Is PenTest+ worth it for a penetration-testing job in 2026?
3% of penetration tester job ads in the United States name the CompTIA PenTest+ (7 of 217, Adzuna, October 2026)
The answer to "is PenTest+ worth it?" is yes if you hold Security+ (CompTIA's exam on security basics) or know its material and want penetration-testing work: the exam costs $439. In October 2026, the phrase comptia pentest appeared in 3% of the ads for US penetration testers on Adzuna, a job-ad search site.
CompTIA PenTest+ is a penetration-testing exam from CompTIA, a body that sets IT certification exams. A penetration tester is paid to break into an organization's systems with permission and report the weak points.
Verdict by situation:
- New to IT: not yet. Start with IT basics and Security+.
- IT job (help desk or systems administration), no Security+: take Security+ first. CompTIA recommends its knowledge before PenTest+.
- You hold Security+: PenTest+ is a reasonable next exam. CompTIA's experience advice (below) is a recommendation, not a rule. Without a pentest job, you likely lack practice with attack tools, and Attacks and Exploits is 35% of the exam (domain table below). Rate yourself on the five domains as described in the last section; if three or more are new, do a hands-on lab first, such as CompTIA's CertMaster Labs (vendor estimate 15-25 hours) or the eJPT's lab exam.
- Our order: Security+, then PenTest+ or the eJPT (an entry-level hands-on exam from the training company INE), then the OSCP (OffSec Certified Professional, a hands-on hacking exam from OffSec). The comparison explains why, and why we leave out the CEH.
Jump to: cost · difficulty · renewal · alternatives
Show the numbers
| Item | Ads | Share of ads |
|---|---|---|
| OSCP | 158 | 73% |
| Burp Suite | 72 | 33% |
| CEH | 66 | 30% |
| Kali Linux | 29 | 13% |
| CompTIA PenTest+ | 7 | 3% |
| eJPT | 3 | 1% |
Is CompTIA PenTest+ worth it for you?
Instant answer from October 2026 job ads. No email needed.
Sometimes asked for
3% of penetration tester job ads in the United States name CompTIA PenTest+ (7 of 217 ads).
- Most-named alternative
- OSCP 73%
- Skill asked for most
- Burp Suite 33%
- Official exam fee
- $439 source
Source: Adzuna job ads, October 2026. Small sample: 217 ads. Treat this as a rough guide.
Get your full report
Two optional questions shape your first step. No email needed.
On this page
- Is CompTIA PenTest+ worth it in 2026? What penetration-tester ads show
- What is CompTIA PenTest+, and who is it for?
- How much does CompTIA PenTest+ cost? Exam, retake and renewal
- How hard is CompTIA PenTest+, and how long does it take?
- Does CompTIA PenTest+ expire? Renewal every three years
- What is the CompTIA PenTest+ salary?
- PenTest+ vs Security+, CEH, eJPT and OSCP: which fits you?
- Is PenTest+ worth it? What Reddit posters say
- What should you do first?
- What we did not check
- Sources
Is CompTIA PenTest+ worth it in 2026? What penetration-tester ads show
Worth it as a step toward penetration testing, and the ads show which exams employers name. In October 2026, comptia pentest appeared in 7 of the 217 US penetration-tester ads we counted on Adzuna.
Each row counts ads that contain a phrase, not ads that require the certificate. The PenTest+ phrase needs both words, so ads that write only "PenTest+" are not counted; the other three are single names. Use the rows to see which exams come up, and the ads you would apply to for your final choice.
Certificates in the same US penetration-tester ads, October 2026:
| Certificate | Phrase we search | Ads that contain it |
|---|---|---|
| CompTIA PenTest+ | comptia pentest |
7 |
| OSCP (OffSec's hands-on hacking exam) | oscp |
158 |
| CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker, from the certification body EC-Council) | ceh |
66 |
| eJPT (Junior Penetration Tester, from INE) | ejpt |
3 |
Source: Adzuna, 217 US penetration-tester ads, October 2026. Analysis: CertWorthIt. How we count.
What is CompTIA PenTest+, and who is it for?
