How to Become a Penetration Tester: 2025 Career Guide

Penetration testers, or “pen testers” for short, perform simulated cyberattacks on a company’s computer systems and networks. These authorized tests help identify security vulnerabilities and weaknesses before malicious hackers can exploit them.

A career as a pen tester often starts with an entry-level cybersecurity position. Discover more about what penetration testers do, why this in-demand cybersecurity career could be a good fit for you, and how you can begin.

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What does a penetration tester do?

As a penetration tester, you’ll take a proactive, offensive role in cybersecurity by attacking a company’s existing digital systems. These test attacks might use various hacking tools and techniques to find gaps that hackers could exploit. Throughout the process, you’ll document your actions and create a report on what you did and how successful you were at breaching security protocols.  

Penetration tester tasks and responsibilities

The day-to-day tasks of a pen tester will vary depending on the organization. Check out some common tasks and responsibilities you may encounter in this role:

• Perform tests on applications, network devices, and cloud infrastructures

• Design and conduct simulated social engineering attacks

• Research and experiment with different types of attacks

• Develop methodologies for penetration testing

• Review code for security vulnerabilities

• Reverse engineer malware or spam

• Document security and compliance issues

• Automate common testing techniques to improve efficiency

• Write technical and executive reports

• Communicate findings to both technical staff and executive leadership

• Validate security improvements with additional testing

Where do penetration testers work?

Penetration testers typically work in one of three environments:

• In-house: As an in-house penetration tester, you work directly for a company or organization. This typically lets you know the company’s security protocols well. You may also have more input into new security features and fixes.

• Security firm: Some organizations hire an outside security firm to conduct penetration testing. Working for a security firm offers greater variety in the tests you’ll get to design and perform. 

• Freelance: Some penetration testers choose to work as freelancers. This path can give you greater flexibility in your schedule, but you may need to spend more time looking for clients early in your career.

Penetration testing vs. ethical hacking

The terms penetration testing and ethical hacking can be interchangeable in the cybersecurity world, but the two terms have slightly different meanings. Penetration testing focuses on locating security issues in specific information systems without causing any damage. Ethical hacking, on the other hand, is a broader umbrella term that includes a wider range of hacking methods. You can think of penetration testing as one facet of ethical hacking. Both roles overlap within a cybersecurity Red Team—a group that gives security feedback to an organization from the adversary's perspective.

How to become a penetration tester

As a penetration tester, you can earn a paycheck by legally hacking into security systems. It can be a fast-paced, exciting job if you are interested in cybersecurity and problem-solving. In this section, we’ll take a closer look at the steps you might take to get your first job as a penetration tester.

1. Develop penetration testing skills.

Penetration testers need a solid understanding of information technology (IT) and security systems to test them for vulnerabilities. Skills you might find on a pen tester job description include:

• Network and application security

• Programming languages, especially for scripting (Python, BASH, Java, Ruby, Perl)

• Threat modelling

• Linux, Windows, and MacOS environments

• Security assessment tools

• Pentest management platforms

• Technical writing and documentation

• Cryptography

• Cloud architecture

• Remote access technologies

Popular penetration tester tools

Today’s penetration testers have a range of tools to help make their jobs faster and more efficient. If you’re interested in becoming a pen tester, it can help to gain familiarity with one or more of these tools:

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• Kali Linux: Popular pen testing operating system

• Nmap: Port scanner for network discovery

• Wireshark: Packet sniffer to analyze traffic on your network

• John the Ripper: Open-source password cracker

• Burp Suite: Application security testing tools

• Tenable Nessus: Vulnerability assessment tool

• Zed Attack Proxy (ZAP): Web application security scanner

2. Enrol in a course or training program.

One of the best ways to start developing the skills you’ll need as a penetration tester is to enrol in a specialized course or training program. With these programs, you can learn in a more structured environment while building multiple skills simultaneously. 

If you’re new to cybersecurity, consider an option like the IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate, which includes an entire unit on penetration testing and incident response. The entire program is online and at your own pace, so you can learn job-ready skills while working or managing life’s other responsibilities.

Do I need a degree to become a penetration tester?

To become a penetration tester in Canada, you’ll need to have a degree in computer science, information technology, or cybersecurity. If you’re starting in cybersecurity without a related degree, it might be helpful to pursue a certification to validate your skills.

3. Get certified.

Cybersecurity certifications demonstrate to recruiters and hiring managers that you have the skills to succeed in the industry. In addition to general cybersecurity certifications, you can earn penetration testing or ethical hacking certifications. Reputable certifications to consider include:

• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

• CompTIA PenTest+

• GIAC Penetration Tester (GPEN)

• GIAC Web Application Penetration Tester (GWAPT)

• Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)

• Certified Penetration Tester (CPENT)

Earning one of these certifications generally requires passing an exam. Besides earning a credential for your resume, preparing for a certification exam can often help you develop your skill set. You can find additional resources for cybersecurity skill-building and certification exam prep from the Canadian Centre for Cybersecurity. 

4. Practise in real and simulated environments.

Many companies want to hire penetration testers with previous experience. Luckily, you can start gaining experience outside of the workplace. Many pen testing training programs include hands-on testing in simulated environments.

Participating in bug bounty programs is another way to gain experience (and make your resume stand out). In these programs, companies typically offer cash bonuses to independent pen testers and security researchers who find and report security flaws or bugs in their code. It’s an excellent way to test your skills and start networking with other security professionals. You can find a list of bounties on sites like Bugcrowd and HackerOne. 

Finally, you’ll find several websites designed to allow penetration testers to practice and experiment through fun, gamified experiences legally. You can get started with these:

• Hack the Box

• CTFlearn

• bWAPP

• WebGoat

5. Start in an entry-level IT position.

Many penetration testers start out in entry-level IT and cybersecurity roles before advancing into pen testing. If you want to pursue a career in pen testing, consider beginning a role as a network or systems administrator or information security analyst to start building your IT skills.

6. Begin your job search.

When you’re ready to begin applying for pen tester jobs, extend your search beyond the usual job sites. 

Why pursue a career in penetration testing?

A career as a pen tester allows you to apply your hacking skills for the greater good by helping organizations protect themselves from cyber criminals. It’s also an in-demand, high-paying career path.

Penetration tester salary

According to Indeed, the average annual pay for penetration testers in Canada is $101,695 CAD [1]. Your salary will depend on various factors, including your location, experience, education, and certifications. Some industries, like financial services and military contracting, typically pay higher salaries than others.

Job outlook

The Government of Canada predicts that job opportunities for cybersecurity professionals will continue growing year after year, with no predicted end in sight. This includes the outlook for penetration testers [2]. 

Career path for penetration testers

As you gain experience as a penetration tester, you may advance to lead a pen testing team. Some penetration testers become information security managers and may even move into executive roles.

Start your career in cybersecurity

Pen testing can be a rewarding career if you are interested in problem-solving, information security, and network technologies. If you are ready to develop technical and workplace skills for a career in cybersecurity, the Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate on Coursera is your gateway to exploring job titles like security analyst, SOC (security operations centre) analyst, and more. Upon completion, you’ll have exclusive access to a job platform with over 150 employees hiring for entry-level cybersecurity roles and other resources supporting your job search. 

If you are a beginner, consider the Ethical Hacking Essentials (EHE) course offered by EC-Council. In this course, you can learn about network security concepts such as threats and vulnerabilities, password cracking, web application attacks, IoT and OT attacks, and cloud computing. This course is one of three in the Cybersecurity Attack and Defence Fundamentals Specialization.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)