:

• Skim the official exam objectives before you begin. Use them as your personal syllabus and checklist.

Eligibility and Prerequisites

• Formal prerequisites: There are none. eJPT is designed for beginners with fundamental knowledge of networking and operating systems. [1]

• Access requirement: As of 2025, you need two things to take the exam—an active INE subscription and an eJPT exam voucher.

Helpful baseline skills:

• Networking basics (IP addressing, subnets, TCP/UDP, common services like HTTP, SMB, SSH, RDP).

• Linux and Windows fundamentals (users/groups, services, permissions, logs).

• Comfort with the command line and simple scripting is useful but not mandatory.

Actionable takeaway:

• If you’re brand new, start with an introductory networking and Linux/Windows module in INE’s PTS path before diving into exploitation labs.

Exam Structure and Content

The eJPT exam is built to assess practical ability and methodical thinking.

• Format: A combination of hands-on lab activities and multiple-choice questions tied to your lab findings. It is open-book. You have 48 hours to complete the certification challenge, giving you time to investigate, test, and verify. [3]

• Delivery: Entirely browser-based with modern infrastructure. Each candidate’s lab includes dynamic and static flags to make the experience unique and prevent overfitting to write-ups.

• Domains and weightings (know these cold):

  • Host and Network Penetration Testing – 35% (exploitation, Metasploit basics, pivoting, password attacks/hash cracking)

  • Assessment Methodologies – 25% (recon, scanning, OS and service identification, OSINT, vulnerability identification)

  • Host and Networking Auditing – 25% (enumerating system/network/user details, credential artifacts, file transfers)

  • Web Application Penetration Testing – 15% (recon, discovery of hidden files/dirs, brute-forcing, common web vulnerabilities)

• Scoring and results: Auto-graded with results typically delivered within hours. The certification is valid for three years.

Actionable takeaway:

• Map your notes and practice labs to these four domains. Track your confidence by domain and fix gaps before scheduling.

Costs, Vouchers, and Policies (As of 2025)

INE frequently offers two main ways to access the exam and training:

• eJPT + 3 months of INE Fundamentals: $249; includes the exam voucher. This plan typically auto-renews quarterly after the promo period unless you cancel.

• INE Fundamentals Annual: $299/year; includes the exam voucher and broader beginner-friendly content.

Policies you should know:

• Subscription requirement: You must hold an active INE subscription and have an eJPT exam voucher to attempt the exam.

• Voucher validity: Vouchers are valid for 180 days from purchase.

• Retake: Each voucher includes one free retake if you fail your first attempt. You must use the retake within 14 days and before the voucher expires.

Actionable takeaway:

• Set a target exam date soon after you buy the voucher. Work backward to plan your study timeline within the 180-day validity and keep a buffer in case you need the retake.

Study Roadmap: An 8–12 Week Plan That Works

Here’s a flexible plan you can adapt based on your schedule and experience. Keep your sessions short and focused (60–120 minutes) to preserve energy and retention.

Weeks 1–2: Foundations and Setup

• Networking refresh: IP addressing, subnets, TCP vs UDP, common ports/services.

• Linux/Windows basics: process and service management, users/groups, permissions, logs.

• Set up your note-taking system and evidence capture workflow (screenshots, terminal outputs).

• Start the PTS path at INE to align with exam objectives.

Weeks 3–4: Recon and Enumeration

• Tools: Nmap (SYN scans, service/version detection, scripts), netcat, enum/share tools, dirb/ffuf for content discovery.

• Build a “recon playbook” with annotated command lines, switches, and “what good looks like.”

• Practice correlating findings to potential exploits and MCQs (think: “What evidence would prove this?”).

Weeks 5–6: Exploitation Essentials

• Service-based exploitation: SMB/RDP/SSH/web basics; vulnerability triage (CVEs, exploit-db).

• Frameworks: Metasploit fundamentals (auxiliary vs exploit modules, meterpreter basics).

• Credentials and hashes: Brute-forcing/hybrid cracking (Hydra/Hashcat basics), pass-the-hash concepts.

• First timed mock: 6–8 hours. Practice pacing and decision-making.

Weeks 7–8: Post-Exploitation and Pivoting

• File transfers (certutil/powershell/curl/wget), persistence basics (within scope), data collection.

• Pivoting and routing: socks proxies, SSH tunnels, port forwards.

• Basic web exploitation: auth bypass patterns, misconfigurations, entry-level injection and brute forcing.

• Second timed mock: 6–8 hours. Validate your end-to-end process.

Weeks 9–10: Objective-by-Objective Review

• Use the official weights to focus your effort: 35% host/network exploitation, 25% methodologies, 25% auditing, 15% web.

• Identify weak areas; redo labs specifically targeting those skills.

• Finalize your “evidence kit”: commands + expected outputs + screenshots per task category.

Weeks 11–12: Taper, Schedule, and Prep

• Light review of common pitfalls (missed services, default creds, forgotten enumeration steps).