It is CompTIA's exam for people who work in, or close to, penetration testing. CompTIA sets no required prerequisite, but its PenTest+ page recommends "3–4 years in a penetration tester job role, with Network+ and Security+ or equivalent knowledge." Network+ is CompTIA's networking exam. That is advice; the verdict list above shows what it means for you.
In the hierarchy CompTIA uses for renewals, PenTest+ sits above Security+, Network+ and A+ (CompTIA's IT-support exam), level with CySA+ (its security-analyst exam) and below SecurityX, the highest-ranked exam on that list.
Show the numbers
| Item | CompTIA PenTest+ |
|---|---|
| Questions | 90 questions |
| Exam time | 165 minutes (2 h 45 min) |
| Passing score | 750 (scale 100–900) |
| Format | Multiple choice, performance-based tasks |
| Languages | 4 languages |
How much does CompTIA PenTest+ cost? Exam, retake and renewal
The exam voucher (a prepaid code for one attempt) costs $439 on CompTIA's US store; Retake Assurance is a bundle that adds one retake. Over three years, with one renewal, the fees come to $589.
| Item | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| PenTest+ exam voucher (PT0-003, the current exam version), US store | $439 | One attempt |
| Voucher with Retake Assurance, US store | $579 | One attempt plus one retake |
| Continuing education (CE) fee | $150 | Once per three-year cycle, when you renew with 60 CEUs (continuing education units) |
Source: CompTIA PenTest+ page (US store) and CompTIA renewal fee page, read October 3, 2026.
Retake Assurance costs $140 more than one voucher. It pays off only if you fail once: two plain vouchers cost $878, the bundle $579. If you pass first time, the $140 bought nothing.
Total cost of CompTIA PenTest+, renewing at the end of each three-year cycle:
| Path | Over 3 years | Over 6 years |
|---|---|---|
| One voucher, renew with CEUs | $439 + $150 = $589 | $439 + $150 + $150 = $739 |
| Retake Assurance, renew with CEUs | $579 + $150 = $729 | $579 + $150 + $150 = $879 |
Source: CompTIA prices; sums by CertWorthIt. Training and CEU activities are not included.
If you hold Security+, CompTIA's continuing education FAQ says that using a higher-level certification to meet its renewal means no CE fee for Security+. If the dates line up, PenTest+ replaces that cycle's $150 Security+ fee, so the $589 three-year total nets to the voucher price. Later PenTest+ renewals still cost $150 each.
Show the numbers
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Fees to get certified: Exam | $439 |
| Fees to get certified: Renewal, every 3 years | $150 |
Show the numbers
| Level | Certification | Experience | Named first |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | ISC2 CC | no work experience required | – |
| Entry | Google Cybersecurity | no work experience required | – |
| Entry | IBM Cybersecurity Analyst | beginner course (vendor) | – |
| Associate | SSCP | required: 1 year of work experience | – |
| Professional | CompTIA Security+ | recommended: 2 years of work experience | – |
| Professional | CEH | required: 2 years of work experience | – |
| Professional | CompTIA PenTest+ | recommended: 3 years of work experience | – |
| Professional | CRISC | required: 3 years of work experience | – |
| Expert | CISSP | required: 4 years of work experience on the shortest route (4–5 years, depending on the route) | – |
| Expert | CompTIA CySA+ | recommended: 4 years of work experience | – |
| Expert | CISM | required: 5 years of work experience | – |
| Expert | CISA | required: 5 years of work experience | – |
| Expert | ISO 27001 Lead Implementer / Auditor | required: 5 years of work experience | – |
| Expert | CompTIA SecurityX (CASP+) | recommended: 10 years of work experience | – |
How hard is CompTIA PenTest+, and how long does it take?
We found no pass rate on CompTIA's pages, so we judge difficulty by its experience advice above: the exam is aimed at people with penetration-testing work behind them. It lasts 165 minutes with up to 90 questions, and you need 750 on a scale of 100 to 900. The questions mix multiple-choice items with performance-based questions, short practical tasks in a simulated setting.
CompTIA's PenTest+ page lists five exam domains (topic areas) and their weights in PT0-003:
| Domain | What it covers, in plain words | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Engagement Management | Planning and managing a test for a client | 13% |
| Reconnaissance and Enumeration | Gathering information about a target and listing its systems and services | 21% |
| Vulnerability Discovery and Analysis | Finding weak points and judging how serious they are | 17% |
| Attacks and Exploits | Using weak points to break in | 35% |
| Post-Exploitation and Lateral Movement | What you do after breaking in, including moving to other machines | 14% |
Source: CompTIA PenTest+ page, read October 11, 2026.
