PenTest+ vs CySA+: Which Should I Get?

PenTest+ and CySA+ are both intermediate CompTIA certifications, but they focus on opposite sides of cybersecurity. PenTest+ covers offensive security (penetration testing, vulnerability exploitation, attack techniques), while CySA+ covers defensive security (threat detection, incident response, security monitoring).

Choose PenTest+ if you want to work in penetration testing, red teaming, vulnerability assessment, or ethical hacking. Choose CySA+ if you want to work in a SOC, do threat hunting, incident response, or security analysis.

Many security professionals eventually earn both. If you are unsure, consider your career goals: offensive roles tend to pay more but are harder to break into. Defensive roles have more job openings at the entry and mid-level. Both certifications require Security+ or equivalent knowledge as a foundation.