CompTIA · Intermediate · Up to 90 questions in 165 minutes, combining multiple choice with performance-based simulation questions. Scored 100–900 with 750 to pass. Covers engagement scoping and legal requirements, reconnaissance, attacks across network, web, wireless, cloud and social engineering, plus post-exploitation, reporting and remediation guidance.

CompTIA PenTest+ — CompTIA PenTest+ (PT0-003)

PenTest+ is CompTIA’s penetration testing certification. Unlike purely offensive exams it covers the whole engagement lifecycle — scoping, rules of engagement, compliance, testing, reporting and remediation advice — in a proctored exam with simulation questions. It suits people who need documented pentest knowledge for a job description or contract rather than proof of exploitation skill.

Last updated: 6 August 2026

The facts

Vendor	CompTIA
Level	Intermediate
Format	Up to 90 questions in 165 minutes, combining multiple choice with performance-based simulation questions. Scored 100–900 with 750 to pass. Covers engagement scoping and legal requirements, reconnaissance, attacks across network, web, wireless, cloud and social engineering, plus post-exploitation, reporting and remediation guidance.
Cost	Mid band — more than Security+, well below OSCP or SANS. Vouchers, practice bundles and CertMaster packages are sold directly by CompTIA, with regional and academic pricing available in India. A small annual CE fee applies while the certification is live. Verify current pricing with CompTIA.
Validity / renewal	Three years, renewable with 60 continuing education units or by passing a qualifying higher CompTIA exam. Passing PenTest+ also renews an active Security+.
Prerequisites	None enforced. CompTIA recommends Network+ and Security+ or equivalent knowledge plus roughly three to four years of hands-on information security experience, which is more than most candidates actually have when they sit it.

Vendors revise prices, formats and eligibility. Always confirm on the vendor's own site before you pay — including against this page.

Is it worth it?

PenTest+ proves you understand how a professional engagement is scoped, executed, documented and handed over — the parts of penetration testing that purely technical certifications skip. It is useful for consultants, auditors and IT staff who commission or oversee tests, and for compliance-driven employers who want a recognised pentest credential on a bid document. It also renews Security+, which is a real practical saving.

The downside

It sits awkwardly in the market. Practitioners do not rate it near OSCP or PNPT because it is still fundamentally a proctored question paper, and Indian HR recognises CEH far more readily. So it is neither the strongest technical signal nor the strongest filter — it earns its place mainly through the CompTIA renewal ecosystem and compliance-driven employers.

Compared to

Versus	Verdict
OSCP	OSCP proves exploitation ability under a 24-hour deadline; PenTest+ proves you know how engagements are run and documented. If a hiring manager is choosing between the two for a pentest role, OSCP wins. PenTest+ wins where compliance paperwork and vendor-neutrality matter.
CEH	Similar difficulty and both multiple-choice-heavy. PenTest+ is cheaper, vendor-neutral, includes simulations and has a saner renewal path; CEH has stronger name recognition with Indian recruiters and in government tenders. Choose by which name appears in your target job listings.
CySA+	Same vendor and same level, opposite side of the fence. PenTest+ is offensive, CySA+ is detection and response. Pick the one matching the job you want; SOC roles far outnumber pentest roles in India.

Where we fit

Our CEH-aligned course covers most of the same technical ground — reconnaissance, exploitation, web attacks, post-exploitation and reporting — so it works as preparation. We are not a CompTIA partner, we do not issue PenTest+, and we do not resell vouchers; you book directly with CompTIA or Pearson VUE. Amit Kumar holds CEH and CRTA and teaches methodology and report writing from that experience.

We issue no vendor certification and resell no exam vouchers. Buy from the vendor.

CompTIA PenTest+ — FAQs

Is PenTest+ better than CEH?

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Technically it is a slightly more practical exam and it is cheaper with a friendlier renewal path. For recognition in India, CEH is still named more often in job advertisements and tenders. If your employer reimburses either one, PenTest+ gives more knowledge per rupee; if you are optimising for resume filters, CEH does more.

Does PenTest+ renew my Security+?

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Yes. Passing PenTest+ while your Security+ is active renews it automatically for another cycle, which is one of the strongest practical arguments for staying inside the CompTIA ecosystem.

Can a fresher take PenTest+?

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You can — there are no enforced prerequisites — but CompTIA recommends several years of security experience and the exam assumes real familiarity with tools and engagement process. Freshers usually get more out of Security+ or a hands-on entry certification like eJPT first.

PenTest+ se pentesting ki job mil jaayegi?

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Sirf certificate se nahi. India mein pentest team lead OSCP ya practical proof dekhte hain — labs, CTF writeups, ek achhi sample report. PenTest+ process aur reporting sikhata hai, jo useful hai, lekin skill dikhane ke liye hands-on portfolio bhi chahiye.

Not sure if CompTIA PenTest+ is the right next step?

Free call. If the honest answer is a cheaper certification, or six more months of lab work before you pay anyone, that is what you will hear.

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