For study time, the same page gives vendor estimates for CompTIA's paid CertMaster study products: 25 to 40 hours for Learn, 15 to 25 for Labs and 10 to 20 for Practice. Together that is 50 to 85 hours, or 10 to 17 weeks at 5 hours a week. These are not reports from people who passed. The page also lists CertMaster Perform at 30 to 60 hours, not in that sum. Too few Reddit posts in our collection state a study time to give a figure.
Which PenTest+ exam version should you study for?
PT0-003, launched on December 17, 2024; PT0-002 retired on June 17, 2025. CompTIA estimates 2027 for PT0-003's retirement, an estimate, not a date. If you plan to test in 2027, check that PT0-003 is still offered before you buy study material.
Does CompTIA PenTest+ expire? Renewal every three years
Yes, after three years. You renew with 60 CEUs and the $150 CE fee, with CertMaster CE (CompTIA's renewal course, price not checked) as a single activity, or by earning a higher-level CompTIA certification, which for PenTest+ means SecurityX.
Show the numbers
| Item | |
|---|---|
| 1. Exam | 90 questions, 165 minutes |
| 2. Certified | valid for 3 years |
| 3. Renewal | 60 CEUs every 3 years |
What is the CompTIA PenTest+ salary?
This page gives no PenTest+ salary figure, because we found no salary source we could verify. Read pay from the ads you would apply to: open the 10 ads from the first-step list and note the salary range wherever an ad states one. A certificate named in an ad does not tell you what holders earn.
Show the numbers
| Country | CompTIA PenTest+ | Ads | Share of ads |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 3 | 58 | 5% |
| United States | 7 | 217 | 3% |
PenTest+ vs Security+, CEH, eJPT and OSCP: which fits you?
For a help-desk or sysadmin reader, our order is Security+, then PenTest+ or the eJPT, then the OSCP. At step two, pick PenTest+ if you hold Security+ and want it renewed, or the eJPT for an exam that is all hands-on lab work. Leave the OSCP for later: it costs $1,699 and is the longest hands-on exam here. We leave out the CEH: it costs more than PenTest+, asks for proof of security work or official training, and its credential exam is multiple-choice.
- PenTest+ (CompTIA): $439. Up to 90 questions in 165 minutes, multiple-choice and performance-based. Pentest job experience recommended. Renew every 3 years for $150.
- Security+ (CompTIA): Same price. Up to 90 questions in 90 minutes, same mix. Network+ and two years in a security or systems-administrator job recommended. Same renewal.
- CEH (EC-Council): $950 online, plus a $100 eligibility fee without official training. 125 multiple-choice questions in 4 hours; the hands-on practical is a separate, optional $550 exam. Two years of security work or official training required. Valid 3 years; 120 continuing education credits and $80 a year.
- eJPT (INE): $250 voucher plus a required INE subscription; the $349-a-year Fundamentals subscription includes a voucher. 35 questions in a hands-on browser lab, 48 hours. Basic network and systems knowledge. Renew every 3 years for $99 plus tax.
- OSCP (OffSec): $1,699 for the OSCP+ exam alone, or $1,749 with OffSec's PEN-200 course and one attempt. 23 hours 45 minutes of supervised hacking, then 24 hours for a report. No formal prerequisites. OSCP+ is valid 3 years; the traditional OSCP does not expire.
Source: CompTIA, EC-Council, INE and OffSec pages; dates under Sources. Each has its own page: CompTIA Security+, CEH, eJPT and OSCP.
Is PenTest+ worth it? What Reddit posters say
The two questions we grouped from Reddit posts about PenTest+ were both about studying. One poster wrote that the exam asks whether you know when a tool is the right one, not only whether you know the tool (r/CompTIA). The other asked for resources to learn to read scripts and command-line code (r/CompTIA); we have not checked any, so we name none.
What should you do first?
