You’re keen to enter cyber security, and getting the CompTIA Security+ certification can help you get your foot in the door. The question is, how much does the CompTIA Security+ exam cost? How might you spend your time and money prudently for this popular entry-level certification?
Look no further—we’ve got you covered. This article will address the price of getting your Security+, renewals, time commitment, costs of training materials, and the rewards as an IT professional after you’ve earned your Security+. Moreover, we discuss possible next steps for you if you have eyes on other cyber security certifications beyond Security+.
When you’re ready, let’s determine how much the CompTIA Security+ certification costs.
About CompTIA Security+
CompTIA is short for “Computing Technology Industry Association,” and it conducts certification exams so that you can gain IT expertise to meet various industry standards.
CompTIA Security+ is an entry-level cyber security certification exam focusing primarily on up-to-date best practices for risk management and risk mitigation. The certification shows employers that you’ve mastered the core skills to perform essential cyber security functions and pursue an IT security career.
Here’s the detailed breakdown of the latest Security+ exam domains:
- General Security Concepts
- Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations
- Security Architecture
- Security Operations
- Security Program Management and Oversight
On a scale of 100–900, the passing score is 750. Each Core examination has at most 90 questions, and you must complete each exam in 90 minutes.
For details, refer to our introductory article “What is CompTIA Security+?”.
CompTIA Security+ Certification Cost
The Security+ exam voucher costs $425 USD in North America (prices do vary by region).
CompTIA offers the option of purchasing a “Voucher Plus Retake Assurance,” where you get two exam attempts for $474. Note that you do not receive any refund if the second attempt is not used, nor is that attempt transferable. There is no discount on retakes purchased after the fact.
You can lower this cost by purchasing a voucher from an authorized partner like StationX. We offer CompTIA exam vouchers at up to 30% discounted price, depending on the exam and region. For North American students, you can purchase a voucher from StationX for $340 USD (a 20% discount). View our voucher page and select your region to see your available discount.
Certification Renewals
Once you’ve earned it, your Security+ certification is good for three years. Each of these three years, you pay $50 USD to renew your Security+ certification, totaling $150 USD.
As a newly minted Security+ holder, you also conduct activities that earn you Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to stay relevant to tech trends. Your activities must meet the following requirements to qualify for CEUs:
- Timing: You must complete your activities during your three-year renewal cycle.
- Relevance: At least 50 percent of the activity content must relate to one or more exam objectives for the certification you’re renewing.
- Documentation: You’ll need to provide documentation for the following activities to receive CEUs:
- Earn Non-CompTIA IT industry certifications (this may incur additional costs);
- Complete training and higher education;
- Participate in IT industry activities;
- Publish a relevant article, white paper, blog post, or book(you can publish whitepapers through StationX);
- Gain related work experience.
- Higher CompTIA cyber security certifications, such as CySA+ and PenTest+, automatically renew Security+.
The total cost of getting and maintaining your Security+ over the next three years is a minimum of $150 USD plus the cost of your renewal activities, or $425 USD if you go for CySA+ or PenTest+ during your three-year cycle (either of which lets you forgo the $150 fee entirely).
Time Investment
Although Security+ has no hard-and-fast prerequisites, CompTIA recommends that Security+ candidates have CompTIA Network+ and two years of experience in IT administration with a security focus, all of which help reduce study time. Before tackling Security+, it’s best to have gained networking knowledge, like that of Network+ or CCNA.
To prepare for the exam, if you have some IT or networking knowledge, it may take as little as 30-45 days; otherwise, it may take you several months, up to a year, before you’re ready to take the exam.
Training Costs
Training costs encompass study materials and practice tests. We list Security+ instructors who update their materials whenever CompTIA rolls out a revised version of their exams.
