The official site says "Basic IT knowledge." The realistic community consensus says:
OffSec provides the first learning module for free to give prospective students an overview of the course structure. organizing your notes for a particular module? Certificates comparison, part I - Fluid Attacks pwk pen 200
Reality: You get unlimited exam attempts with the "Exam Retake" policy (though you may pay for retakes or buy an extended guarantee). Many people pass on their 2nd or 3rd attempt. The official site says "Basic IT knowledge
Key changes in the current PWK PEN-200 include: Many people pass on their 2nd or 3rd attempt
The OSCP is famously listed as "required" or "preferred" on 70% of offensive security job postings. It is the gold standard for HR filters.
The current iteration of the course has evolved to match modern threat landscapes, removing outdated content like buffer overflows to focus on high-impact skills: Get your OSCP+ certification with PEN-200 - OffSec