The only pentesting certification that covers all stages of the penetration testing lifecycle. Validates both hands-on technical skills and management skills required to plan and scope engagements.
CompTIA PenTest+ (PT0-002) sits at the Intermediate level — a solid next step once you have some foundational experience, without requiring the multi-year track record advanced credentials demand.
The only pentesting certification that covers all stages of the penetration testing lifecycle. Validates both hands-on technical skills and management skills required to plan and scope engagements.
Key topics covered: Planning & scoping engagements, Information gathering & vulnerability scanning, Attacks & exploits, Post-exploitation techniques, Reporting & communication, Tools & code analysis.
Best suited for: Security professionals with hands-on IT experience wanting to move into penetration testing roles.
Common career paths: Penetration Tester, Vulnerability Analyst, Security Consultant, Red Team Analyst.
Security professionals with hands-on IT experience wanting to move into penetration testing roles.
Full step-by-step roadmap coming soon. See the roadmap page for updates.
Penetration TesterVulnerability AnalystSecurity ConsultantRed Team Analyst
The only pentesting certification that covers all stages of the penetration testing lifecycle. Validates both hands-on technical skills and management skills required to plan and scope engagements. offered by CompTIA, focused on Cybersecurity.
CompTIA PenTest+ (PT0-002) is issued by CompTIA.
CompTIA PenTest+ (PT0-002) is classified as Intermediate-level. It generally assumes some prior foundational knowledge or entry-level experience.
The CompTIA PenTest+ (PT0-002) exam costs $425. Always confirm current pricing on the official CompTIA certification page, as fees change periodically.
Professionals holding CompTIA PenTest+ (PT0-002) commonly report compensation in the $90K–$125K range, though actual pay varies by employer, geography, and total experience.
CompTIA PenTest+ (PT0-002) is categorized under Cybersecurity on CertPlanet, alongside other related certifications you can compare directly.
That depends on your current experience level and goals — as an Intermediate-level credential, it works well once you have some foundational experience but haven't yet formalized it.
See the dedicated comparison page for CompTIA PenTest+ (PT0-002) to view it side-by-side against alternative certifications in Cybersecurity.
Registration happens directly through CompTIA's official certification portal, linked from this page.
A structured, step-by-step study roadmap for CompTIA PenTest+ (PT0-002) is available on this site, built around the exam's actual focus areas rather than a generic study checklist.