The CySA+ exam costs $370 USD if you buy a voucher directly from CompTIA. That's the baseline. But most people pay something different — either more (if they factor in training and a retake) or less (if they know which discounts to stack). Before you hand over your credit card, here's what the full picture actually looks like.
CySA+ Exam Cost: The Numbers
CompTIA sets the official voucher price for the CS0-003 exam at $370 in the US. Prices vary by region — candidates in Europe typically pay around £295–£315 GBP, and Australian candidates pay approximately AUD $530–$560. These are single-attempt vouchers with no retake included.
If you want a retake option baked in, CompTIA sells a CySA+ Exam + Retake bundle for around $555–$590. That's roughly $185–$220 more for one additional attempt. Whether that's worth it depends on how prepared you are — more on that below.
Pearson VUE (the testing delivery partner) charges the same voucher price whether you test at a physical center or use online proctoring. There's no price difference between modalities.
What Drives the Price Range You See Online
- Regional pricing: CompTIA adjusts for purchasing power parity in some markets. The $370 is a US/Canada figure.
- Training bundles: CompTIA's own CertMaster Learn bundles the voucher with courseware for $729–$899. Third-party platforms like Udemy and Coursera sell prep separately, so you buy the voucher independently.
- Discount codes: CompTIA routinely runs 10–30% off promotions tied to holidays or partner agreements. The IT community on Reddit's r/CompTIA tracks these actively.
- Academic pricing: Students enrolled in accredited programs can often access vouchers at 50% off through CompTIA's Academic Marketplace. This alone cuts the exam to ~$185.
- Employer reimbursement: Many government contractors and MSSPs cover 100% of exam costs for employees targeting DoD 8570/8140 compliance roles. If your employer is in this space, ask before paying out of pocket.
Total Cost of Earning CySA+: A Realistic Budget
The exam fee is only one line item. Here's what most candidates actually spend:
- Exam voucher: $370 (or $185 with academic discount)
- Prep course: $15–$100 on Udemy or Coursera (sales are frequent); $300–$500 for instructor-led
- Study guide / book: $35–$55 (Mike Chapple and David Seidl's CompTIA CySA+ Study Guide is the standard reference)
- Practice exams: $20–$40 for a quality mock exam set
- Retake (if needed): $370
Realistic all-in budget if you self-study with online resources: $430–$570. If you add instructor-led training: $700–$1,000. If your employer reimburses or you qualify for academic pricing, you can get it done for under $250 total.
First-attempt pass rates aren't publicly disclosed by CompTIA, but community consensus suggests 60–75% for adequately prepared candidates. Budgeting for one retake is prudent if this is your first CompTIA exam above the Security+ level.
How to Pay Less for the CySA+ Exam
CompTIA Partner Discounts
CompTIA has formal discount agreements with thousands of training partners. If your prep course provider is an Authorized Partner, they often include a discounted voucher or provide a code. Always check whether the course you're buying includes exam credit before purchasing a voucher separately.
Government and Military Pricing
Active military, veterans, and federal civilian employees can access significantly reduced pricing through CompTIA's Military program. Some DoD installations have MOUs with CompTIA that make exams free for on-base candidates. Check with your education office before assuming you need to pay full price.
Bulk / Voucher Resellers
Sites like Exam-Labs, Voucher Store, and similar resellers sometimes sell CompTIA vouchers below list price. Use caution: only buy from CompTIA's official site or an authorized reseller. Fraudulent vouchers are a real problem in this space — if the deal looks implausibly cheap, walk away.
Stacking Promotions
CompTIA's newsletter promotions occasionally stack with partner discounts. Signing up for CompTIA's email list costs nothing and can save $50–$100 when a good window opens. Patience is a legitimate cost-reduction strategy if you have 4–6 weeks of flexibility on your exam date.
Top Courses for CySA+ Exam Prep
These are the highest-rated options available right now, ranked by community rating. Coursera courses are often available through institutional access (which many employers provide), making them effectively free if you already have a subscription.
CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) CS0-003 Exam – 2026
A Udemy course with a rating of 8.5 that covers the CS0-003 objectives end-to-end with updated content for 2026. Udemy sales bring this under $20 regularly — it's a high-value option for candidates who prefer on-demand video and want a single course that doesn't require hopping between resources.
Cybersecurity Analyst Assessment: Security+ & CySA+ Practice
An EDX-hosted practice assessment course rated 8.5, focused on performance-based questions that mirror what the actual CS0-003 exam uses. Particularly useful in the final 2–3 weeks before your test date, when drilling on realistic scenarios matters more than re-reading theory.
