CEH vs CompTIA PenTest+
Which certification is right for your career? Here's the full breakdown.
EC-Council
CEH
CEH v13
Certified Ethical Hacker — offensive security certification covering penetration testing methodologies and hacking tools.
Full guide →CompTIA
CompTIA PenTest+
PT0-003
Hands-on penetration testing certification covering planning, scoping, vulnerability scanning, and reporting.
Full guide →Side-by-side comparison
| Category | CEH | CompTIA PenTest+ |
|---|---|---|
| Exam cost | $1199 USD | ✓$404 USD |
| Avg salary uplift | ✓+$15,000/yr | +$14,000/yr |
| Exam duration | 240 min | 165 min |
| Renewal period | Every 3 years | Every 3 years |
| Issued by | EC-Council | CompTIA |
| Difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
CEH — Prerequisites
2 years IT security experience or EC-Council official training
CompTIA PenTest+ — Prerequisites
Network+, Security+, or 3-4 years hands-on experience
Get CEH if…
- •You have 2–3 years of IT experience and want to specialise
- •You want a +$15,000/yr salary boost
- •You prefer credentials from EC-Council
Get CompTIA PenTest+ if…
- •You have 2–3 years of IT experience and want to specialise
- •You want a +$14,000/yr salary boost
- •You prefer credentials from CompTIA
Best CEH courses
udemy
CEH Complete Course
by Top-rated instructor
One-time purchase, lifetime access
View on Udemy →Best CompTIA PenTest+ courses
udemy
CompTIA PenTest+ Complete Course
by Top-rated instructor
One-time purchase, lifetime access
View on Udemy →Frequently asked questions
Is CEH harder than CompTIA PenTest+?
Both CEH and CompTIA PenTest+ are rated intermediate difficulty.
Which pays more — CEH or CompTIA PenTest+?
CEH has an average salary uplift of +$15,000/yr, while CompTIA PenTest+ has +$14,000/yr. CEH has the higher salary impact.
Which should I get first — CEH or CompTIA PenTest+?
CEH is the better starting point — it's rated intermediate and costs less. Use it as a stepping stone toward CompTIA PenTest+.