Sounds like you have the skill sets to "attempt" the course. Look a little bit more through the forum, and you'll find SO MUCH info about the course. Once you read the information that's already here, come back with anymore questions you have. This community is one of the best for helping out newbies and just anyone wanting to learn.


-YTF

Like Yuck said, start searching the forums first, that is the most common question here....

Thank you for your answers. I think I'll read a pentesting basic book, while improving my Python programming skills, so that I can later decide with more  awareness which is the best path to follow.

saberhagen

As far as programming goes, if you understand the basic constructs (FOR / NEXT loops, input parameters, variables in general,) you can pick up the rest.  You don't need to be a rocket scientist or uber-programmer for that part.  However, you need to be familiar enough with those basic programming concepts to not have to spend all of your lab time on them.

To me, it depends on what you want to do.  Wireless is an interesting topic, and I test wireless, too.  But, for me, I wanted OSCP to get more 'rounded' training, as well as my general interest in more of the exploit creation / modification and other topics.  Wireless is one of those topics that has a lot of web-based tutorials and such, so while I might go for OSWP at some point, there's plenty of info in that realm for me to find and tinker with, already.  Offensive Security has a great compilation of topics and materials, though, in OSCP, so it was my preferred starter (from them.)

Now, I'm currently getting myself in gear for OSCE, in the near future.

As far as lab time goes, I'd base that on your confidence level in yourself, as well as how much time per day you can 'truly' devote to it.  I took 60-days, because I had a family and full-time job to work around.  I could probably have passed in 30, but it was nice to revisit some of the lab machines, and find multiple ways to 'pop' the box, or experiment with different tools and approaches.  You won't find a better lab, all in one place, to work in.

I wish, sometimes, that they kept an online 'practice' lab, for OSCP's to test other new ideas in, in the future.  But that's what VMWare is for, and at least they gave you good ideas to work from, in your own labs.  

Ok, thank you for your help (and time as well).
Regardless of what certification to start with, I plan to achieve all the three certs within a year or two. Getting in at Abertay would make my pentesting formation far easier I think, so finger crossed  .

I believe I'll be here for a long time. This forum is amazing. There are many hacking-related ones, but the professionalism which can be found here is quite rare.

saberhagen