TOTAL: CompTIA CySA+ Cybersecurity Analyst (CS0-003)
A Coursera offering rated 8.1 from the same team behind the popular TOTAL CompTIA series. Structured as a proper course with labs, it suits candidates who want guided progression rather than a video dump. If your employer has Coursera for Business, this is likely covered at no extra cost.
CS0-003: CompTIA CySA+ Mock Exams (Unofficial)
A Udemy practice exam course rated 8.0. Useful for identifying weak domains before exam day. Run through these after completing your main prep course, not before — they're diagnostic tools, not teaching materials.
CompTIA CySA+ (CS0-003)
A Coursera course rated 7.8 that works well as a supplemental resource, particularly if you're stronger on the technical side but want more structured coverage of the governance and compliance domains that appear on the exam.
Is the CySA+ Worth the Cost? Career ROI
CySA+ is DoD 8570/8140 approved for the CSSP Analyst role, which is a meaningful credential gate for government and defense contractor positions. In that context, the exam pays for itself within weeks of hire — DoD contractor SOC analyst roles start around $75,000–$95,000 for cleared candidates, with CySA+ frequently listed as a minimum requirement.
In the commercial sector, the picture is more nuanced. CySA+ signals mid-level competency and often appears in job listings alongside SIEM platforms (Splunk, Microsoft Sentinel), EDR tools, and vulnerability management workflows. Security analyst roles citing CySA+ on job boards show median salaries of $80,000–$105,000 in major US markets, based on current listings.
The certification is most valuable if you're:
- Working toward or already in a SOC role and need a credential that specifically validates detection/response skills
- Targeting DoD or federal contractor positions where 8570 compliance is a hard requirement
- Bridging from Security+ and want something that demonstrates hands-on analytical capability without the full CISSP commitment
It's less compelling if you're already holding a GCIA, GCIH, or OSCP — those certifications carry more weight in technical hiring circles, and adding CySA+ on top of them doesn't move the needle much.
FAQ
How much does the CySA+ exam cost in 2026?
The standard US price for a single CySA+ (CS0-003) exam voucher is $370, purchased through CompTIA or an authorized reseller. Academic discounts can reduce this to approximately $185. Employer reimbursement or government agreements can bring your out-of-pocket cost to zero.
Does the CySA+ exam cost include a retake?
No. A standard voucher is one attempt. CompTIA sells a separate Exam + Retake bundle for approximately $555–$590 that includes one retake if you don't pass on the first try. You must use the retake within 12 months of the original exam date.
Can I get a discount on the CySA+ exam?
Yes, through several channels: CompTIA's own promotional sales (sign up for their email list), academic pricing for enrolled students, military/veteran programs, employer volume agreements, and authorized training partner codes. Stacking these is possible in some cases — check with your training provider before buying a voucher at list price.
How long is a CySA+ exam voucher valid?
CompTIA exam vouchers are typically valid for 12 months from the date of purchase. Once you schedule your exam with Pearson VUE, the slot is set — rescheduling is possible up to 24 hours before the test, subject to availability.
What happens if I fail the CySA+ exam?
You must purchase another voucher at full price ($370) for a retake, unless you bought the Exam + Retake bundle. There's no waiting period between the first and second attempt. CompTIA requires a 14-day wait before your third attempt if you've failed twice.
Is the CySA+ exam the same as CS0-002 or CS0-003?
CS0-002 was retired in December 2023. The current version is CS0-003, released in June 2023. Make sure any prep materials you purchase specifically cover CS0-003 objectives — older materials will have gaps, particularly around cloud security and updated threat intelligence content.
Bottom Line
Budget $370 for the exam voucher and $50–$100 for prep materials if you're self-studying — that's a realistic all-in cost of roughly $450–$500 for a well-prepared candidate. Add another $370 as a contingency if you want to be conservative about retakes, though most candidates who put in 60–80 hours of focused study pass on the first attempt.
Before paying anything, check three things: (1) whether your employer has a reimbursement policy, (2) whether you qualify for academic or military pricing, and (3) whether there's an active CompTIA promotion. The list price is rarely what you need to pay.
If you're on a tight timeline and want the highest-rated prep course, the CySA+ CS0-003 Udemy course covers the current exam objectives comprehensively and goes on sale frequently. For practice under exam conditions, layer in the Security+ & CySA+ Assessment course in the final stretch before your test date.