• Schedule the exam at a time that gives you two calm days. Create a sleep and break plan.

• Pre-exam checklist: internet/backups, stable power, time-zone verified, voucher active, notes/playbooks accessible.

Actionable takeaway:

• Treat your playbook like a pilot’s checklist. It keeps you consistent under stress and helps you collect the right evidence to answer MCQs accurately.

Exam-Day Strategy: How to Use Your 48 Hours Well

• Start with fast recon: Map the environment to identify high-signal targets. Tag hosts/services as “enumerate,” “exploit,” or “revisit.”

• Log everything: Maintain a time-stamped findings file. For every host, list services, versions, suspected vulns, and exploits tested.

• Move in loops: Enumerate → exploit → post-exploit → evidence capture → back to recon. Don’t over-tunnel on a single rabbit hole.

• Capture evidence as you go: Save key outputs and screenshots. MCQs will ask about your actual findings, so evidence trims guesswork.

• Breaks and pacing: Schedule short breaks every 90 minutes; plan two longer breaks per 8–10 hours. Sleep at least 5–6 hours if possible to reduce mistakes.

Actionable takeaway:

• Answer MCQs last on each host after you’ve gathered evidence. This reduces second-guessing and rework.

What You’ll Actually Be Able to Do After eJPT

The eJPT maps to real junior responsibilities:

• Conduct structured recon and enumeration to find live hosts/services and probable weaknesses.

• Exploit common service/web issues; perform basic password and hash attacks lawfully in-scope.

• Pivot through a network and move files to support post-exploitation tasks.

• Document evidence clearly and tie it to findings—skills that translate directly into client reporting.

Actionable takeaway:

• Create a sanitized sample report from your practice labs. Hiring managers love to see how you communicate risk and evidence.

Career Value and ROI

Employer signals and job posts

• Employers in multiple regions list eJPT as a preferred or acceptable credential for junior pentesting roles. One example is EY’s pentester listing in Colombia. Recognition varies by region and employer maturity, but real postings referencing eJPT continue to appear.

Compensation context (U.S.)

• Salary.com’s junior pentester data points to an average around the high-$60Ks with an interquartile range roughly in the $59K–$74K space, but location and experience can swing this significantly.

• Considering a total outlay under $300, the ROI is strong if eJPT helps you secure an entry role faster or supports a pay bump.

How to boost your marketability

• Pair eJPT with Security+ (broad fundamentals) or a networking cert.

• Build a small portfolio: sanitized lab notes, a few solved boxes, and a brief “what I learned” write-up.

• Network in local security groups and online communities; volunteer for safe, legal CTFs and beginner red-team exercises.

Actionable takeaway:

• Add your blockchain-verifiable eJPT credential link to your resume and LinkedIn for easy employer verification. [2]

eJPT v2 vs Older Info You’ll See Online

• eJPTv2 is the current exam. It modernized objectives and infrastructure and introduced dynamic/static flags per candidate.

• Old posts about eJPT v1 (e.g., different time limits or pricing) are outdated. Always cross-check details against current INE pages.

Actionable takeaway:

• If you read a blog or forum thread about eJPT, compare its details to the official objectives and policy pages before relying on them.

Renewal and Keeping Skills Sharp

• Validity: 3 years from date of issue.

• Renewal options: INE runs a certification renewal program with options such as earning CPEs or achieving more advanced INE certifications; check current fees and requirements when your renewal window opens.

Keeping momentum post-exam

• Continue with targeted labs (privilege escalation, AD basics, web fundamentals).

• Consider an intermediate challenge or start preparing for a more advanced cert once you’ve gained comfort and context on the job.

Actionable takeaway:

• Put a recurring quarterly reminder to update your playbook and collect CPEs. It makes renewal painless.

FAQs

Q1: How long is the eJPT exam, and is it open-book?

A1: You have 48 hours to complete the practical challenge, and the exam is open-book.

Q2: What topics are covered, and how are they weighted?

A2: Four domains—Host/Network Penetration Testing (35%), Assessment Methodologies (25%), Host/Networking Auditing (25%), and Web Application Penetration Testing (15%).

Q3: Do I need an INE subscription to take the exam?

A3: Yes. As of 2025, you must have an active INE subscription and an eJPT exam voucher to sit the exam.

Q4: How do vouchers and retakes work?

A4: Vouchers are valid for 180 days. If you fail your first attempt, you get one free retake, which must be used within 14 days and before the voucher expires.

Q5: How quickly will I get my results?

A5: Results are auto-graded and typically available within hours of submission.

Conclusion:

The eJPT certification is a powerful, accessible way to demonstrate real pentesting skills without breaking the bank. With published objectives, a generous exam window, and integrated training, it’s built for learners who want clarity and momentum. If you map your study plan to the official domains, keep a tight evidence workflow, and practice under time constraints, you’ll be well positioned to pass—and, more importantly, to perform like a junior pentester on day one.

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