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Why PenTest+ Certification Matters in 2025

The CompTIA PenTest+ PT0-002 certification is the premier hands-on penetration testing certification. Unlike theoretical security certifications, PenTest+ validates practical skills in vulnerability assessment, ethical hacking, and penetration testing methodologies. It's designed for intermediate-level cybersecurity professionals ready to specialize in offensive security and red team operations in today's threat landscape.

$95K
Average Salary
85
Questions
165
Minutes
750
Pass Score
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PenTest+ PT0-002 Exam Domains

The PenTest+ certification covers five comprehensive domains that build upon each other to create a complete penetration testing methodology. Master these domains for exam success and real-world penetration testing expertise:

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1.0 Planning and Scoping

14% of Exam

Foundation of penetration testing including governance, compliance, legal considerations, and engagement scoping. Covers rules of engagement, client requirements, and ethical frameworks.

Key Areas:

  • Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) concepts
  • Scoping and organizational requirements
  • Professional and ethical conduct
  • Rules of engagement documentation
  • Legal and regulatory considerations
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2.0 Information Gathering & Vulnerability Scanning

22% of Exam

Comprehensive reconnaissance techniques including passive and active information gathering, vulnerability identification, and analysis of discovered assets and potential attack vectors.

Key Areas:

  • Passive reconnaissance techniques (OSINT, social media)
  • Active reconnaissance and network scanning
  • Vulnerability scanning methodologies
  • Web application reconnaissance
  • Results analysis and prioritization
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3.0 Attacks and Exploits

30% of Exam

The largest domain covering practical attack techniques across networks, applications, wireless systems, cloud environments, and specialized systems. Includes post-exploitation and social engineering.

Key Areas:

  • Network-based attacks and exploitation
  • Wireless network penetration testing
  • Web application security testing
  • Cloud infrastructure attacks
  • Social engineering and physical attacks
  • Post-exploitation techniques and persistence
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4.0 Reporting and Communication

18% of Exam

Professional communication of findings including executive summaries, technical details, remediation recommendations, and effective presentation to diverse stakeholders.

Key Areas:

  • Executive summary creation
  • Technical findings documentation
  • Risk rating and prioritization
  • Remediation recommendations
  • Post-engagement activities
  • Communication with stakeholders
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5.0 Tools and Code Analysis

16% of Exam

Essential tools for penetration testing and the ability to analyze code for vulnerabilities. Covers automation, scripting, and understanding of exploit development concepts.

Key Areas:

  • Penetration testing tool selection and usage
  • Scripting and automation techniques
  • Code review and analysis
  • Exploit development fundamentals
  • Custom tool creation and modification
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10-Week Intensive Study Plan

PenTest+ requires hands-on experience and practical knowledge. This plan assumes 12-15 hours of study per week including lab time.

W1

🏗️ Foundation & Ethics

  • Study legal and ethical frameworks for penetration testing
  • Learn compliance requirements (PCI DSS, HIPAA, SOX)
  • Understand rules of engagement and scoping
  • Practice: Create sample penetration testing contracts
W2

🔍 Passive Reconnaissance

  • Master OSINT techniques and tools (Maltego, theHarvester)
  • Learn social media intelligence gathering
  • Practice DNS enumeration and subdomain discovery
  • Practice: Perform reconnaissance on educational targets
W3

🎯 Active Reconnaissance & Scanning

  • Master Nmap scanning techniques and NSE scripts
  • Learn network mapping and service enumeration
  • Practice with Masscan, Zmap, and other scanning tools
  • Practice: Comprehensive network discovery exercises
W4

🔬 Vulnerability Assessment

  • Master Nessus, OpenVAS, and Nikto vulnerability scanners
  • Learn to analyze and prioritize vulnerability reports
  • Practice manual verification of automated findings
  • Practice: Set up vulnerable labs and scan systematically
W5

🌐 Network Attacks & Exploitation

  • Practice with Metasploit Framework and custom payloads
  • Learn privilege escalation techniques (Windows/Linux)
  • Master lateral movement and persistence methods
  • Practice: Exploit development and buffer overflow basics
W6

📱 Web Application Security Testing

  • Master Burp Suite and OWASP ZAP for web testing
  • Practice OWASP Top 10 vulnerability exploitation
  • Learn SQL injection, XSS, and authentication bypasses
  • Practice: Test vulnerable web applications (DVWA, WebGoat)
W7

📡 Wireless & Social Engineering

  • Learn wireless penetration testing with Aircrack-ng suite
  • Practice WPA/WPA2 attacks and rogue access points
  • Master social engineering techniques and frameworks
  • Practice: Physical security assessments and RFID attacks
W8

