Do you want to know about “How to Become a Penetration Tester?” If yes, then you are at the right place. Here, we will talk about the best ways to learn pentesting skills and become a professional pentester.

In the end, we will introduce you to a reputed training institute offering a dedicated training program related to pentesting skills. What are we waiting for? Let’s get straight to the topic!

What is Penetration Testing?

An authorized, simulated cyberattack against a computer system, network, or application to assess its security is known as penetration testing. Finding vulnerabilities that a real attacker could exploit before they are found and used maliciously is the main objective.

To produce a thorough report on vulnerabilities and recommend corrective actions, testers employ the same techniques and resources as cybercriminals. Let’s take a look at “How to Become a Penetration Tester?”

Skills You Need to Become a Penetration Tester

You need the following skills to become a penetration tester:

1. Networking Fundamentals: Identifying typical network vulnerabilities and attack pathways requires a thorough understanding of TCP/IP, routing protocols, subnets, and network architecture.

2. Operating System Mastery: Effective testing requires expert-level understanding of Linux, Windows, and macOS internals, settings, security features, and command-line interfaces.

3. Programming and Scripting: To automate activities, create bespoke exploits, and manipulate data, one must be proficient in at least one scripting language, such as Python, Bash, or PowerShell.

4. Web Application Security: Modern testing requires a thorough understanding of the OWASP Top 10 and the capacity to test for vulnerabilities such as SQL Injection, XSS, and failed authentication.

5. Cloud Architecture and Security: Because of cloud usage, it is becoming more and more necessary to comprehend the security concepts and typical misconfigurations in platforms like AWS, Azure, and GCP.

6. Tool Mastery and Adaptability: Proficiency with industry-standard tools such as Nmap, Metasploit, Burp Suite, and Kali Linux is essential, as is the capacity to pick up new ones fast.

7. Vulnerability Assessment and Exploitation: The ability to employ automated scanners to identify vulnerabilities, manually verify them, and reliably create and implement proof-of-concept exploits is essential to the work.

8. Social Engineering: To securely mimic assaults that deceive employees into jeopardizing security, like phishing or impersonation, one must have an understanding of human psychology and typical pretexts.

9. Critical Thinking and Analytical Problem-Solving: Finding complicated vulnerabilities requires the capacity to think like an attacker, make connections between seemingly unrelated discoveries, and create original attack scenarios.

10.Technical Report Writing and Communication: Documenting findings, outlining the commercial risk of vulnerabilities, and successfully conveying remedial methods to technical and non-technical stakeholders all depend on clear, succinct writing.

What Does a Penetration Tester Do?

S.No.	Skills	What?
1.	Planning and Scoping	Defining particular systems, networks, or applications to be targeted, as well as outlining the test's objectives, rules of engagement, and scope with the customer.
2.	Information Gathering (Reconnaissance)	Use both passive (public data, job listings) and active (network scanning) techniques to gather as much information as possible about the target firm and its systems.
3.	Vulnerability Assessment	Identifying, classifying, and ranking possible security flaws in systems and applications using both manual methods and automated scanners (such as Nessus and OpenVAS).
4.	Exploitation	Intentionally and safely attempting to enter systems without authorization by taking advantage of flaws that have been found, such as unpatched software, weak passwords, or incorrect configurations.
5.	Privilege Escalation	The greatest possible harm an attacker may cause is demonstrated by trying to elevate user rights from a basic user account to a high-level administrator or root user once initial access has been obtained.
6.	Maintaining Access (Persistence)	Using methods (such as setting up backdoors or making new user accounts) to demonstrate how an actual attacker could continue to have long-term, undiscovered access to the compromised environment.
7.	Covering Tracks	Illustrating the necessity of thorough logging and monitoring by simulating an attacker's attempt to remove traces of the intrusion by deleting logs and concealing files.
8.	Analysis and Reporting	Recording each stage of the test, including the precise vulnerabilities discovered, the techniques employed to exploit them, the degree of access attained, and the business risk connected to each vulnerability.
9.	Remediation Consultation	Delivering the results to the technical and management teams of the customer and providing precise, doable suggestions for patching, configuring, and strengthening the security of the systems under test.
10.	Re-testing	Conduct a final test to confirm that all vulnerabilities have been successfully closed and the systems are no longer vulnerable to the disclosed attack vectors once the customer has completed their remediation operations.

