How Much Does Security Plus Certification Cost?

Published on September 1, 2025 | Prices Last Reviewed for Freshness: February 2026
Written by Alec Pow - Economic & Pricing Investigator | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

Educational content; not financial advice. Prices are estimates; confirm current rates, fees, taxes, and terms with providers or official sources.

CompTIA Security+ sits near the top of many entry-level security job postings, and for good reason. It validates baseline skills across network defense, identity, risk, and incident response, and it appears in Department of Defense workforce requirements under the 8140 program that replaced 8570, which keeps it front-and-center for government and contractor roles, especially at IAT II and IAM I levels.

When people ask “How much does Security+ cost,” they usually mean the exam. The real answer is a stack: exam voucher, optional retake or bundle, practice tests and labs, a study guide or course, plus renewal fees every three years. Some candidates self-study with a lean budget, others enroll in a five-day live class that includes labs and a voucher, and many fall in between. This guide prices those paths, explains add-ons like rescheduling and refund rules, and gives renewal math so you can budget with your eyes open.

The audience is broad, from help desk and desktop support moving toward SOC roles, to junior sysadmins and analysts who need a credential that hiring managers recognize. If you are targeting DoD-aligned roles, Security+ maps cleanly to defined work categories, which is one reason employers continue to cite it in job ads.

Article Insights

• The Security+ exam voucher is $425, voucher plus retake $808.
• Official bundles that add training and a retake cluster near $900.
• Live five-day classes run $2,095–$2,970, often with labs and a voucher.
• Lean self-study with one premium practice bank and a guide lands near $574–$653.
• Renewal over three years costs $150 via CEUs or $155–$205 with CertMaster CE.
• Security+ maps to DoD 8140 workforce needs, which keeps employer demand strong.

How Much Does Security Plus Certification Cost?

Security Plus Certification cost starts from $425 up to $2,970+.

The exam voucher for Security+ SY0-701 is $425 in the CompTIA store. A voucher plus retake product is $808, and official multi-product bundles that include training and a retake hover around $900. In live, instructor-led markets, five-day Security+ classes typically run between $2,095 and $2,970, depending on provider and region.

Self-study with a solid practice bank and a current study guide is the lowest out-of-pocket route, and many candidates pass on that plan. Live online or classroom training costs more, though it can compress the timeline and often includes labs, a voucher, and a safety-net retake. Remote and test-center delivery are the same price; what changes the bill are add-ons like bundles, expedited shipping for books, or taxes. CompTIA’s scheduling rules matter because a late change can forfeit a voucher.

One-look price bands

Sources: CompTIA Marketplace and Bundles pages, plus current public course catalogs.

The cost of CompTIA Security+ certification in the US as of August 2025 centers on the exam voucher fee, which is $425 when purchased directly from CompTIA following a price increase in June 2025. Discounts may be available from authorized resellers, occasionally lowering this fee somewhat.

In previous months, many guides reported the Security+ exam voucher typically cost around $392 to $400, before the recent hike to $425.

Destination Certification says that retake fees are the same as the initial fee, and bundle packages that include a retake (two exam attempts) cost around $808. Additional costs for study materials range from $175 for self-study guides and practice tests to over $1,000 for instructor-led bootcamps and immersive learning options. The total outlay for exam, study materials, and possible training generally falls between $600 and $1,500, or up to $2,000+ for premium exam prep.

You might also like our articles on the cost of PHR certification, PMP certification, or Epic certification training.

Real-Life Cost Examples

Scenario A, lean self-study. You buy the Security+ voucher for $425, the Wiley Sybex Security+ Study Guide for about $50, and one high-quality practice bank. Boson ExSim lists Security+ practice at $99, and MeasureUp’s timed practice sits around $129 during promotions. Your all-in lands near $574–$653 before taxes and shipping for the book. Many candidates use free video resources and add only one paid practice tool to keep the bill tight.

