How to Get CompTIA Security+ Certified
A plain walkthrough of the SY0-701 exam, who actually asks for the credential, what the voucher costs, and how long most candidates spend preparing.
By Lena KowalczykOct 28, 2026 · 8 min read
CompTIA Security+ is an entry-level cybersecurity certification you earn by passing a single exam, currently version SY0-701, which covers five domains and runs a maximum of 90 questions in 90 minutes (CertInstructor). There are no classroom hours to log and no state board to apply to — you buy a voucher, schedule the exam, and pass with a score of 750 out of 900 (Crucial Exams).
Most of the planning is about money and time: a single voucher is listed at $439, with bundles that add a second attempt or practice software running higher (HackerDNA, 2026). The credential then expires three years from the date you pass unless you renew it through CompTIA's continuing education program (CompTIA, 2024-12-18).
What This Certification Covers
The exam is the CompTIA Security+ certification exam, currently coded SY0-701, and the issuing organization is CompTIA. It has five domains (Crucial Exams):
- General Security Concepts
- Threats, Vulnerabilities and Mitigations
- Security Architecture
- Security Operations
- Security Program Management and Oversight
The domains are weighted rather than equal — General Security Concepts accounts for 12% of the exam (SecuSpark), so the operations and architecture material carries more of the score. The format mixes multiple-choice items with performance-based questions that ask you to configure or sort something on screen, with a maximum of 90 questions and a 90-minute limit (CertInstructor). CompTIA scores the exam from 100 to 900 points (Cybersecurity Guide) and sets the pass mark at 750 (Crucial Exams; Security Plus Cert Prep).
Who actually requires it. No US state licenses cybersecurity analysts, so Security+ is not a license in the legal sense — nobody can stop you working without it. Where it functions as a hard requirement is federal defense work. A chart of DoD 8140/8570 baseline certifications lists 'Security+ CE' as an approved certification alongside CASP CE, CCNP, CISA and CISSP (Intellectual Point), and CompTIA states that by February 2025 all DoD civilian employees and military service members in DoD Cyber Workforce Framework work roles under the cybersecurity framework are affected by its certification alignment (CompTIA). In practice that means defense contractors, federal agencies and military roles treat it as a condition of holding the job, while private-sector employers more often treat it as a screening filter on the job posting. Outside the US, recognition varies by country and by employer; check the posting rather than assuming.
Security+ also sits in a CompTIA certification group with ISO/ANSI accreditation status, and every certification in that group expires three years from the earned date (CompTIA, 2024-12-18).
Eligibility Requirements
CompTIA does not gate this exam behind a degree, a training course or logged work hours — you can register and sit it without holding another certification first. The requirements that are pass/fail are administrative:
- You hold a CompTIA account (created through CompTIA's certification portal) with your legal name entered exactly as it appears on your photo ID.
- You accept the CompTIA Candidate Agreement, including its rules on exam confidentiality and conduct, before the exam launches. Declining it ends the session.
- You present valid, unexpired government-issued photo identification at check-in with CompTIA's testing vendor, matching the registration name. A mismatch is grounds for refusal.
- You hold a paid exam voucher or a voucher code redeemed before the scheduling deadline — a voucher for one attempt is listed at $439 (HackerDNA, 2026).
- For an online-proctored sitting, your workspace, webcam, microphone and connection pass the vendor's system and room check.
Two things that are not CompTIA requirements but may be your employer's: a background investigation and security clearance. Defense contractors and DoD components run those separately under their own rules, and passing Security+ has no bearing on the outcome. Prerequisites and policies can change between exam versions, so confirm the current ones on CompTIA's Security+ exam page before you buy anything.
Steps to Get Certified
- Confirm the exam version and objectives. Download the current SY0-701 exam objectives from CompTIA and read the five domain weightings (Crucial Exams; SecuSpark). This is free, and it tells you which domains deserve the most study time.
- Choose and buy your voucher or bundle. A single-attempt voucher is listed at $439 and a 'Voucher Plus Retake Assurance' bundle covering two attempts at $579 (HackerDNA, 2026; TotalCyber). Decide before you start studying, because the retake bundle cannot be added after a failed attempt. If you are serving in a DoD role, ask your training office whether it funds the voucher before you pay personally.
- Study to the objectives for about three to four months part-time. Work through each of the five domains, and practise the performance-based question format specifically — those items are where candidates lose time against the 90-minute limit (CertInstructor). CompTIA's own CertMaster Practice is sold inside the $593 'Practice and Exam Bundle with Retake' (HackerDNA, 2026) if you want question drilling bundled with the voucher.