Why Penetration Testing Is a High-Demand Cybersecurity Career?

Penetration testing is a high-demand cybersecurity career for the following reasons:

● Escalating Threat Sophistication: Organizations are in dire need of ethical hackers who can mimic real-world, sophisticated threat techniques as cyberattacks become more sophisticated and AI-driven.

● Mandatory Regulatory Compliance: Regular penetration tests are specifically required by certain industry standards (PCI DSS, HIPAA, GDPR) to demonstrate to auditors the efficacy of security controls.

● Expanding Digital Attack Surface: Numerous new access points that call for specialist testing knowledge have been brought about by the quick transition to cloud settings, remote work, and IoT devices.

● Proactive Risk Mitigation and Cost Savings: There is a clear return on investment when vulnerabilities are found and fixed through testing, which is far less expensive than experiencing a huge data breach.

● High-Value Expertise Shortage: Experienced individuals with the special combination of technical expertise and critical thinking needed for efficient, manual pen testing are consistently in short supply worldwide.

Step-by-Step Roadmap to Becoming a Penetration Tester

S.No.	Steps	What?
1.	Build a Strong Technical Foundation (1-2 Years)	Learn the fundamentals of networking (TCP/IP), operating systems (Linux/Windows), and programming (Python/Bash) to comprehend how systems work and malfunction.
2.	Acquire Foundational Certifications	Acquire vendor-neutral certifications like as Network+ and CompTIA Security+ to confirm fundamental infrastructure and security expertise.
3.	Practice Hands-on Hacking Skills	To improve exploitation and tool knowledge, set aside time for hands-on study in secure settings like Hack The Box, TryHackMe, or nearby virtual laboratories.
4.	Pursue an Industry-Recognized Certification	To demonstrate your competence to conduct a professional-level penetration test, obtain a well-regarded, useful certification like the Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP).
5.	Gain Real-World Experience	To put your abilities to use in a professional setting, look for entry-level positions as a Security Analyst, SOC Analyst, or Junior Penetration Tester.

Best Courses & Certifications for Penetration Testers

The following are the best courses and certifications for penetration testers:

a) Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP): Candidates must complete a comprehensive, timed penetration test on a live virtual lab in order to get this highly practical, industry-leading certification.

b) Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH): An extensive range of ethical hacking principles, techniques, tools, and defenses is covered in this knowledge-based certification.

c) CompTIA PenTest+: Planning, scoping, managing, and reporting on different penetration tests are all validated by this practical, mid-level certification.

d) GIAC Penetration Tester (GPEN): A reputable, advanced certification that emphasizes command-line usage, comprehensive exploit methodologies, and methodical pen testing procedures.

e) eLearnSecurity Junior Penetration Tester (eJPT)/ TCM Security's Practical Network Penetration Tester (PNPT): Excellent, 100% practical, beginner-friendly qualifications that give prospective pen testers a solid, realistic foundation.

