Prep
How Security+ renewal works
Security+ renewal runs through CompTIA's Continuing Education (CE) program. Your certification is valid for three years from the date you earned it, and you must renew before that date. If you passed on January 15, 2025, for example, CompTIA's own example says you must renew by January 15, 2028.
There are two ways to renew:
- Collect CEUs. Earn 50 continuing education units through training, work experience, other certifications and similar activities, upload them, and pay the CE fee.
- Complete one qualifying activity. Pass the latest version of the Security+ exam, earn a higher-level CompTIA certification, or complete CertMaster CE if you are eligible. These renew Security+ automatically, and the CE fee is waived.
Paying the CE fee on its own does not renew anything. CompTIA states this directly: you need the CEUs as well.
| Option | CE fee | Renews automatically? |
|---|---|---|
| 50 CEUs from qualifying activities | US$150 per cycle | No, upload CEUs and pay the fee |
| Pass the latest Security+ exam (newer version) | Waived | Yes |
| Earn CySA+, PenTest+ or SecurityX | Waived | Yes |
| Qualifying non-CompTIA certification | US$150 per cycle | No, submit it as CEUs |
| CertMaster CE (SY0-601 or earlier holders) | Waived | Yes, on completion |
Security+ renewal options compared
| Option | What you do | CE fee | Other cost | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earn 50 CEUs | Log qualifying activities during the three-year cycle and upload proof | US$150 per three-year cycle | Whatever the activities cost (some are free) | People already doing training or work that counts |
| Pass the latest Security+ exam | Pass a newer version than the one you certified on (SY0-801 for SY0-701 holders) | Waived | Exam voucher | People who want a clean, automatic renewal |
| Earn CySA+, PenTest+ or SecurityX | Pass a higher-level CompTIA exam during your cycle | Waived | Exam voucher | People moving into analyst, testing or senior roles |
| Earn a qualifying non-CompTIA certification | Earn a listed certification (for example CISSP, SSCP, CISM or CEH) and submit it | US$150 | That certification's own fees | People earning other security certifications anyway |
| CertMaster CE | Complete CompTIA's online renewal course with 100% on every assessment | Waived | Course price | Only holders who certified on SY0-601 or earlier |
All fee and eligibility details are from CompTIA's continuing education pages, checked November 7, 2026.
Security+ CEU requirements
CompTIA's renewal page for Security+ V7 states that 50 CEUs are required for renewal. Activities that can count include:
- Training and higher education: live webinars, conferences, college courses, training courses and American Council on Education (ACE) courses
- IT industry participation: creating instructional materials, teaching or mentoring, and taking part in CompTIA exam development workshops
- Earning other certifications, CompTIA or non-CompTIA
- Publishing a blog post, article, white paper or book
- Related work experience
Most of these must be submitted by hand in your CompTIA certification account. CompTIA sets CEU values and limits for each activity type on its activity pages, so check them before you rely on one activity to cover everything.
Some non-CompTIA certifications carry the full 50 CEUs on their own. CompTIA's Security+ V7 list includes, among others, ISC2 CISSP and SSCP, ISACA CISA, CISM and CRISC, EC-Council CEH, AWS Certified Security - Specialty and several Cisco, Palo Alto Networks and Check Point security certifications. Microsoft's Security Operations Analyst Associate is listed at 38 CEUs. You still pay the CE fee on this route.
The Security+ CE fee
The Security+ CE fee is US$150 for the full three-year cycle. CompTIA says you do not have to pay it annually; it must be paid in full by your certification's expiration date. CE fees are not refundable.
If you hold several CompTIA certifications, you pay only for the highest one. Security+ fully renews Network+ and A+, so renewing Security+ also renews those. When you renew by passing a newer exam, earning a higher-level certification or completing CertMaster CE, there is no CE fee.
Pay the fee only if you are renewing with CEUs. If you plan to renew with SY0-801 or CySA+, paying the fee as well is money you will not get back.
SY0-701 to SY0-801: what the new version means for renewal
Security+ V8, exam SY0-801, launches on November 17, 2026. The English SY0-701 exam stays available until June 11, 2027. Here is how the change affects people who already hold Security+:
- Your certification does not expire early. It stays valid until three years from the date you earned it, whichever version you passed.
- SY0-801 becomes a renewal option for SY0-701 holders. CompTIA lets you renew by passing the latest release, as long as it is a newer version than the one you certified on. Once SY0-801 is live, an SY0-701 holder can renew by passing it within the cycle, with the CE fee waived.
- You cannot renew by retaking SY0-701. CompTIA's rules say you cannot pass the exact same exam again to renew.
- SY0-601 holders have more options. Both SY0-701 and SY0-801 are newer than SY0-601, and SY0-601 holders are eligible for CertMaster CE. If you plan to renew by taking SY0-701 after November 17, 2026, confirm with CompTIA that it still counts as the latest release.
- CEU rules for V8 are not yet published separately. The 50-CEU figure comes from CompTIA's V7 renewal page. We expect the same for V8, but check CompTIA's renewal page if you certify on SY0-801.
If you are renewing by exam, note the content shift. SY0-801's domain weights differ from SY0-701's: General Security Concepts rises to 16%, Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Attacks to 24%, Security Architecture to 19%, while Security Operations is 27% and Security Program Management and Oversight drops to 14%. Download the SY0-801 objectives and test yourself on our free Security+ practice test before you book.
Renewing with a higher-level certification
CompTIA lists three certifications that fully renew Security+:
- CySA+, which also fully renews PenTest+, Network+ and A+
- PenTest+, which also fully renews CySA+, Network+ and A+
- SecurityX, which fully renews CySA+, PenTest+, Security+, Network+ and A+
You must earn the higher certification during your current three-year cycle. Your Security+ expiration date then moves to match the new certification, which runs for three years from the date you earn it. This is often the best-value route if you were planning your next certification anyway. Our cybersecurity certification roadmap explains which one fits which career.
Which renewal route should you choose?
Our recommendation depends on what you are doing in the next three years anyway:
- Planning another certification? If it is CySA+, PenTest+ or SecurityX, let it renew Security+. You pay for one exam and no CE fee, and your expiration date resets.
- Already doing training or security work? Collect CEUs as you go. Log activities when they happen, not in the final month, and keep certificates of completion.
- Earning a non-CompTIA certification such as CISSP? Check that it is on CompTIA's Security+ list, submit it, and pay the US$150 fee.
- Want a clean reset with no paperwork? Pass SY0-801 once it launches. It costs an exam voucher and real study time, but it also proves you know the current objectives.
A simple renewal timeline
- Year 1: note your expiration date in your CompTIA account and pick a route.
- Year 2: if you are collecting CEUs, upload what you have earned so far. If you are taking an exam, start studying.
- First half of year 3: upload the remaining CEUs and pay the fee, or sit your exam, leaving time for a retake.
- Before the expiration date: confirm in your account that the renewal shows as complete.
What happens if Security+ expires
CompTIA offers a 30-day grace period after expiration. During it you can pay outstanding CE fees and submit CEUs you earned within the original cycle. You cannot use it to earn new CEUs.
After the grace period, the certification is gone. To get it back, you must pass the latest version of the Security+ exam. Set a reminder at least six months before your expiration date so you have time to choose a route.