Scenario B, live training with retake. You enroll in a five-day ONLC class at $2,495, which includes the exam voucher and labs, then schedule the test the week after class. If you want extra timed practice, add MeasureUp at $129. Your total sits near $2,624, and you gain structure plus the convenience of built-in materials. New Horizons lists similar five-day courses at $2,495 across multiple dates.

Scenario C, employer-funded course in Europe. Your company books a Global Knowledge EMEA virtual course priced at €2,795 (about $3,050, August 2025). You personally buy one practice bank at $99 for extra PBQ reps. Out-of-pocket is $99, and your training admin covers the rest.

Cost Breakdown

Exam and retake. The base Security+ voucher is $425. If you prefer insurance, CompTIA sells a voucher plus retake for $808. Official bundles add CertMaster tools plus a retake, with many Security+ bundles listed near $900 as of August 2025.

Delivery and scheduling. You can test at a Pearson VUE center or through OnVUE at home; the price is the same, and the voucher is consumed if you miss your slot. CompTIA’s help guidance is clear that rescheduling or cancelling inside the 24-hour window risks forfeiting the voucher, so build a realistic study schedule before you lock a date.

Study stack. Practice exams run $99–$159 from Boson and $129–$199 from MeasureUp during most months. The Wiley Sybex study guide is around $50 from the publisher. Courseware and labs vary widely in price, with official CertMaster components included in many bundles and sold a la carte in academic stores.

Soft costs. Printed books add postage, a new webcam or a quieter headset can add $20–$80, and time off work might be the biggest hidden line item for boot camps. None of those hit the invoice from CompTIA, but they hit your budget.

Factors Influencing the Cost

Membership and program pricing. Corporate and government programs sometimes buy discounted blocks of vouchers. Pearson VUE’s B2B store shows Security+ vouchers in the $319 range for member accounts, and training partners such as Dion Training often discount retail vouchers to $382.50 in the United States and sell regionalized stock in GBP or EUR. Your mileage will vary by employer and region.

Scheduling and seat scarcity. Popular windows fill up, and last-minute schedule changes near your expiry date are risky. CompTIA’s retake policy also adds time if you need multiple attempts, since third and subsequent tries require a 14-day wait. That wait time can push you into rush purchases for extra practice if you did not budget buffer.

Delivery mode and materials. Live classroom, live online, or self-paced all change the price. Quality labs cost money to build, which is why you will see a spread in course quotes.

Currency and taxes. Some stores price in USD only, others in local currency. VAT, sales tax, and FX swings can move your final bill by 5–25 percent depending on where you buy.

Alternative Products or Services

For some learners, Network+ first makes Security+ easier and lowers retake risk. If your role is more operations focused, ISC2’s SSCP exam is $249 and has a stronger tilt toward administering secure systems, while AWS’s Security Specialty exam is $300 and fits cloud-heavy stacks. CompTIA’s own CySA+ is $425 and gets deeper into detection and response but expects more hands-on practice with tools and logs. Compare depth, required labs, and courseware costs before you buy.

Free or low-cost routes exist. Professor Messer’s videos and notes are a famous combo, with the notes at $25 and the video series free, which many candidates pair with one premium practice bank to keep spend down while maintaining pass odds.

Ways to Spend Less

Shop vouchers. Authorized resellers and training partners regularly run 10–15 percent off vouchers, and regional stores occasionally post short-term deals. Dion Training lists Security+ vouchers at $382.50 when on sale, and there are EU and UK sellers for local currency buyers. If you use a reseller, confirm country restrictions.

Time your buy. Voucher prices increased in 2025, with Total Seminars noting Security+ moving to $425 in its June update, which makes seasonal promotions more valuable than they were a few years ago. One high-quality practice bank often beats stacking multiple cheaper ones. Borrow or check out a study guide to avoid another $50–$60. Split shipping if your study cohort is picking up printed materials.

Expert Insights & Tips

Start with the exam objectives. Build your plan directly against the published domains so you do not overspend on off-scope content, and use timed practice to calibrate before you schedule. CompTIA’s Security+ hub outlines what the test covers so you can align labs and videos to that blueprint.