Tools Every Pen Tester Must Know

S.No.	Tools	What?
1.	Kali Linux	Because it comes pre-installed and configured with hundreds of open-source security tools grouped by function, this is the de facto operating system for pen testing.
2.	Nmap (Network Mapper)	Host discovery, port scanning, OS system detection, and service version identification on a target network are all accomplished with this industry-standard network discovery tool.
3.	Metasploit Framework	An extensive catalog of exploits and payloads is included in this potent exploitation tool. It enables testers to create, carry out, and verify actual assaults.
4.	Burp Suite	The preferred suite for evaluating the security of web applications, it mainly acts as an intercepting proxy to map, examine, and alter HTTP/HTTPS communication between the target application and the browser, either manually or automatically.
5.	Wireshark	A top-tier network protocol analyzer (also known as a packet sniffer) that helps assess network activity and troubleshoot protocols by capturing and interactively examining data packets moving across a network in real-time.
6.	Nessus/ OpenVAS	Vulnerability scanners that automatically find known security flaws, incorrect setups, and missing patches by doing thorough, authenticated, or unauthenticated scans across networks and systems.
7.	John the Ripper/ Hashcat	By attempting to crack password hashes using dictionary attacks, brute-force attacks, or hybrid techniques, password cracking tools are used to assess the strength of passwords.
8.	SQLmap	An automated SQL injection and database takeover tool that can identify and take advantage of SQL injection vulnerabilities in web applications to access the underlying database.
9.	Aircrack-ng	Monitoring, attacking, testing, and cracking WEP, WPA, and WPA2-PSK keys for Wi-Fi networks are the main uses for this collection of wireless network security tools.
10.	BloodHound	An attack path mapping and Active Directory reconnaissance tool. It highlights the quickest route to domain administrative access and uncovers intricate, hidden privilege relationships using graph theory.

How to Build a Strong Penetration Testing Portfolio?

You can build a strong penetration testing portfolio in the following ways:

Document Practical Lab Exercises (Case Studies): Write thorough, expert case studies on computers that have been successfully exploited on sites like Hack The Box or TryHackMe, emphasizing the process rather than merely the flag.
Showcase Custom Tools and Scripting: Keep clean, documented code for bespoke Python or Bash scripts or tools that automate enumeration, exploitation, or post-exploitation duties in a public GitHub repository.
Include Professional Penetration Test Reports: Make clean example reports that show proficiency in both technical findings and crafting concise, business-oriented executive summaries and corrective action plans.
Highlight Bug Bounty or Responsible Disclosure Findings: Showcase any widely acknowledged vulnerabilities discovered in practical applications (with permission), as this demonstrates the capacity to identify and report serious defects in operational systems.
Maintain an Active Technical Blog/ GitHub Pages: To demonstrate your knowledge and communication abilities, post your case studies, CTF write-ups (for retired challenges), and research findings on a blog or GitHub Pages website.

Final Tips to Grow Faster in Your Pentesting Career

S.No.	Tips	What?
1.	Develop a Niche Specialization	To stand out and fetch more money, become a specialist in a high-demand field like OT/ICS security, mobile app testing, or cloud security (AWS/Azure).
2.	Focus on Business Risk Communication	Learn to demonstrate commercial value by translating technical vulnerabilities into succinct, understandable comments about financial and reputational risk for executives who are not technical.
3.	Contribute to the Community and Research	To establish authority and credibility, write blog entries, give presentations at regional security conferences, or publish original security research, such as zero-day finds.
4.	Find a Mentor and Network Aggressively	To find unposted jobs and get useful career advice, actively seek assistance from senior pen testers and establish relationships at industry events and online forums.
5.	Master Automation and Scripting (DevSecOps)	Become more proficient in languages like Go and Python to automate repetitive activities, incorporate security checks into CI/CD pipelines, and advance to a DevSecOps position.

Penetration Tester Salary in 2026 (India, US, UK & Global)

The average yearly income for a Mid-Level Penetration Tester is approximately $116,000 in the US, £61,000 in the UK, and ₹18–24 lakhs in India, according to current predictions and market trends for 2026.

The average base income worldwide is about $75,000, however, it varies greatly depending on experience, industry expertise (like cloud security), and certain certifications (like OSCP). Salary increase is anticipated to continue in all regions because of the high need for offensive security specialists, particularly those with advanced expertise.