☁️ Cloud & Specialized Systems

  • Learn cloud penetration testing (AWS, Azure, GCP)
  • Practice container and Kubernetes security testing
  • Study IoT and SCADA/ICS security assessment
  • Practice: Cloud misconfigurations and API testing
W9

📝 Professional Reporting

  • Learn to write executive summaries and technical reports
  • Practice risk rating using CVSS and custom frameworks
  • Master remediation recommendations and timelines
  • Practice: Create comprehensive penetration test reports
W10

🎯 Final Review & Practice

  • Complete end-to-end penetration tests on complex labs
  • Review all tools and techniques systematically
  • Take practice exams and identify weak areas
  • Final confidence check: Score 85%+ consistently
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Essential PenTest+ Tools

Master these tools that are commonly referenced in the PenTest+ exam and used in real-world penetration testing:

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Nmap

Network discovery and security auditing tool for port scanning and service detection.

Reconnaissance
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Metasploit

Comprehensive penetration testing framework for exploit development and execution.

Exploitation
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Burp Suite

Integrated platform for web application security testing and vulnerability scanning.

Web Testing
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Aircrack-ng

Suite of tools for wireless network security assessment and password recovery.

Wireless
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John the Ripper

Fast password cracker for detecting weak passwords in system authentication.

Password Attacks
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Sqlmap

Automated tool for detecting and exploiting SQL injection vulnerabilities.

Web Testing
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Kali Linux

Debian-based Linux distribution designed for penetration testing and security auditing.

Platform
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Hashcat

Advanced password recovery tool supporting hundreds of hash and cipher types.

Password Attacks

🏆 PenTest+ Exam Details

Everything you need to know about the CompTIA PenTest+ PT0-002 certification exam

85 Questions (Multiple Choice & PBQs)
165 Minutes
750 Passing Score (100-900 scale)
$370 Exam Cost (USD)
🎯 Schedule Your Exam
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Expert Study Tips for PenTest+

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Hands-On Lab Practice

PenTest+ is heavily practical. Set up home labs using VirtualBox/VMware with vulnerable VMs like Metasploitable, DVWA, and VulnHub machines. Practice actual attacks, not just theory.

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Focus on Methodology

Understand the penetration testing methodology: Planning → Reconnaissance → Scanning → Exploitation → Post-Exploitation → Reporting. Each step builds on the previous.

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Master Command-Line Tools

Know Nmap syntax, Metasploit modules, Burp Suite features, and Linux commands by heart. Practice in different scenarios until tool usage becomes second nature.

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Practice Report Writing

Create actual penetration test reports. Practice writing executive summaries, technical findings, and remediation recommendations. Good communication is crucial for pentesters.

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Understand PBQs

Performance-Based Questions require hands-on skills. Practice configuring tools, analyzing output, and performing common tasks in simulated environments.

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Know Legal & Ethical Boundaries

Understand scope limitations, rules of engagement, and legal considerations. Know when to stop testing and how to document findings professionally and ethically.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What experience do I need before attempting PenTest+? ▼
CompTIA recommends Network+ and Security+ knowledge plus 3-4 years of hands-on information security experience. You should be comfortable with Linux, networking protocols, and basic security concepts before starting.
How difficult is PenTest+ compared to other certifications? ▼
PenTest+ is significantly more challenging than Security+ but less theoretical than CISSP. It requires practical hands-on skills and real penetration testing experience. The pass rate is lower than most CompTIA certifications.
What lab environment should I set up for practice? ▼
Set up Kali Linux as your attacking platform and practice on vulnerable VMs like Metasploitable, DVWA, VulnHub machines, and TryHackMe/HackTheBox labs. Ensure you have at least 16GB RAM and adequate storage for multiple VMs.
How many PBQs are on the exam? ▼
PenTest+ typically includes 3-5 Performance-Based Questions that require hands-on skills like configuring tools, analyzing log files, or performing specific attack techniques. These are worth more points than multiple choice questions.
Is PenTest+ hands-on or theoretical? ▼
PenTest+ is heavily hands-on and practical. Unlike Security+, which is more conceptual, PenTest+ tests your ability to actually perform penetration testing tasks, use tools effectively, and analyze real-world scenarios.
What career paths does PenTest+ open? ▼
PenTest+ prepares you for roles like Penetration Tester, Security Consultant, Vulnerability Assessor, Red Team member, and Security Analyst. It's highly valued in consulting firms and organizations with mature security programs.

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