CompTIA PenTest+ vs. Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) in 2025: A Detailed Comparison

This blog provides a comprehensive comparison of CompTIA PenTest+ and Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certifications, two prominent credentials for cybersecurity professionals in offensive security roles, to aid in career and skill development decisions for 2025.

Introduction to Certifications

• CompTIA PenTest+: An intermediate-level certification validating the ability to plan, scope, perform, and report on penetration tests. It emphasizes the full penetration testing lifecycle, diverse attack surfaces, and hands-on practical skills. It is vendor-neutral and well-regarded for real-world application.

• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH): A globally recognized credential by EC-Council that teaches professionals to "think like a hacker" to proactively protect systems. It covers a broad spectrum of ethical hacking techniques, tools, and methodologies.

Quick Comparison Table

CompTIA PenTest+ Overview

• Purpose and Focus: Validates the ability to plan, scope, execute penetration tests, analyze results, and report findings with remediation techniques. Covers the full penetration testing process from reconnaissance to post-exploitation and reporting. The PT0-003 exam (launched Dec 17, 2024) includes cloud, web applications, APIs, and IoT devices alongside traditional networks.

• Exam Details (PT0-003):

  • Latest version: PT0-003, launched December 17, 2024.

  • Duration: 165 minutes.

  • Questions: Max 85-90, including multiple-choice, drag-and-drop, and performance-based questions (PBTs).

  • Passing Score: 750 out of 900.

  • Voucher Price: Approximately $425 USD.

• Exam Objectives (Domains):

  • Planning and Scoping: Legal, compliance, and ethical considerations.

  • Information Gathering and Vulnerability Identification: Passive and active reconnaissance, vulnerability scanning.

  • Attacks and Exploits: Researching attack vectors and performing attacks on networks, wireless, web applications, cloud, and IoT systems.

  • Penetration Testing Tools / Tools and Code Analysis: Proficiency with tools (scanning, packet crafting, exploitation frameworks) and evaluating scripts/code.

  • Reporting and Communication: Producing professional reports, communicating results, and providing actionable recommendations.

• Recommended Experience: No mandatory prerequisites, but 3-4 years of hands-on information security experience and knowledge equivalent to CompTIA Security+ are recommended.

• Job Roles: Penetration Tester, Vulnerability Tester, Vulnerability Assessment Analyst, Security Analyst (II), Security Consultant, Network Security Operations, Cloud Penetration Tester, Cloud Security Specialist, Web App Penetration Tester, Information Security Engineer.

• Continuing Education (Renewal):

  • Validity: 3 years.

  • Renewal Requirements: 60 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) within 3 years.

  • Annual Fee: $50 ($150 total over 3 years).

  • CEU Activities: Higher certifications, training, college courses, webinars, conferences, writing, teaching, mentoring, work experience.

• Pros: Comprehensive skill validation across the full lifecycle, industry-relevant, practical focus (PBTs), vendor-neutral, globally trusted, ISO/ANSI-accredited, DoD approved, excellent intermediate-level credential.

• Cons: Substantial exam cost, requires continuous learning due to evolving tech (cloud, API, AI), challenging for beginners, reputation still building compared to some established certs.

Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) Overview

• Purpose and Focus: Validates knowledge and skills in ethical hacking from an offensive perspective, teaching professionals to think like malicious hackers to identify vulnerabilities and strengthen defenses.

• Certification Requirements:

  • Option 1: Complete official EC-Council training (waives experience).

  • Option 2: Apply with at least 2 years of verifiable information security experience and a $100 non-refundable application fee.

  • Must be of legal age (written consent for minors).

• Exam Details (v13):

  • Latest version: v13, launched September 23, 2024.

  • Core Exam: 125 multiple-choice questions, 4 hours duration.

  • Passing Score: 60% to 85% (varies by exam form).

  • Topics: Information Security/ethical hacking overview, reconnaissance, system hacking, network/perimeter hacking, web app hacking, wireless hacking, mobile, IoT, OT hacking, cloud computing, cryptography, intrusion detection, policy, social engineering, DDoS, buffer overflows, virus creation.

  • CEH (Practical): Optional, 6-hour hands-on assessment.

• Cost of Certification:

  • Total Cost: $1,500 - $4,000 (depending on pathway and location).

  • Exam Voucher: ~$950 (EC-Council) to $1,199 (Pearson VUE).

  • Application Fee (self-study): $100.

  • Training Costs: Self-paced online ($850–$1,200), instructor-led online ($1,500–$2,500), in-person bootcamps ($2,000–$3,500).

  • Official EC-Council Courses: $2,199 - $3,499 (often include voucher/retakes).

  • Retake Fees: $100 (with training), $499 (without training).

• Certification Renewal:

  • Validity: 3 years.

  • Renewal Requirements: 120 EC-Council Continued Education (ECE) credits within 3 years (approx. 40 per year).

  • Annual Fee: $80 USD (EC-Council membership).

  • ECE Activities: Approved training, teaching InfoSec, writing papers/articles, speaking at conferences, organizing events, earning new certs (max 40 ECE), chapter meetings.

• Benefits: Global recognition, enhanced credibility, career advancement, skill development (attacker's perspective), increased job opportunities, higher earning potential, practical experience via CEH Labs.

• Pros: Boosts job opportunities and salary potential, enhanced credibility and global recognition, comprehensive foundational knowledge, cultivates "hacker mindset," gateway to specialization.

• Cons: High cost for training and exam, experience requirement (or training), broad focus perceived as less specialized than some certs, some view it as more theoretical than hands-on, perception varies among employers, necessitates continuous learning.

Key Differences

• Certifying Body: CompTIA (vendor-neutral) vs. EC-Council (specialized in cybersecurity).

