3in4

companies say last year’s cyber incidents had a severe or moderate impact. CompTIA State of Cybersecurity 2025.

CompTIA PenTest+ V3 (PT0-003) certification

Close the Gaps Attackers Use.

Most companies felt the hit from a cyber incident last year. PenTest+ proves you can find the weak spots in networks, cloud and apps first, and show teams exactly how to fix them.

HRD Corp claimableYayasan Peneraju: may be eligibleKL, Penang or online

Exam

PT0-003

Course

5 days

Course fee

RM3,700

With exam

RM5,613

Next intake

7 Dec 2026

Quick answer

What is CompTIA PenTest+?

CompTIA PenTest+ is a vendor-neutral certification for penetration testers. It proves you can plan and scope an engagement, find and exploit weaknesses across networks, cloud, web and mobile, then report what you found and how to fix it. One 165-minute exam, PT0-003, mixes multiple-choice and performance-based questions, and the certification stays valid for three years.

Exam facts verified against comptia.org on 22 Oct 2026

FOR

Security+ holders and analysts moving into offensive security

ROLES

Penetration tester, security consultant

SKIP IF

You are new to security. Start with CompTIA Security+

01

The Credential

What you study, practise and sit to earn it.

Pass one exam, PT0-003, and you hold CompTIA PenTest+. It covers the whole engagement, from agreeing the rules to writing the report, which is what clients actually pay a tester for.

COURSE

5 days, 20 modules

HANDS-ON

Performance-based practice

EXAM

PT0-003, 165 min

CREDENTIAL

CompTIA PenTest+

Awarded by

CompTIA

Level

Intermediate, vendor-neutral

Prerequisites

None required

Recommended

Network+ and Security+, 3 to 4 years as a tester

Validity

3 years

Exam version

V3

02

Decide in 60 Seconds

Four options people weigh against each other.

If you want to

Choose

Why

Test systems the way an attacker would

→

CompTIA PenTest+

Full engagement, from scoping and exploits to the report

Detect and respond to attacks as a defender

→

CompTIA CySA+

The analyst path: monitoring, vulnerabilities and response

Get the security baseline first

→

CompTIA Security+

Core security skills most testers start with

Try hacking, defence and forensics as a beginner

→

EC-Council Certified Security Specialist

One entry-level exam across three disciplines

No prerequisites. But are you ready?
0/4

Tick what applies. 3 or 4: you are ready for this course. Fewer: start with CompTIA Security+.

03

What the Exam Covers

Five domains from CompTIA’s V3 exam objectives. Bars to scale.

5 domainsLargest: Attacks and Exploits, 35%

Attacks and Exploits 35%
Reconnaissance and Enumeration 21%
Vulnerability Discovery and Analysis 17%
Post-exploitation and Lateral Movement 14%
Engagement Management 13%

Source: CompTIA PenTest+ V3 (PT0-003) exam objectives summary.

04

What the Course Covers

20 modules in five themes, following a real engagement from start to finish.

Five days of instructor-led training aligned to the PT0-003 objectives. You run a simulated penetration test for a fictitious company, so every module feeds the next stage of the job.

2 modules

Plan and Scope

  • Scoping Organisational and Customer Requirements
  • Defining the Rules of Engagement

5 modules

Recon and Scanning

  • Footprinting and Gathering Intelligence
  • Evaluating Human and Physical Vulnerabilities
  • Preparing the Vulnerability Scan
  • Scanning Logical Vulnerabilities
  • Analysing Scanning Results

7 modules

Attacks and Exploits

  • Avoiding Detection and Covering Tracks
  • Exploiting the LAN and Cloud
  • Testing Wireless Networks
  • Targeting Mobile Devices
  • Attacking Specialised Systems
  • Web Application-Based Attacks
  • Performing System Hacking

2 modules

Post-Exploitation

  • Scripting and Software Development
  • Leveraging the Attack: Pivot and Penetrate

4 modules

Report and Remediate

  • Communicating During the Pen Testing Process
  • Summarising Report Components
  • Recommending Remediation
  • Performing Post-Report Delivery Activities

PBQs

The exam includes performance-based questions that ask you to complete testing tasks in simulated environments. The course prepares you for both question types.

05

Why Now

What incidents cost, how attackers get in, and why train with us.

3 in 4

companies say last year’s cyber incidents had a severe or moderate impact

CompTIA State of Cybersecurity 2025

31%

of breaches began with an exploited vulnerability, now the most common way in

Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report 2026

16%

rise in cyber incidents reported to MyCERT in Q1 2026, to 2,188 cases

MyCERT Cyber Incident Summary Report, Q1 2026

6 hrs

Six Hours to Report. Who’s Watching the Alerts?

