Get To Know CompTIA Cybersecurity Certifications
CompTIA certifications are widely recognized and highly in-demand. But which certification is right for you? It depends on your IT knowledge and experience, as well as your career goals.
Choose Your IT Career Pathway
CompTIA has two main certification "pathways": Infrastructure and Cybersecurity.
Both pathways start with "core skills" certifications: ITF+, A+, Network+, and Security+. Core skills certifications (particularly A+, Network+, and Security+) are relevant across a wide variety of IT careers.
Both pathways also allow you to earn more advanced, specialized credentials at each stage of your IT career. After earning your Security+ certification, you can choose to branch off into more specialized CompTIA certifications.
The CompTIA Cybersecurity Pathway
CompTIA offers core, intermediate, and advanced cybersecurity certifications. Learn more about each certification below.
Core Skills Certifications
Core CompTIA Certifications |
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IT Fundamentals (ITF+)
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No prior work experience necessary
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N/A: ITF+ is a "pre-professional" certification that is designed to equip you with basic IT knowledge and skills, to prepare you for more advanced CompTIA certifications. | |
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CompTIA A+
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9 to 12 months hands-on professional IT experience in the lab or field
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Help Desk Technician Technical Support Specialist Field Service Technician Desktop Support Administrator System Support Specialist |
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Network+ |
CompTIA A+ Certification and at least 9 to 12 months of networking experience |
Junior Network Administrator Network Engineer System Administrator Datacenter Support Technician |
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Security+
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CompTIA Network+ and two years of experience in IT administration with a security focus
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Security Administrator Security Engineer / Analyst IT Auditor Systems Administrator Network / Cloud Engineer |
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Intermediate Certifications
Intermediate CompTIA certifications are designed for those who have the Core CompTIA certifications, plus 3-4 (or more) years of hands-on information security experience.
IT professionals often choose one Intermediate certification or the other
- PenTest+ focuses on "offense" via vulnerability assessment and penetration testing.
- CySA+ focuses on "defense" via incident detection and response.
Both skill sets are necessary and in-demand to protect against the ever-growing threat of cyber attacks.
Intermediate CompTIA Certifications |
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PenTest+
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Network+, Security+ or equivalent knowledge. Minimum of 3-4 years of hands-on information security or related experience. While there is no required prerequisite, PenTest+ is intended to follow CompTIA Security+ or equivalent experience and has a technical, hands-on focus.
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Penetration Tester Security Consultant Network & Security Specialist Cloud Security Specialist |
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CompTIA CyberSecurity Analyst (CySA+) |
Network+, Security+ or equivalent knowledge. Minimum of 4 years of hands-on information security or related experience.
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Security Analyst Security Engineer Incident Handler Application Security Analyst
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Advanced Certification
CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) is the most advanced certification in CompTIA's Cybersecurity Pathway.
Advanced CompTIA Certification |
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CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) |
A minimum of ten years of experience in IT administration, including at least five years of hands-on technical security experience. |
Security Architect Senior Security Engineer Security Analyst |
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IT Career Planning Resources
- Explore CompTIA Certification Pathways
- Learn about jobs associated with each CompTIA certification
- Calculate how much you might earn with CompTIA's IT Salary Calculator