Job Roles You Can Apply For in Pentesting

S.No.	Job Profiles	What?
1.	Junior Penetration Tester/ Associate Penetration Tester	An entry-level role that includes writing concise documentation for basic findings, helping senior testers, and conducting basic vulnerability checks.
2.	Penetration Tester/ Ethical Hacker	Executing penetration test procedures across networks, apps, and infrastructure is the primary responsibility of this core function, which frequently works autonomously on medium-complexity projects.
3.	Senior Penetration Tester/ Lead Penetration Tester	Seasoned professional who creates new testing techniques and tools, oversees big, complicated engagements, and gives junior employees technical advice.
4.	Penetration Testing Manager/ Director of Penetration Testing	Building the internal security team, managing budgets, managing client relations, and supervising the complete penetration testing program were the main responsibilities of the management position.
5.	Web Application Penetration Tester (Web App Pentester)	Has extensive knowledge of the OWASP Top 10 and related coding errors, and specializes in identifying and taking advantage of vulnerabilities in web-based applications and APIs.
6.	Cloud Penetration Tester/ Cloud Security Consultant	Focuses on evaluating misconfigurations in IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS services and validating the security posture of environments hosted on platforms such as AWS, Azure, and GCP.
7.	Mobile Penetration Tester	Specializes in examining local storage, network traffic, authentication methods, and API interactions to assess the security of iOS and Android applications.
8.	Red Team Operator	A highly skilled position that focuses on conducting adversarial, goal-oriented assault simulations that evaluate an organization's long-term detection and response capabilities.
9.	Vulnerability Researcher/ Exploit Developer	Finding previously undiscovered (zero-day) flaws in hardware or software and developing dependable exploits for them is the focus of this highly technical position.
10.	OT/ ICS/ SCADA Penetration Tester	Specializes in evaluating the security of SCADA systems that manage vital infrastructure, operational technology (OT) networks, and industrial control systems (ICS).

Frequently Asked Questions

About How to Become a Penetration Tester?

What qualifications do I need to become a penetration tester?

A solid background in networking and operating systems, competence in a scripting language like Python, and frequently an industry-recognized certification like the OSCP or CompTIA PenTest+ are prerequisites for becoming a penetration tester.

Do I need a cybersecurity degree to work as a penetration tester?

No, a cybersecurity degree is not technically necessary to operate as a penetration tester because industry certifications like OSCP and practical abilities are sometimes given precedence over formal degrees.

Which certifications are best for starting a career in penetration testing?

One of the best certifications you can get after joining the Advanced Penetration Testing Course Training with AI in Delhi, offered by Craw Security.

How long does it take to become a penetration tester?

Gaining a solid technical basis, earning an industry certification like the OSCP, and landing an entry-level security position usually require one to three years of concentrated work.

What programming languages should a penetration tester learn?

For general scripting and tool automation, a penetration tester should learn Python; for system administration and command-line efficiency, Bash/PowerShell; and for web application testing, JavaScript.

Is CEH or OSCP better for penetration testing?

Since the OSCP is a very practical, hands-on certification that demonstrates your ability to conduct a real-world test, it is widely thought to be superior for penetration testing, whereas the CEH is essentially a knowledge-based credential.

How much does a penetration tester earn in India and globally?

Although real pay varies significantly depending on experience, region, and specialization, the average yearly income for a mid-level penetration tester is roughly ₹18–24 lakhs in India and $75,000 worldwide.

Are penetration testers in high demand in 2026?

Because of the increasing sophistication of AI-driven threats, the growing digital attack surfaces (cloud/IoT), and the need for compliance, penetration testers are anticipated to be in high demand in 2026.

Can beginners without experience become penetration testers?

Yes, by concentrating on self-study, obtaining practical certifications like OSCP, and developing a solid technical portfolio, novices without any prior professional experience can become penetration testers.

What tools should every penetration tester know?

Every penetration tester should know about the following tools:

a) Nmap (Network Mapper),

b) Metasploit Framework,

c) Burp Suite,

d) Kali Linux, and

e) Wireshark.

Conclusion

Now that we have talked about “How to Become a Penetration Tester?” you might want to learn pentesting skills professionally. For that, you can get in contact with Craw Security, offering the Advanced Penetration Testing Course Training with AI in Delhi to IT Aspirants.

During the training sessions, students will be able to try their skills on various tasks using pentesting skills under the supervision of professionals. Moreover, online sessions will facilitate students in remote learning.

After the completion of the Penetration Testing Course Training with AI in Delhi offered by Craw Security, students will receive a certificate validating their honed knowledge & skills during the sessions. What are you waiting for? Contact, Now!

How to Become a Penetration Tester: Courses, Skills, Salary & Jobs

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