This week, open CompTIA's PenTest+ page. Rate each of the five exam domains "could explain it to a friend" or "new to me." If three or more are "new to me," do Security+ and a hands-on lab before you buy the voucher. Then:
- No IT job yet, or no Security+: start with our cybersecurity roadmap and the Security+ page.
- You hold Security+: check when its three-year cycle ends. Passing PenTest+ before then renews it.
- You want a penetration-tester job: open 10 US penetration-tester ads you would apply to and note the certificates and salary range each names. Follow our order unless your ads name a different exam.
What we did not check
- CompTIA's pass rate for PenTest+: we found none on CompTIA's pages.
- The prices and contents of CertMaster CE, Learn, Labs, Practice and Perform.
- Which activities CompTIA accepts as CEUs, beyond the routes named above.
- PenTest+ prices after October 3, 2026, and CompTIA stores outside the US.
- How many attempts the OSCP+ standalone exam includes, and which of OSCP+ or the older OSCP a pass awards today.
- Salaries for PenTest+ holders, from any source.
Sources
All pages were read October 3, 2026, except where noted.
- Adzuna job-ad counts, US penetration-tester ads, October 2026; analysis: CertWorthIt. How we count.
- CompTIA, PenTest+ page: prices and recommended experience; exam format, domains, versions and CertMaster hours read October 11, 2026.
- CompTIA, continuing education units, renewal fees and CE Program FAQ (FAQ read October 5, 2026); Security+ page.
- EC-Council CEH pages (renewal read October 4, 2026); INE eJPT pages and checkout (subscription and renewal read October 7, 2026); OffSec's PEN-200 page. Links are on our CEH, eJPT and OSCP pages.
- Reddit questions about PenTest+, linked in the Reddit section.
Edited by Jere Salmisto · Data checked October 11, 2026
Questions people ask
Is the CompTIA PenTest+ worth it?
Yes, if you already know Security+ material (CompTIA's exam on security basics) and want penetration-testing work: PenTest+, a 165-minute exam, is the next exam to take, not the first. A penetration tester is paid to break into an organization's systems with permission and report the weak points. In October 2026, the phrase comptia pentest appeared in 7 of the 217 US penetration-tester ads we counted on Adzuna, a job-ad search site, and the phrase oscp in 158. These are different phrases, so the two counts are not like-for-like, and neither shows what an ad requires.
Is CompTIA PenTest+ hard?
It is not a beginner exam. We found no pass rate on CompTIA's pages. CompTIA recommends three to four years in a penetration-tester job, with Network+ and Security+ or equivalent knowledge (its networking and security-basics exams), though none of this is required. The PT0-003 exam (the current version) has up to 90 questions in 165 minutes, mixing multiple-choice questions with performance-based questions (short practical tasks instead of a single answer to pick). You need 750 on a scale of 100 to 900.
How much does CompTIA PenTest+ cost?
CompTIA's US store listed the PenTest+ exam voucher (a prepaid code for one attempt) at $439 in October 2026, or $579 with Retake Assurance, a bundle that adds one retake. Renewal costs a $150 continuing education fee every three years. One voucher and one renewal come to $589 over three years, and $739 over six years with a second renewal, before training costs.
Does CompTIA PenTest+ expire?
Yes. CompTIA PenTest+ is valid for three years. To renew it, you earn 60 continuing education units (CEUs, credits for training and other activities CompTIA accepts) within the three-year cycle and pay CompTIA's $150 continuing education fee. CompTIA also renews it through one CertMaster CE course (CompTIA's renewal course) or when you earn a higher-level CompTIA certification.
Is PenTest+ worth it, according to Reddit?
The two questions we grouped from Reddit posts about CompTIA PenTest+ were both about studying, not about value. One poster who studied for the exam wrote that it tests whether you know when a tool is the right one, not only what the tool does. Two posts show what people ask, not a majority view.
Should I take PenTest+ or the OSCP?
If you are moving into penetration testing from help desk or systems administration, take Security+ first if you do not hold it, then PenTest+ (or the eJPT), and plan the OSCP (OffSec Certified Professional) as the later step. PenTest+ is a CompTIA exam that mixes multiple-choice and practical questions in 165 minutes. The OSCP exam (OSCP+, the current version) costs $1,699 without OffSec's course and is 23 hours and 45 minutes of hands-on hacking, then 24 hours to write a report.