CompTIA Pentest+ vs. Security+: Which Certification Is Right for You?
Written by:
University of Tulsa
• Nov 19, 2025
With the ongoing cybersecurity talent shortage, employers are looking for candidates with relevant skills, which they can gain in certification programs. 89% of employers would consider candidates with a cybersecurity certification, and 55% of employers recruit talent from colleges and universities, according to a 2025 report by ISC2. This means that professionals with both a degree and certification could have a competitive edge over other candidates.
Certifications such as CompTIA Pentest+ and CompTIA Security+ help employers assess candidates’ specific cybersecurity skills. When paired with a master’s degree in cybersecurity, these credentials can help you stand out in a competitive job market. Understanding the key differences between the CompTIA Pentest+ and Security+ certifications can help you choose the one that best matches your experience and career goals.
What Is the CompTIA Pentest+ Certification?
The CompTIA Pentest+ certification is an intermediate-level credential that validates a cybersecurity professional’s ability to identify, exploit, report, and manage vulnerabilities in networks and systems.
Cybersecurity is often viewed through two main lenses: defensive security and offensive security. Defensive professionals protect systems from attacks and mitigate threats. Offensive professionals think like attackers to find weaknesses in systems before malicious actors can exploit them.
The Pentest+ certification exam emphasizes the offensive side of cybersecurity. It tests candidates on skills such as assessing vulnerabilities, conducting penetration tests, and providing recommendations to strengthen a network’s defenses. By simulating real-world attack scenarios, the Pentest+ exam ensures that professionals can proactively identify and address security risks.
What Does the CompTIA Pentest+ Certification Cover?
The CompTIA Pentest+ exam evaluates candidates across five primary domains that together represent the full penetration testing process:
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Planning and scoping: Plan penetration tests and other missions that focus on engaging with cyber defenses.
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Information gathering and vulnerability identification: Conduct active and passive reconnaissance and evaluate vulnerability scans.
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Attacks and exploits: Perform social engineering and other types of attacks to test system security.
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Penetration testing tools: Use tools such as Nmap (Network Mapper) to conduct reconnaissance and testing.
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Reporting and communication: Recommend interventions for newly discovered vulnerabilities and communicate findings clearly and effectively.
Who Should Obtain the CompTIA Pentest+ Certification?
CompTIA designed the Pentest+ certification for professionals who already have three to four years of hands-on experience in information security, cybersecurity, or a related field. You should have a firm understanding of penetration testing and be looking to advance in your career in that specialty before taking the exam.
You may want to choose the CompTIA Pentest+ certification if you want to pursue the following roles:
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Cybersecurity analyst
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Penetration tester
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Vulnerability assessment analyst
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of information security analysts of all types is growing rapidly. The BLS projects a 29% increase in positions for these professionals between 2024 and 2034. The median annual salary for information security analysts is $124,910, based on the BLS’s 2024 data.
What Is the CompTIA Security+ Certification?
When comparing the CompTIA Pentest+ and Security+ certifications, the first key difference is that the CompTIA Security+ exam covers a broader range of foundational cybersecurity skills than the CompTIA Pentest+ exam. The Security+ certification shows employers that the candidate has the baseline competencies needed to begin or advance in a cybersecurity role.
Unlike the Pentest+ exam, which focuses on offensive security skills, the Security+ exam does not prioritize either offensive or defensive perspectives. Instead, it emphasizes practical, hands-on knowledge that professionals can apply to real-world cybersecurity challenges. While the exam requires candidates to identify and explain information security principles, its primary focus is on how they use that knowledge to solve problems and manage cybersecurity risks effectively.
What Does the CompTIA Security+ Certification Cover?
The CompTIA Security+ certification exam covers six primary domains:
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Threats, attacks, and vulnerabilities: Identify indicators of cyber attacks and determine the types of malware involved.
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Identity and access management: Implement access controls and determine the best account management practices for a given situation.
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Technologies and tools: Troubleshoot common cybersecurity issues using appropriate tools and techniques.
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Risk management: Develop and explain the importance of procedures that support an organization’s cybersecurity posture.
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Architecture and design: Summarize secure application, network, and system design concepts.
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Cryptography and PKI: Apply foundational concepts of cryptography and public key infrastructure (PKI).
Who Should Obtain the CompTIA Security+ Certification?
The skills validated by the CompTIA Security+ certification represent the baseline expectations for today’s cybersecurity professionals. As such, CompTIA recommends Security+ as the first certification to pursue when starting out in cybersecurity. It’s best suited for individuals with about two years of experience in information technology (IT) administration or a related field.
Technically, CompTIA recommends this certification for anyone looking to build a career in cybersecurity. However, you may choose this certification if you want to pursue one of the following roles:
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Cybersecurity administrator
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Systems administrator
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Cybersecurity engineer
According to the BLS, network and computer systems administrators, including cybersecurity administrators and systems administrators, have a median annual salary of $96,800 based on 2024 data. Computer and information systems managers, including cybersecurity engineers, have a median annual salary of $171,200 and are projected to see 15% job growth between 2024 and 2034.
Prepare for Your Cybersecurity Career
Both the CompTIA Pentest+ and Security+ certifications can help you stand out in the cybersecurity job market. Security+ can serve as a starting point for you if you’re early in your career, while Pentest+ supports advancement for you if you have some experience in the field and want to strengthen system defenses before attackers can exploit them.
While some may wonder whether to pursue a degree or a certification, combining both provides a more complete foundation in cybersecurity. In a cybersecurity degree program, you gain the foundational and hands-on skills these certification exams test.
The University of Tulsa (TU) offers an online Master of Science in Cyber Security (MSCS) program that teaches core cybersecurity principles that are similar to those covered in the CompTIA Security+ exam, and provides hands-on training aligned with the offensive skills tested in the CompTIA Pentest+ exam. Some elective courses even include prep materials for both certifications, as well as for the certified information systems security professional (CISSP) credential.
If you want to prepare for these certifications and advance your cybersecurity career, consider TU’s program. Explore what TU can do for you.
Recommended Readings
Do You Need a Degree for a Cybersecurity Career?
Why You Should Study Cybersecurity
Sources:
CompTIA, What Is CompTIA Pentest+ Certification?
CompTIA, What Is CompTIA Security+ Certification?
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Computer and Information Systems Managers
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Information Security Analysts
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Network and Computer Systems Administrators
