CompTIA PenTest+
Exam fee
$404
≈ 319 GBP · 545 CAD · 372 EUR · rolling-avg FX; verify with your bank before any payment
Exam code
PT0-003
Renewal
3yr
The CompTIA PenTest+ is a cybersecurity certification from CompTIA with an exam fee of $404 and a 3-year renewal cycle. Approved under DoD 8570. Built from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and CompTIA's official exam requirements.
About the CompTIA PenTest+
PenTest+ is the offensive counterpart to CySA+. It covers the full engagement lifecycle: scoping, reconnaissance, exploitation, post-exploitation, and reporting. Unlike OSCP, which is a 24-hour practical exam, PenTest+ is a mix of multiple choice and performance-based questions, which makes it more accessible as a first offensive cert. DoD 8140 approves it for Vulnerability Assessment Analyst work roles. Hiring managers for junior pentest roles often ask for PenTest+ as a baseline and OSCP as a proof of real exploitation skill; carrying both reads as serious commitment to the craft.
Who should earn it
SOC Analysts pivoting to offensive work, IT practitioners learning ethical hacking, and junior pentesters building up their credential stack toward OSCP.
Exam details
- Provider
- CompTIA
- Exam code
- PT0-003
- Questions
- 85
- Duration
- 165 minutes
- Passing score
- 750/900
- Exam fee
- $404 (verify with CompTIA)
- Renewal
- Every 3 years via CPE
- Experience level
- Mid
- DoD 8570/8140
- Approved
Prerequisites
CompTIA recommends Network+, Security+, and three to four years of hands-on IT or security experience. Not enforced.
Key domains
- Planning and Scoping
- Information Gathering and Vulnerability Scanning
- Attacks and Exploits
- Reporting and Communication
- Tools and Code Analysis
Federal and DoD relevance
The CompTIA PenTest+ is approved under DoD Directive 8570.01-M (now 8140), so cybersecurity roles supporting US Department of Defense information systems can use it to satisfy the baseline certification requirement for their IAT, IAM, or CSSP workforce category. That matters for federal contractors, cleared facilities, and agencies where 8140 compliance is a hiring gate.
Salary impact
PenTest+ typically adds $10,000-$20,000 for entry-level offensive roles and is commonly listed for junior pentester postings in the $95,000-$120,000 range. It is considered the credential that makes your resume readable to non-technical recruiters.
Most relevant roles
This role lives inside a packaged path
Want the curriculum, comp delta, and recommended courses for this role?
DecipherU bundles cybersecurity roles into a small set of packaged paths. Each path has the curriculum sequence, the compensation delta it unlocks, and the recommended courses, all pre-set. Two ways in:
Certification details are sourced from official certifying body websites. Verify current pricing, exam format, and requirements directly with the certifying organization before making decisions. DecipherU is not affiliated with any certifying body.
Exam code PT0-003. CompTIA publishes 5 domains: Planning and Scoping, Information Gathering and Vulnerability Scanning, Attacks and Exploits, Reporting and Communication, Tools and Code Analysis. Practice questions on DecipherU are grouped by those domains.
Up to 85 questions in 165 minutes, with a passing score of 750/900, according to CompTIA. Formats and counts change between exam versions, so confirm on the CompTIA site before you book.
CompTIA lists the exam fee at $404 USD. Vouchers, bundles and regional pricing differ; the fee on the CompTIA site at checkout is the one that applies.
3 years, per CompTIA. Renewal is through continuing education credits or by passing a current exam; CompTIA sets the credit count and the deadline.
CompTIA recommends Network+, Security+, and three to four years of hands-on IT or security experience. Not enforced.
Sources
- CompTIA official website · Certification pricing, exam format, and renewal requirements
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024
Related Cybersecurity Resources
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DecipherU's career insights are developed by Julian Calvo, Ed.D., M.S., with AI-assisted research and drafting, then reviewed and edited by DecipherU Editorial. Career and compensation data come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, O*NET, and industry compensation databases. Assessment frameworks are grounded in peer-reviewed psychometric research, learning sciences (University of Miami), organizational learning (Barry University), and applied AI (Northeastern University). AI is used as a research and drafting tool; all methodology, framework design, scoring, and editorial standards are owned by the DecipherU team.