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Pentester Guide: Learn, Practice, and Pass PenTest+ PT0-003

Prepare for CompTIA PenTest+ (PT0-003) certification. Master the tools, techniques, and reporting skills of ethical hacking.

(PENTEST-003.AE1) / ISBN : 978-1-64459-753-8
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About This Course

Before earning a place in the world of cybersecurity, many ethical hackers began by exploring systems, asking questions, and learning how attackers think. This CompTIA PenTest+ PT0-003 exam preparation helps you do just that.

Using hands-on labs, simulated tools, and interactive items, you’ll explore:

  • How to scope, plan, and manage penetration tests professionally
  • Tools and techniques used during information gathering and vulnerability scanning
  • Exploitation tactics for networks, web apps, and wireless systems
  • Methods to analyze and interpret findings in compliance with the reporting standard
  • The ethics, legalities, and best practices of working as a pentester

To wrap it up, you’ll develop a complete penetration test report, just like the ones used in real consulting engagements or internal red team ops.

So suit up, dig in, and get ready to sit for the PT0-003 exam.

Skills You’ll Get

  • Information Gathering & Vulnerability Scanning: Understanding pre-engagement activities & legal boundaries & learn about regulatory compliance & industry-standard methods. 
  • Exploitation & Pivoting: Conduct targeted exploits on networks, apps, hosts & explore the world of pivoting, lateral movements, & persistence techniques. 
  • Social Engineering & Physical Security: Exploit the social vulnerabilities, such as phishing & impersonation & test out the physical access control weaknesses. 
  • Scripting For Penetration Testing: Automate your tasks with Python, bash as well and PowerShell. Utilize the power flow control, I/O operations, error handling & reusable code.
Download Course Outline

1

Introduction

  • CompTIA
  • The PenTest+ Exam
  • What Does This Course Cover?
  • CompTIA PenTest+ Certification Exam Objectives
2

Penetration Testing

  • What Is Penetration Testing?
  • Reasons for Penetration Testing
  • Who Performs Penetration Tests?
  • The CompTIA Penetration Testing Process
  • The Cyber Kill Chain
  • Tools of the Trade
  • Summary
  • Exam Essentials
  • Lab Exercises
3

Planning and Scoping Penetration Tests

  • Summarizing Pre‐engagement Activities
  • Shared Responsibility Model
  • Key Legal Concepts for Penetration Tests
  • Regulatory Compliance Considerations
  • Penetration Testing Standards and Methodologies
  • Threat Modeling Frameworks
  • Summary
  • Exam Essentials
  • Lab Exercises
4

Information Gathering

  • Reconnaissance and Enumeration
  • Active Reconnaissance and Enumeration
  • Summary
  • Exam Essentials
  • Lab Exercises
5

Vulnerability Scanning

  • Identifying Vulnerability Management Requirements
  • Configuring and Executing Vulnerability Scans
  • Software Security Testing
  • Developing a Remediation Workflow
  • Overcoming Barriers to Vulnerability Scanning
  • Summary
  • Exam Essentials
  • Lab Exercises
6

Analyzing Vulnerability Scans

  • Reviewing and Interpreting Scan Reports
  • Validating Scan Results
  • Common Vulnerabilities
  • Summary
  • Exam Essentials
  • Lab Exercises
7

Exploit and Pivot

  • Exploits and Attacks
  • Pivoting and Lateral Movement
  • Exploitation Toolkits and Tools
  • Exploit Specifics
  • Leveraging Exploits
  • Persistence and Evasion
  • Covering Your Tracks
  • Summary
  • Exam Essentials
  • Lab Exercises
8

Exploiting Network Vulnerabilities

  • Identifying Exploits
  • Conducting Network Exploits
  • Exploiting Windows Services
  • Identifying and Exploiting Common Services
  • Wireless Exploits
  • Summary
  • Exam Essentials
  • Lab Exercises
9

Exploiting Physical and Social Vulnerabilities

  • Exploiting Physical Vulnerabilities
  • Exploiting Social Vulnerabilities
  • Summary
  • Exam Essentials
  • Lab Exercises
10

Exploiting Application Vulnerabilities

  • Exploiting Injection Vulnerabilities
  • Exploiting Authentication Vulnerabilities
  • Exploiting Authorization Vulnerabilities
  • Exploiting Web Application Vulnerabilities
  • Unsecure Coding Practices
  • Application Testing Tools
  • Summary
  • Exam Essentials
  • Lab Exercises
11

Exploiting Host Vulnerabilities

  • Attacking Hosts
  • Credential Attacks and Testing Tools
  • Remote Access
  • Attacking Virtual Machines and Containers
  • Attacking Cloud Technologies
  • Attacking Mobile Devices
  • Attacking Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Attacking IoT, ICS, Embedded Systems, and SCADA Devices
  • Attacking Data Storage
  • Summary
  • Exam Essentials
  • Lab Exercises
12

