CompTIA PenTest+ (PT0-002)
How to prepare for PT0-002
A 5-stage plan from your first study session to exam day. Adjust the pace to your own schedule.
Study plan
| Stage | What to do | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Understand the exam outline Read the official objectives and become familiar with the two weighted domains – Engagement management and Reconnaissance & enumeration. | Week 1 |
| 2 | Deep‑dive into engagement management Study planning, scoping, legal/ethical compliance, stakeholder communication and report writing; practice creating mock engagement documents. | Weeks 2‑3 |
| 3 | Master reconnaissance and enumeration techniques Learn active/passive OSINT, network sniffing, enumeration tools; run labs to gather and validate target information. | Weeks 4‑5 |
| 4 | Hands‑on lab practice Use CertMaster Perform or similar labs to execute scans, attacks, persistence, and lateral movement in simulated cloud, web, and IoT environments. | Weeks 6‑7 |
| 5 | Timed exam simulation Complete full‑length practice exams under the 165‑minute limit, review explanations, and close any knowledge gaps. | Week 8 |
Exam domains
These come from the official exam outline.
- Engagement management (13%)
- Reconnaissance and enumeration (21%)
PT0-002 preparation questions
How many steps are in the PT0-002 study plan?
This plan has 5 stages, starting with understand the exam outline and ending with timed exam simulation.
Do I need prior experience for PT0-002?
3–4 years in a penetration tester role, with Network+ and Security+ or equivalent knowledge
What should I study for PT0-002?
Focus on the official exam domains: Engagement management (13%), Reconnaissance and enumeration (21%).
Exam outlines change between versions. Check the official exam page for the current outline before you start.