What certifications do I need to become a penetration tester?

Top Penetration Testing Certifications

• GIAC Certified Penetration Tester (GPEN)
• GIAC Web Application Penetration Tester (GWAPT)
• GIAC Exploit Researcher and Advanced Penetration Tester (GXPN)
• EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
• EC-Council Licensed Penetration Tester — Master (LPT)
• Certified Penetration Tester (CPT)

Are Pentesters in high demand?

According to joint research conducted by the Enterprise Strategy Group (ESG) and the Information Systems Security Association (ISSA), 23\% of organizations report having a shortage of pen testers, ranking penetration testing fourth on the list of cybersecurity skills where they suffer the largest shortage.

Is Pentesting a fun job?

Yes – it’s really fun. A career in penetration testing offers a good variety of work and a chance to be a little bit geeky. There’s a big need for ethical hackers and penetration testers – it’s quite a small community and there is a strong demand for it.

How much do Pentesters get paid?

As of May 2021, PayScale reports that the median annual penetration tester salary is around $86,000. A host of factors impact the salary, including education, experience, job type and job location. For example, penetration testers with 10 to 20 years of experience in the field can earn more than $120,000 yearly.

What degree do you need to become a penetration tester?

Professionals with relevant hacking skills and work experience do not always need specialized degrees to become penetration testers. However, many pen testing jobs require bachelor’s or master’s degrees in cybersecurity, computer science, or IT.

What are the different levels of penetration testing jobs?

Associate or junior pen testers, mid-level pen testers, and senior or lead pen testers obviously represent sequentially advancing experience levels and responsibilities within the penetration testing umbrella. Some positions still require only a demonstration of relevant skills and an appropriate level of cybersecurity experience and knowledge.

What is the career path to become a pen tester?

Career path: There are several ways a would-be pen tester can break into the cybersecurity industry. Starting out in security administration, network administration, network engineer, system administrator, or web-based application programming, always focusing on the security side of each discipline, will provide a good foundation for pen testing.

What is penpenetration testing?

Penetration Testing or Pentesting is a form of security assessment that evaluates software applications, networks, or computer systems to find security vulnerabilities that an attacker could exploit. You can become a pentester by completing a penetration testing certification.