The Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) program is designed to equip individuals with the knowledge and skills to identify vulnerabilities in an organization's network infrastructure. It covers areas such as footprinting, scanning, enumeration, vulnerability analysis, system hacking, malware analysis, and social engineering. The certification is often a prerequisite for entry-level roles in cybersecurity.

The Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) certification is a highly regarded, hands-on certification that requires candidates to successfully penetrate and document a series of vulnerable machines in a controlled lab environment. It tests practical skills in exploit development, buffer overflows, privilege escalation, and lateral movement, making it a benchmark for experienced penetration testers.

CompTIA PenTest+ is an industry-recognized certification that covers the entire penetration testing lifecycle. It assesses the ability to perform vulnerability scanning, exploit vulnerabilities, and conduct post-exploitation activities. The certification also emphasizes reporting findings and providing remediation recommendations, making it valuable for those involved in the full scope of security assessments.

The GIAC Penetration Tester (GPEN) certification validates a professional's ability to perform penetration testing using a variety of tools and methodologies. It covers reconnaissance, network analysis, vulnerability assessment, exploitation, and reporting. GIAC certifications are known for their challenging, practical exams that require a strong understanding of security concepts and tools.