Security+ during the switch to V8: which exam to study for and what it costs

By Alexander Shick · Updated November 5, 2026

What Security+ says about you

CompTIA describes Security+ as a credential for the skills needed to perform core security functions, and lists security analyst, security engineer and systems administrator as related roles. It is a broad exam: controls, threats, architecture, day-to-day security operations and governance, tested with multiple-choice and performance-based questions.

SY0-701 now or SY0-801 later

CompTIA's Security+ page says V7 is available today and V8 is expected on or around November 17, 2026. In its words, if you are ready to certify now, "V7 remains a strong option"; if you are planning ahead, V8 adds coverage of areas such as AI-related risks, security operations and modern environments. The English SY0-701 exam retires on June 11, 2027, so a V7 plan has about seven months of runway after V8 arrives.

Three things decide it for most people. First, V8 launches in English only. Second, on November 5 CompTIA's V8 page listed no V8 voucher or study-product prices, while every course in our table below teaches SY0-701. Third, CompTIA's V7 voucher listing describes it as a voucher for the Security+ (V7) exam, so ask CompTIA or your provider whether a voucher bought now can be used for SY0-801. Our rule of thumb: test by spring 2027 on V7 material, or wait for V8 material if your exam date is later in 2027.

The exam, version by version

No eligibility rule applies: CompTIA lists recommended experience only. For V7 that is Network+ and two years of experience in a security or systems administrator job role; for V8 it is two years of hands-on experience as a security administrator. Both versions have up to 90 multiple-choice and performance-based questions, 90 minutes and a passing score of 750 on a 100 to 900 scale. V7 is offered in English, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish and Thai; V8 in English. CompTIA estimates V8 will retire about three years after launch. The domain weights shift between versions:

Study routes for SY0-701

• Free video course. Professor Messer publishes a free SY0-701 video course. It suits self-starters who will add their own practice questions.
• CompTIA's own e-learning. CertMaster Learn for Security+ costs $599 alone, CertMaster Practice $209 and CertMaster Labs $199. Bought as a bundle with a voucher and a retake, Practice comes to $593 and Learn to $884; the Complete bundle with Learn, Labs, Practice and the voucher is $1,058.
• Instructor-led classes. ONLC and Learning Tree both run five-day SY0-701 classes with the voucher included. They suit people who need a fixed schedule or an employer paying for training.

Security+ prices, $439 to $2,790

Five of the six routes already contain a voucher; only the free videos leave you to buy the $439 voucher yourself. Every row teaches SY0-701, because no provider or CompTIA page we read on November 5, 2026, priced a V8 course.

Beyond the table: if you self-study on a plain voucher and fail, the second sitting costs another $439, so the $579 voucher with Retake Assurance costs $140 more than a plain voucher and pays for a second attempt. A voucher is good for 12 months from purchase, which matters if you buy now and slip past the June 11, 2027, V7 cutoff. After you pass, budget $150 per three-year cycle for continuing-education renewal.

Questions for a Security+ training provider

• Which exam does the course teach, and will you switch to SY0-801? Every course in our table names SY0-701. If you book a class for spring 2027, ask whether the materials change to V8 and which voucher you receive.
• Is a voucher included, and on what terms? ONLC and Learning Tree include a voucher. ONLC releases its voucher with Retake Assurance only after you score 85% or better on its practice exam or assessment, and its Exam Pass Guarantee is void unless you take the exam within one year of finishing the course. ONLC also says you can retake its instructor-led class at no charge within a year.
• Commercial or government price. Learning Tree shows separate commercial and government pricing; the $2,790 in our table is the commercial price.
• Practice questions and labs. Learning Tree says its course includes 500 practice questions; ask other providers what practice and lab access you keep after the class.

Keeping Security+ active

Security+ renews on a three-year cycle. Renewing by continuing education takes 50 CEUs earned during the cycle plus the $150 CompTIA fee. CompTIA also sells Security+ CertMaster CE for $209 as a single renewal activity. The CE course sold on the V7 page is for SY0-601 (V6) holders whose certification is still active; CompTIA says the CE course for the version you were certified under does not count.

Planning Security+ for a team

For a group, the version question matters more than for one person: a cohort that starts in December 2026 and tests in spring 2027 can stay on SY0-701, while a group starting later should wait for V8 courseware. Ask providers to quote a private class with vouchers for each seat and to name the exam code on the quote.

Common questions

Is Security+ V8 out yet?

Not on November 5, 2026. CompTIA lists SY0-801 with a launch date of November 17, 2026, in English.

When does SY0-701 retire?

June 11, 2027, in English, and August 13, 2027, in Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish and Thai.

How much is the Security+ exam?

$439 for a CompTIA voucher in the US, or $579 with Retake Assurance, as of November 2026.

Do I need Network+ first?

No. CompTIA recommends Network+ and two years of related experience for V7 but sets no prerequisite.

Next step

If you want help choosing between a V7 plan and waiting for V8, send us your exam date and background.

Ask for help choosing Security+ training