# Security+ Cost: Exam Fees, Study Materials & ROI > Security+ exam costs $392, but your real spend depends on prep. Breakdown of exam fees, study courses, retake costs, and whether the ROI holds up in 2026. Security+ Cost: What You'll Actually Pay in 2026 # Security+ Cost: What You'll Actually Pay in 2026 Course Careers editorial team April 17, 2026 May 26, 2026 The CompTIA Security+ exam voucher costs $392 USD as of 2026. That's the number everyone quotes — and it's the smallest part of your actual Security+ cost. Add study materials, a practice exam or two, and possibly a retake, and most candidates spend between $500 and $900 total. Boot camp bundles can push that past $2,000. Whether that's a good investment depends entirely on what role you're targeting and where you are in your career. This guide breaks down every line item in the Security+ cost, compares the realistic study options, and tells you when the cert actually pays off — and when it doesn't. ## Security+ Exam Cost: The Base Price The current exam is SY0-701, launched in November 2023. CompTIA retired SY0-601 in July 2024, so anyone testing now is on the 701 version. - Standard exam voucher: $392 USD (US pricing) - Retake voucher: $392 — there's no discount for a second attempt unless you buy a bundle upfront - CertMaster Learn + Exam bundle: $599 (CompTIA's own platform) - CompTIA's "Exam + Retake" voucher: ~$550–$600 depending on promotion Testing is done through Pearson VUE or Certiport. You can test in-person at a testing center or online proctored from home. There's no price difference between the two delivery modes. International pricing varies. UK candidates typically pay around £330; EU pricing runs €370–€420 depending on country. Canada is roughly CAD $500. CompTIA's site shows localized pricing at checkout. ### When to Buy a Voucher vs. a Bundle Buy a standalone voucher if you've already got study materials or are retesting. Buy the bundle (exam + retake) if you're a first-time candidate who wants a safety net — the retake protection alone is worth it given the $392 re-test cost if you fail. CompTIA's pass rate isn't published, but community data suggests roughly 70–75% pass on the first attempt, meaning roughly 1 in 4 people are paying for a retake. ## Security+ Study Material Costs This is where the total Security+ cost varies the most. You can prepare for under $50 or spend $1,500 on an instructor-led boot camp. Here's what each tier actually gets you: ### Budget Option: Under $50 - Professor Messer's SY0-701 course: Free video series; study guide is $25. The de facto standard for self-study. Covers the exam objectives methodically. - Reddit's r/CompTIA: Free. The pinned resources post is genuinely useful — ignore the "is Security+ worth it?" debates. - Jason Dion practice exams (Udemy): $15–$20 on sale. Six full-length tests. Dion's questions are harder than the real exam, which is intentional. ### Mid-Range: $100–$400 - Mike Chapple / Darril Gibson book (Sybex): $40–$60. The Gibson book in particular gets consistently high marks for domain-by-domain coverage. - Udemy video courses: $15–$20 on sale, occasionally up to $100 at full price. Quality varies. Stick to courses with 10,000+ ratings. - CompTIA CertMaster Practice: $119 standalone. Adaptive learning engine, but some candidates find it less rigorous than third-party practice exams. - CompTIA CertMaster Labs: $229. Browser-based virtual labs. Good if you're light on hands-on experience. ### Premium: $500–$2,500 - CompTIA's full CertMaster Learn bundle: $599 (includes exam voucher) - SANS SEC401: $8,000+. Overkill for Security+, but SANS often bundles it with GIAC certs for government contractors who need both - New Horizons / Global Knowledge boot camps: $1,500–$2,500. Intensive 5-day format, often includes exam voucher. Employer-sponsored candidates are the main market here. ## Top Courses to Prepare for Security+ Based on ratings and practical coverage, these are worth your time: ### IT Security: Defense Against the Digital Dark Arts Google's foundational security course on Coursera covers encryption, authentication, network security, and defense frameworks — all of which map directly to Security+ domain 1, 3, and 4 objectives. Good for candidates who want conceptual grounding before drilling practice questions. ### Put It to Work: Prepare for Cybersecurity Jobs Part of Google's Cybersecurity Certificate, this course focuses on the practical job-readiness skills employers look for alongside certifications — useful context for connecting Security+ study to what actually happens on the job. ### A Practical Guide to Cybersecurity Operations Foundations Udemy course with strong reviews specifically for candidates transitioning from general IT into security roles. Covers SOC workflows and threat operations that Security+ tests on conceptually but doesn't give you hands-on practice with. ### Building and Configuring Your Cybersecurity Attack Lab Security+ now includes performance-based questions (PBQs) that test hands-on skills, not just recall. This lab course helps you build a home lab for practicing the scenarios that show up in the SY0-701 PBQ section. ### CompTIA SecAI+ Fundamentals: AI Cybersecurity Basics AI and automated threat detection appear in SY0-701's updated objectives. This course bridges the gap between traditional Security+ content and the AI-integrated SOC environments you'll actually work in. ## What's the Total Security+ Cost? (Realistic Scenarios) Three common paths, with realistic totals: ### Self-Study (Most Common) - Exam voucher: $392 - Professor Messer study guide: $25 - Udemy practice exams (Dion or Darril Gibson): $20 - Optional: one Udemy video course: $20 - Total: ~$440–$460 ### Mid-Range (Structured Course + Exam) - Exam voucher: $392 - Online video course (Coursera or Udemy): $50–$100 - CertMaster Practice or equivalent: $120 - Book: $50 - Total: ~$610–$660 ### Boot Camp (Employer-Sponsored