Ask about budgets at work before you self-fund. Many employers have training stipends, pre-negotiated vouchers, or reimbursement policies. Verify pass-rate claims and retake terms in writing. Plan a mock exam cadence two to three weeks before your date, then schedule only when you are scoring in range on fresh question sets.

Total Costs, 3-Year Cycle

Security+ expires three years after you pass. You can renew by earning 50 CEUs and paying a $150 CE fee across the cycle, or you can complete the single-activity CertMaster CE course, which replaces CEUs and typically costs $155–$205, and when you use that course, you do not also pay the CE fee. Many candidates budget $0–$100 for webinars or community contributions to pick up CEUs if they skip the course.

Worked example. Year 0: voucher $425, Boson $99, Wiley guide $50, total $574. Years 1–3: CE fees $150 or one-time CertMaster CE $155–$205. Three-year TCO lands near $724–$779 on a lean path, or $729–$779 if you use CertMaster CE instead of CEUs.

Hidden & Unexpected Costs

Rescheduling inside 24 hours can burn the voucher, and a no-show does the same. Vouchers are non-refundable and have hard expiration dates, so do not buy too early if life is volatile. Remote testing sometimes triggers small purchases like a better webcam or a desk lamp, which are not huge individually but add up.

Name mismatches, expired IDs, or testing area violations can also force a rebook. That is another $425 if you do not have a retake product. Test center parking and travel can add a little extra.

Policies, Guarantees & Refunds

CompTIA’s retake policy requires a 14-day wait after your second failed attempt. There are no free re-tests outside of bundles, and each attempt uses a paid voucher. Some sellers offer retake “insurance” attached to a voucher, such as Total Seminars’ Security+ retake add-on for $47, which must be purchased with the voucher. Keep every receipt if you plan to seek employer reimbursement.

Financing & Payment Options

If you need to spread payments, a 0 percent intro APR credit card is often cheaper than third-party financing with double-digit APRs. Many employers reimburse after completion, so time purchases near a pay cycle to avoid late fees. Avoid high-APR educational loans for a single mid-price certification.

Opportunity Cost & ROI

Value depends on your target role. Security+ aligns with DoD workforce categories and remains a common screening signal in private sector SOC analyst and junior security engineer postings. Track timelines and outcomes. From first study session to interviews is often measured in weeks for self-study paths and in a tight month for boot camps, provided you plan mocks and schedule smart.

Seasonal & Market-Timing Factors

Prices move. A 2025 price change pushed the Security+ voucher to $425, and bundles sometimes shift during exam version rollovers, back-to-school periods, or year-end promotions. If you are buying for a study group, ask for a quote. Lock vouchers only when you have a credible study calendar so expiry does not force a rush attempt.

Use the Security+ domains as your syllabus to choose videos, a guide, and labs without duplication. Stage one untimed and two-timed mocks across different banks before you schedule a test date. If your networking fundamentals are thin, Network+ first reduces re-take risk and can save money. ONLC’s guidance puts two years of IT experience plus Network+ as a practical baseline. Bundle only if it helps.

Answers to Common Questions

What is the price for the exam alone versus bundled with training?

The voucher is $425. An official bundle that adds CertMaster training tools and a retake commonly sits around $900 as of August 2025.

How do voucher discounts work for students, military, or groups?

Authorized partners and B2B programs can sell discounted vouchers. Examples include $382.50 partner pricing and member-only B2B listings near $319, subject to eligibility.

Is remote proctoring cheaper than a test center?

No, the price is the same. What changes your total are bundles, add-ons, and rescheduling penalties inside the 24-hour window.

What is the cheapest credible study stack that still gives me labs and a retake?

Many candidates buy a discounted voucher, one premium practice bank at $99–$159, and rely on free videos, or they pick an official ~$900 bundle that includes Learn, Labs, Practice, and a retake.

How much should I budget for three-year renewal?

Budget $150 in CE fees if you renew with CEUs, or $155–$205 one time for CertMaster CE, which also waives the CE fee.