• Primary Focus: PenTest+ focuses on the end-to-end penetration testing engagement lifecycle (planning, scoping, assessment, exploitation, reporting) across diverse environments. CEH focuses on a broad understanding of ethical hacking techniques and methodologies from an offensive perspective to build defenses.

• Methodology: PenTest+ emphasizes a structured, systematic, ethical engagement lifecycle with clear communication. CEH adopts a "hacker's mindset" exploring diverse attack vectors and vulnerabilities.

• Practicality: PenTest+ integrates performance-based questions (PBTs) into its single exam for direct hands-on skill demonstration. CEH's core exam is multiple-choice; hands-on validation requires a separate, optional CEH (Practical) exam.

• Exam Format: PenTest+ is a single exam with both multiple-choice and PBTs. CEH has a core multiple-choice exam and an optional practical exam.

• Difficulty Level: PenTest+ is challenging due to integrated PBTs requiring practical application. CEH is moderate to difficult due to its extensive topic range and the expectation of tool proficiency; the practical exam adds significant challenge.

• Prerequisites / Recommended Experience: PenTest+ recommends 3-4 years of experience and Security+ knowledge. CEH requires 2 years of experience or completion of official training.

• Cost: PenTest+ voucher ~$425. CEH total cost can be $1,500-$4,000, with vouchers ~$950-$1,199.

• Renewal: PenTest+ requires 60 CEUs and $150 over 3 years. CEH requires 120 ECE credits and $240 over 3 years ($80 annual membership).

• Industry Recognition: Both are globally recognized and DoD approved. PenTest+ is valued for practical skills validation. CEH is respected for broad ethical hacking understanding.

• Current Versions (2025): PenTest+ is PT0-003 (launched Dec 2024), updated for AI, cloud, API, IoT. CEH is v13 (launched Sept 2024), with significant AI integration, cloud/IoT security, and enhanced labs.

Which Should You Choose?

Choose CompTIA PenTest+ if:

• You want to validate skills across the entire penetration testing engagement lifecycle (planning, legal, execution, reporting).

• You prefer an exam with integrated performance-based questions for direct hands-on skill demonstration.

• Your career path is focused on hands-on penetration testing, vulnerability testing, or managing the testing process.

• You seek a vendor-neutral credential covering diverse attack surfaces (cloud, web apps, APIs, IoT).

• You have 3-4 years of experience and want to specialize in offensive security.

Choose CEH if:

• You are looking for a globally recognized credential broadly focused on ethical hacking techniques and tools used by malicious hackers.

• You desire a strong theoretical foundation in various hacking methodologies and attacker tactics.

• You appreciate the option to separately validate hands-on skills through the CEH (Practical) exam.

• Your role involves understanding and replicating hacker tactics to build defenses, or you aim for roles like security consultant or information security officer.

• You have 2 years of information security experience or plan to attend official training.

Study Resources

• CompTIA PenTest+ (PT0-003 / PT0-002):

  • Official: CompTIA Official Study Guide, CertMaster Learn, CertMaster Practice, CertMaster Labs.

  • Third-Party: Sybex Study Guide (Chapple, Shimonski, Seidl), Udemy, Pearson IT Certification, Infosec Skills, Cybrary, Exam-Labs, CyberNow Labs, 101 Labs, FlashGenius practice tests.

  • Communities: CompTIA Instructor Network (CIN) Open Forum, Reddit (r/CompTIA).

• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) (v13):

  • Official: EC-Council Official Courseware, EC-Council iLabs (cyber range), EC-Council iClass.

  • Third-Party: CEH v13 Certified Ethical Hacker Study Guide (Messier), CEH Certified Ethical Hacker All-in-One Exam Guide (Walker), Simplilearn, InfosecTrain, Udemy, TryHackMe, Hack The Box, VulnHub, FlashGenius Flashcards.

  • Tools: Nmap, Wireshark, Metasploit, Burp Suite.

FAQs

• Difficulty: Both are moderately to highly difficult. PenTest+ challenges with integrated PBTs. CEH challenges with broad topics and the optional practical exam.

• Penetration Tester Career: PenTest+ is often more directly aligned for hands-on testers focused on the full lifecycle. CEH offers broader offensive understanding, especially with the practical exam.

• Experience: PenTest+ recommends 3-4 years. CEH requires 2 years or official training.

• Exam Format Difference: PenTest+ has a single exam with MCQs and PBTs. CEH has a core MCQ exam and a separate optional practical exam.

• Renewal Frequency: Both are valid for 3 years. PenTest+ requires 60 CEUs. CEH requires 120 ECE credits.

• Earning Potential: Both are associated with high earning potential. PenTest+ averages ~$109,500 - $124,424. CEH averages ~$113,548 - $136,000.

• DoD Recognition: Yes, both are approved by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and meet Directive 8140/8570.01-M requirements.

Conclusion

The choice between CompTIA PenTest+ and CEH in 2025 depends on specific career goals and learning styles. Both are respected, DoD-approved credentials that enhance a cybersecurity professional's profile and earning potential.

• CompTIA PenTest+ is ideal for those seeking validation of skills across the entire penetration testing engagement lifecycle, with integrated hands-on performance-based questions and a focus on modern attack surfaces. It is well-suited for direct penetration testing roles.

• CEH offers a broader theoretical and methodological understanding of ethical hacking, teaching professionals to think like an adversary, with an optional practical exam for hands-on validation. It is a strong choice for comprehensive foundational knowledge, potentially as a stepping stone to broader security consulting or information security officer roles.

Consider your career trajectory and review the specific exam objectives for PT0-003 and CEH v13 to make an informed decision. Utilizing resources like FlashGenius practice tests can aid preparation.