Malaysia’s Cyber Security Act 2024 (Act 854) came into force on 26 August 2024. Critical infrastructure entities must report a cyber security incident within six hours, and managed SOC monitoring services now need a licence. Testing your defences before an attacker does is how you stay off that clock.

NACSA; Cyber Security (Notification of Cyber Security Incident) Regulations 2024

CompTIA Training Delivery Partner

Training aligned to the official PT0-003 objectives

Exam add-on

Add your exam voucher for RM1,913

HRD Corp registered

This course is HRD Corp claimable

KL, Penang or online

Instructor-led in class or live online

06

The Cost, All In

Every figure per person, in ringgit.

Fees

Five-day courseRM3,700

Exam voucher add-on (PT0-003)RM1,913

Funding

HRD Corp claim for employersClaimable

Yayasan Peneraju financing (Bumiputera)May be eligible

Course with exam

RM5,613

RM3,700 + RM1,913

Dates

Where

Fee

Mon 7 to Fri 11 Dec 2026

Kuala Lumpur or online

RM3,700 / RM5,613 with exam

Mon 15 to Fri 19 Feb 2027

Kuala Lumpur or online

RM3,700 / RM5,613 with exam

Mon 5 to Fri 9 Apr 2027

Kuala Lumpur, Penang or online

RM3,700 / RM5,613 with exam

Mon 28 Jun to Fri 2 Jul 2027

Kuala Lumpur or online

RM3,700 / RM5,613 with exam

Mon 9 to Fri 13 Aug 2027

Kuala Lumpur, Penang or online

RM3,700 / RM5,613 with exam

Training a team? We run private intakes on dates that suit your organisation, with HRD Corp claims handled alongside you.

07

Exam and Renewal

What exam day looks like, and what happens after you pass.

Certification

CompTIA PenTest+ V3

Exam code

PT0-003

Questions

Up to 90, multiple-choice and performance-based

Duration

165 minutes

Passing score

750 on a 100 to 900 scale

Languages

English, French, Japanese, Portuguese

Launched

17 Dec 2024

Exam voucher

RM1,913 add-on through Trainocate

RENEW OPTION 1

Earn 60 CEUs

Collect 60 continuing education units within three years through training, qualifying activities or CompTIA CertMaster CE.

RENEW OPTION 2

Pass a higher certification

Pass a higher CompTIA certification such as SecurityX, a qualifying industry certification, or the latest PenTest+ exam.

FAQ

Questions People Ask

What is CompTIA PenTest+?

CompTIA PenTest+ is a vendor-neutral certification for penetration testers. It proves you can plan an engagement, find and exploit weaknesses across networks, cloud, web and mobile, and report how to fix them.

V3 (PT0-003), launched on 17 Dec 2024. The previous PT0-002 exam retired on 17 Jun 2025. CompTIA usually refreshes exams about three years after launch.

At Trainocate Malaysia the five-day course is RM3,700 per person, or RM5,613 per person with the exam voucher. The course is HRD Corp claimable, and Malaysian Bumiputera learners may be eligible for Yayasan Peneraju funding.

No. PenTest+ has no formal prerequisites. CompTIA recommends Network+ and Security+ or equivalent knowledge, plus three to four years of experience as a penetration tester.

You need 750 on a scale of 100 to 900. The PT0-003 exam has up to 90 multiple-choice and performance-based questions in 165 minutes.

CompTIA lists penetration tester and security consultant as the main roles. Many holders use it to move from a defensive role into offensive security.

PenTest+ is valid for three years. Renew it by earning 60 continuing education units, completing CompTIA CertMaster CE, or passing a higher certification such as SecurityX.

Start Breaking In, Legally

Pick an intake. An advisor confirms fees, HRD Corp claims and Yayasan Peneraju eligibility with you.

  • Next intake: 7 to 11 Dec 2026
  • RM3,700, or RM5,613 with exam

Sources

  1. CompTIA: PenTest+
  2. CompTIA: PenTest+ V3 renewal (60 CEUs)
  3. CompTIA: SecurityX
  4. CompTIA: CySA+ V4
  5. CompTIA: State of Cybersecurity 2025
  6. Verizon: 2026 DBIR executive summary (PDF)
  7. Trainocate: CT-PENTEST+ course outline
  8. CyberSecurity Malaysia: Q1 2026 Cyber Incident Summary Report
  9. NACSA: Cyber Security Act 2024 (Act 854)
  10. MAICSA: Act 854 regulations summary