The latest CompTIA Security+ certification exam code is SY0-701. The links to the following titles we recommend apply to SY0-701:
- CompTIA Security+ Get Certified Get Ahead: SY0-701 Study Guide by Joe Shelley and Darril Gibson ($59.99)
- CompTIA Security+ Certification Kit: Exam SY0-701 (Sybex Study Guide) 7th Edition by Mike Chapple and David Seidl ($75.00 USD)
- CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 Exam Cram 7th Edition by Robert Shimonski and Martin Weiss ($49.99)
- CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 Certification Guide by Ian Neil ($54.99 USD)
The above books often go on sale, so watch for deals.
Some people may opt for in-person classroom training in Security+ at local training centers, but since we generally lead busy lives and it isn’t easy to make time for extra commitments, a well-structured online self-paced training course has the following benefits:
- You can view and review your course materials whenever you have Internet access
- You’re not bound to traffic conditions
- While books cater primarily to visual learners, video courses also cater to auditory and kinaesthetic learners
- Online courses are much cheaper and sometimes only require a one-time payment
We offer our CompTIA Security+ Course & SY0-701 Practice Test Bundle, a one-time purchase granting lifetime access to 20+ hours of video lectures, full-length practice exams, and flashcards. At the time of writing, we have a special promotion where this bundle is yours FREE if you pass the exam - present proof you've passed and receive a full refund as our congratulations (see the bundle below for terms and conditions).
In summary, if you are on a budget, you can expect to spend roughly $75 - $100 if you are combining a training bundle like ours and a book from the suggested list.
Return on Investment
Immediately after getting your Security+, your next step can be applying for an entry-level cyber security job or challenging yourself to a further cyber security certification, which is a valuable stepping stone for those who want to advance in the field. These two options aren’t mutually exclusive.
CompTIA Security+ qualifies you for entry-level cyber security positions (average annual USD salary in parentheses), often serving as stepping stones into more specialized or senior roles. Such roles include:
- Business Analyst ($50K-100K USD) Help organizations align cybersecurity goals with business objectives.
- Cyber Security Manager ($60K-$180K USD) While usually a more advanced role, Security+ can be a foundational step toward this path.
- Software Developer ($60K-80K USD) Secure coding practices and threat awareness are increasingly essential in development roles.
- Systems Administrator ($43K-130K USD) Manage and secure IT systems, often with incident response and access control responsibilities.
- MSP Personnel ($33K-100K USD) Deliver security solutions across clients in a managed service environment.
- Security Consultant (upwards of $100K USD) After gaining experience, Security+ alumni may move into advisory roles, helping organizations improve security postures.
These positions exist at both junior and senior levels. They also position you towards upward mobility into more specialized roles down the road. For example, a Systems Administrator may evolve into a Security Engineer, while a Business Analyst might specialize into GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance).
The mission to strengthen an organization’s security posture, handle security events, provide security solutions, and secure hybrid environments can be a meaningful career pursuit.
For details, refer to our article on CompTIA Security+ Jobs.
Nailing Security+ has given you essential foundational knowledge, and you’re on your way to becoming a cyber security professional. You can now prepare for more advanced cyber security certifications such as:
Pro Tip: Pair your Security+ with hands-on experience in home labs, CTFs (Capture the Flag challenges), or internships. These practical experiences often make the difference when landing your first cybersecurity job.
Conclusion
Let’s break down the total cost of Security+:
- The exam fee is $425 USD (assuming you pass on your first attempt), or $340 if purchased through StationX.
- Maintaining Security+ over three years costs $150 USD, renewal activities may incur additional costs.
- Higher CompTIA cyber security certifications cost at least $425 USD, but renew Security+ completely.
- Study materials you’ll use within a year typically cost $100 - $550+ USD.
Expect to spend around $600 to get your Security+ and keep it renewed over the three-year period if you opt for free renewal activities.
On the higher end, you’re cost could reach $1,400+ if you do not get a discounted voucher, opt to renew with an additional CompTIA certification, and choose more expensive training options.
We hope this article on CompTIA Security+ exam costs prepares you financially for this important entry-level certification. For more information on the CompTIA Security+ exam, check out our CompTIA Security+ cheat sheet and other articles on certifications.
Last but not least, if you plan to take the Security+ exam soon, we wish you all success.
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