Reporting and Communication

  • The Importance of Collaboration and Communication
  • Recommending Mitigation Strategies
  • Writing a Penetration Testing Report
  • Wrapping Up the Engagement
  • Summary
  • Exam Essentials
  • Lab Exercises
13

Scripting for Penetration Testing

  • Scripting and Penetration Testing
  • Variables, Arrays, and Substitutions
  • Comparison Operations
  • String Operations
  • Flow Control
  • Input and Output (I/O)
  • Error Handling
  • Reusing Code
  • The Role of Coding in Penetration Testing
  • Summary
  • Exam Essentials
  • Lab Exercises

1

Information Gathering

  • Performing Zone Transfer Using dig
  • Using the dig and nslookup Commands
  • Using Maltego to Gather Information
  • Performing UDP and SYN Scans Using Nmap
  • Using Nmap for Network and User Enumeration
  • Using Recon-ng to Gather Information
  • Performing Reconnaissance on a Network
  • Capturing Network Packets Using TCPDump
2

Vulnerability Scanning

  • Consulting a Vulnerability Database
  • Performing Vulnerability Scanning Using OpenVAS
  • Conducting Vulnerability Scanning Using Nessus
3

Analyzing Vulnerability Scans

  • Analyzing CVSS Scores
4

Exploit and Pivot

  • Examining MITRE ATT&CK
  • Using Meterpreter to Display the System Information
  • Exploiting SMB
  • Running Scheduled Tasks Through cron
  • Understanding Local Privilege Escalation
  • Hiding Text Using Steganography
5

Exploiting Network Vulnerabilities

  • Simulating the DDoS Attack
  • Performing ARP Spoofing
  • Using the EternalBlue Exploit in Metasploit
  • Exploiting SMTP
  • Exploiting SNMP
6

Exploiting Physical and Social Vulnerabilities

  • Identifying Access Badge Areas
  • Using SET to Plan an Attack
  • Using BeEF
7

Exploiting Application Vulnerabilities

  • Exploiting Command Injection Vulnerabilities
  • Exploiting a Website Using SQL Injection
  • Performing Session Hijacking Using Burp Suite
  • Exploiting LFI and RFI Vulnerabilities
  • Conducting an XSS Attack
  • Conducting a CSRF Attack
  • Using OWASP ZAP
8

Exploiting Host Vulnerabilities

  • Performing Scans in Zenmap
  • Understanding the Pass-the-Hash Attack
  • Cracking Passwords Using Cain and Abel
  • Cracking Linux Passwords Using John the Ripper
  • Creating Reverse and Bind Shells Using Netcat
9

Reporting and Communication

  • Implementing Physical Security
10

Scripting for Penetration Testing

  • Finding Live Hosts by Using the Ping Sweep in Python
  • Writing a Bash Shell Script
  • Performing the Nmap Scan in Python
  • Performing Reverse DNS Lookups in Python

Any questions?
Check out the FAQs

Read answers to commonly asked questions about this certification exam. 

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The CompTIA PenTest+ certification is simply designed for cybersecurity professionals with some experience who want to specialize in penetration testing & vulnerability management. It is beneficial for those who have 3 to 4 years of hands-on information security or any related experience & training.

The best way to prepare is through hands-on training, real-world labs, and structured exam prep. uCertify’s CompTIA PenTest+ online course is designed to help you master penetration testing techniques, practice in interactive labs, and gain the confidence to pass the exam on your first attempt.

Yes! CompTIA PenTest+ is DoD-approved, making it a great choice for cybersecurity professionals looking for government or military IT security roles such as systems security analyst, cyber defence analyst, COMSEC manager, etc.

Here’s a quick CEH vs OSCP vs PenTest+ Comparison:

  • CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker): Focuses on theoretical knowledge of hacking tools, techniques, and methodologies. Good for beginners and compliance-focused roles.
  • OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional): Highly practical and hands-on. Known for its rigorous exam that requires exploiting real systems. Ideal for advanced penetration testers.
  • CompTIA PenTest+: Balances theory and practical skills. Covers both offensive and defensive techniques with a focus on real-world scenarios. Suitable for intermediate-level professionals.

Each serves different experience levels and job requirements. CEH for foundational knowledge, PenTest+ for applied skills, and OSCP for advanced hands-on expertise.

Yes, many of our CompTIA PenTest+ courses are specifically designed to align with the CompTIA PenTest+ PTO-003 exam objectives.

For CompTIA PenTest+, hands-on labs are critically important & it is as important as the theoretical knowledge. Many factors contribute to this: Performance-Based Questions Validation of Practical Skills  Understanding the concept of How & Why  Building a Penetration test concept  Real-world relevance

PenTest+ PTO-003 Exam Prep: More Than Just Study

  Prepare for real-world scenarios where critical thinking and ethical responsibility come together. Start today, train like a pro, and pass the PT0-003 exam.

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