or Fast-Track) - 5-day boot camp with voucher included: $1,500–$2,500 - Total: $1,500–$2,500 Most self-funded candidates land in the $450–$700 range when you account for a couple of practice exam sets and one retake buffer. That's the honest number to plan around. ## Security+ Cost vs. Salary Outcomes: Does the ROI Hold Up? Entry-level security analyst roles that list Security+ as a requirement typically pay between $55,000 and $80,000 depending on location and sector. Federal contractor roles often pay more — Security+'s DoD 8570 compliance makes it a hard requirement for IAT Level II positions, not just a "nice to have." That compliance requirement is the reason the cert has staying power; employers can't substitute it with other certs for those contracts. For someone moving from a help desk role ($35,000–$50,000) into a security analyst position ($65,000–$75,000), the math is straightforward: a $600–$900 investment with a 4–12 week study window leads to a $15,000–$25,000 salary jump. That's a strong return for an entry-level cert. Where the ROI weakens: if you already have a few years of security experience and are targeting senior roles or specialized positions, Security+ alone won't get you there. CISSP, CEH, or domain-specific certs (OSCP for offensive, GCIH for incident response) carry more weight at that level. Security+ is optimized for the 0–2 year experience tier. ### Government and Defense: The Security+ Sweet Spot DoD 8570 / DoD 8140 compliance is where Security+ has a competitive moat no other entry-level cert matches. Federal agencies, defense contractors, and military IT positions explicitly require it for a defined set of roles. If your target is government contracting, federal civilian IT, or military transition into cybersecurity, the Security+ cost is table stakes — you're not getting past the HR filter without it. ## FAQ ### How much does the Security+ exam cost in 2026? The CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) exam voucher costs $392 USD. International pricing varies: approximately £330 in the UK and €370–€420 in the EU. CompTIA occasionally runs promotions — check their site before buying, especially around end-of-year and back-to-school periods. ### Is there a way to reduce the Security+ cost? Several options: CompTIA offers discounts through academic institutions and military/veteran programs. Some employers cover exam costs as part of professional development budgets — this is worth asking about before self-funding. Buying the exam + retake bundle upfront (~$550) is cheaper than paying for two separate vouchers if you end up retesting. Udemy study materials frequently go on sale for $15–$20. ### What happens if I fail — do I pay again? Yes, you pay the full $392 for each retake attempt. CompTIA's retake policy requires a 14-day wait after a failed attempt. If you fail a second time, you must wait 14 days again. There's no cap on the number of attempts, but each one costs $392 unless you bought a bundle that includes a retake voucher. ### How does Security+ cost compare to other entry-level certs? CompTIA A+ requires two exams at $246 each ($492 total); Network+ is $338. Cisco CCNA is $330. Microsoft SC-900 (Security Fundamentals) is $165. Security+ sits mid-range. The premium over Cisco and Microsoft entry certs is partially justified by the DoD compliance value, which those certs don't offer. ### How long does it take to study for Security+? Most candidates report 40–80 hours of study time. With 1–2 hours per day, that's 4–10 weeks. Candidates coming from a networking or systems background with some security exposure often land at the lower end. Pure career-changers with no IT background typically need 3–4 months and should consider getting A+ or Network+ first. ### Does the Security+ certification expire? Yes. Security+ is valid for 3 years. Renewal requires 50 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) within the 3-year window or retaking the current exam. CEUs can be earned through courses, training, or other CompTIA certifications. There's also an annual CE program fee of $50/year ($150 for the 3-year cycle), which is separate from exam costs and often overlooked in total cost calculations. ## Bottom Line Budget $500–$700 for a realistic self-study path: exam voucher + study materials + practice exams. If your employer offers reimbursement, get the receipts in order before you register. If you're targeting federal IT or defense contracting, Security+ isn't optional — it's a checkbox requirement, and the $600 investment is one of the clearest career ROI decisions in IT. If you're already mid-career in security and have hands-on experience, the cert adds less marginal value and you might be better off putting that $600 toward a more specialized credential. The SY0-701 version is meaningfully updated from 601 — it covers cloud security, automation, and AI threat detection in ways the previous version didn't. If you studied for 601 and didn't finish, don't assume your materials transfer cleanly. ## Looking for the best course? Start here: - edX Review 2026: Courses, Costs, and What You Actually Get - Your Cybersecurity Learning Path: What Actually Works in 2026 - Security+ Cert: Best Courses to Pass It in 2026 ## Related Articles ![Build AI skills with the Google AI Professional Certificate](/api/media/file/images/2026/03/Google-AI-Professional-Certificate.webp?width=600) Certifications ### Build AI skills with the Google AI Professional Certificate Hands-on training with Gemini, NotebookLM, and AI Studio from Google practitioners, plus 3 months of Google AI Pro included with enrolment on Coursera. Portfoli Read More » Certifications ### ADP Payroll Specialist: Certification Path & Best Courses (2026) ADP Payroll Specialist certification 2026 guide: prerequisites, prep courses, exam tips, and career outcomes for payroll professionals. 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