- Schedule the exam. Redeem the voucher code through CompTIA's scheduling link and pick either a testing centre seat or an online-proctored slot. Rescheduling close to the date may carry a fee under the vendor's policy — check it when you book.
- Sit the exam and clear 750 points. You have 90 minutes for up to 90 questions (CertInstructor) and need 750 out of 900 to pass (Crucial Exams). Results are reported at the end of the session.
- Claim the credential and diarise renewal. Log in to your CompTIA account to accept the certification and download the digital badge and certificate. Then set a reminder three years out: the certification is good for three years from the date you passed, and if you do not renew it through the CE program, the only way to regain it is to pass the exam again (CompTIA, 2024-12-18).
Start to finish, budget three to four months from first study session to certificate if you are working full time, and more if you are starting from no IT background.
Cost and Timeline by Path
All four routes lead to the same exam. The difference is how much structure and insurance you pay for. Prices below are as listed by resellers in 2026 and move with CompTIA's own pricing, so check the CompTIA store or your reseller before committing. The study times are planning allowances for part-time study alongside a job, not published figures.
| Path or Provider | Total Cost | Time to Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Self-study plus a single CompTIA voucher | $439 (HackerDNA, 2026; TotalCyber) | About 3 to 4 months part-time |
| Voucher Plus Retake Assurance bundle (two attempts) | $579 (HackerDNA, 2026; TotalCyber) | About 3 to 4 months, plus a few weeks if you use the second attempt |
| Practice and Exam Bundle with Retake (voucher, retake, CertMaster Practice) | $593 (HackerDNA, 2026) | About 3 to 4 months with daily question practice |
| Learn and Exam Bundle with Retake (guided courseware plus voucher and retake) | $884 (HackerDNA, 2026) | About 3 to 4 months of guided study |
The Practice and Exam Bundle at $593 (HackerDNA, 2026) is the sensible default for most people coming in with some IT exposure: it is a modest step up from the bare $439 voucher, it includes a second attempt, and the question drilling targets the performance-based items. Its real drawback is that you are paying twice over for insurance you may not need — pass first time and the retake assurance is money you never use, and CertMaster Practice tests recall rather than teaching concepts from scratch. If you have never worked in IT, the guided bundle at $884 is the one that closes that gap, at roughly twice the cost of self-study (HackerDNA, 2026). If you are disciplined and already work in support or networking, the $439 voucher is the cheapest route, with the risk that a failed attempt means buying another full-price voucher.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Security+ last, and how do I renew it?
It is good for three years from the date you pass the exam (CompTIA, 2024-12-18). You renew it through CompTIA's continuing education program for a further three years, with one path being the accumulation of continuing education units, also called Security+ CPEs (Infosec Institute). If you let it lapse, the only way back is to pass the certification exam again (CompTIA, 2024-12-18).
What happens if I fail the exam?
You buy another attempt. That is why the 'Voucher Plus Retake Assurance' bundle at $579 covers two attempts rather than one (HackerDNA, 2026) — it cannot be bought retroactively after a failure. CompTIA applies waiting periods and conduct rules to retakes, so read its current exam retake policy before rebooking rather than assuming you can sit again immediately.
Is Security+ valid in every state, or do I need to recertify when I move?
Security+ is a vendor certification from CompTIA, not a state license, so there is no state board, no reciprocity process and nothing to transfer when you move. It carries the same weight in every state and is recognised internationally, though how much individual employers value it varies by country. Only the three-year expiry affects its validity (CompTIA, 2024-12-18).
Does Security+ meet DoD requirements?
A chart of DoD 8140/8570 baseline certifications lists 'Security+ CE' as an approved certification alongside CASP CE, CCNP, CISA and CISSP (Intellectual Point). CompTIA states that by February 2025 all DoD civilian employees and military service members in DCWF cybersecurity work roles are affected by its certification alignment (CompTIA). Confirm the specific work role with your command or contracting officer, because approved certifications differ by role.
What score do I need, and how is the exam marked?
CompTIA scores Security+ from 100 to 900 points (Cybersecurity Guide), and you need 750 to pass (Crucial Exams; Security Plus Cert Prep). The exam has a maximum of 90 questions and a 90-minute limit, mixing multiple-choice with performance-based items (CertInstructor). CompTIA does not publish a pass rate, so treat any figure you see quoted elsewhere with caution.
Sources
- CompTIA — How Long Does the CompTIA Security+ Certification Last? (2024-12-18)
- Infosec Institute — CompTIA Security+ continuing education and renewal requirements
Your coach for this guide
Lena builds long-form conversations with workers across industries, chasing the specific texture of a job rather than its title. She's most interested in the gap between what a role is called and what it actually asks of someone.
