CompTIA PenTest+

Training provider:
NILC

Duration:
5 days

Awarding body:
CompTIA

Delivery:
Tutor-led online

Click here to apply for Tata Steel funding

Overview

CompTIA PenTest_ is the most comprehensive cybersecurity exam covering all red team activities and is designed for cybersecurity professionals tasked with penetration testing and vulnerability management.

PenTest+ assesses the most up-to-date penetration testing, and vulnerability assessment and management skills necessary to determine the resiliency of the network against attacks. The CompTIA PenTest+ certification exam will verify successful candidates have the knowledge and skills required to:

Plan and scope a penetration testing engagement
Understand legal and compliance requirements
Perform vulnerability scanning and penetration testing using appropriate tools and techniques, then analyse the results
Produce a written report containing proposed remediation techniques, effectively communicate results to the management team, and provide practical recommendations

After completing this course you should be able to

Explain the importance of planning and key aspects of compliance-based assessments
Conduct information gathering exercises with various tools and analyse output and basic scripts (limited to: Bash, Python, Ruby, PowerShell)
Gather information to prepare for exploitation then perform a vulnerability scan and analyse results
Utilise report writing and handling best practices explaining recommended mitigation strategies for discovered vulnerabilities
Exploit network, wireless, application, and RF-based vulnerabilities, summarise physical security attacks, and perform post-exploitation techniques

What will I learn?

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

Plan and scope penetration testing engagements, including rules of engagement, legal considerations, and compliance requirements
Perform vulnerability scanning and exploitation, identifying and validating vulnerabilities across networks, applications, wireless, and cloud environments
Conduct penetration tests using tools and scripts, applying techniques such as password attacks, privilege escalation, and evasion methods
Analyse and report on findings, documenting vulnerabilities, risks, and recommendations clearly for technical and non-technical audiences
Communicate remediation strategies effectively with stakeholders to improve an organisation’s security posture
Demonstrate ethical hacking practices, following professional codes of conduct while simulating real-world attack scenarios

Key information

Funding eligibility criteria

Aged 19+
Living in Wales

Plus, one of the following:

Employed (inc. agency & zero hour contracts)
Self-employed
Full-time carer
Prisoner on day release

Entry requirements

No formal pre-requisites – the exam is open to all candidates. However, it is recommended candidates hold the CompTIA Network+ and Security+ (or equivalent knowledge). 3-4 years of hands on information security experience focusing on vulnerability management and penetration testing.

Assessment

Exam time: 165 minutes
Performance based and multiple-choice style: maximum of 90 questions
Pass mark: 750 (on a scale of 100-900)
Closed book exam (i.e. no reference materials are allowed during the exam)

Career progression

The CompTIA PenTest+ certification validates offensive security skills and provides a pathway into advanced penetration testing and red team roles.

Career progression opportunities include:

Penetration Tester, Vulnerability Tester, or Security Consultant (specialist technical roles)
Progression to positions such as Red Team Specialist, Application Security Analyst, or Exploit Developer
Advancement into roles like Senior Penetration Tester, Security Engineer, or Incident Response Lead
With additional experience and higher-level certifications (e.g. OSCP, CEH, CASP+/SecurityX), potential to move into senior leadership and advisory roles such as Security Architect, Director of Offensive Security, or Head of Cybersecurity

PenTest+ is particularly valuable for professionals in security assessment, DevSecOps, and red teaming, where validated offensive security expertise is essential.

Course dates will be discussed directly with the training provider upon successful completion of funding application. Any course dates arranged with the training provider prior to funding being secured may not be honoured – Course dates will only be confirmed once funding has been approved.

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