COMPTIA SECURITY+ / EXAM GUIDE Keep your credential current.
Plan renewal early.

One question every Security+ certified professional asks: "Does my CompTIA Security+ expire?" Here's everything you need to know about certification validity and renewal.

With a 3 years validity period, proactive planning ensures your Security+ credential remains active. Whether you're newly certified or approaching renewal, understanding your options helps you stay prepared.

Key points for your next step

Security+ CE has a 3-year renewal cycle. The multiple-activity route requires 50 eligible CEUs and a total US$150 CE fee for the full cycle. Qualifying single-activity routes, such as an eligible higher CompTIA certification or CertMaster CE, have separate terms and do not require that CE fee. Check your exact eligibility before purchase.

Validity

3 years

CEUs Required

50

Renewal Cost

US$150 CE cycle fee

Renewal Method

CEUs/Exam

Exam reference: SY0-701 has up to 90 questions in 90 minutes and uses a scaled 750/900 passing score. Use the current CompTIA objectives. Study durations and practice percentages here are planning examples, not requirements or pass guarantees. Provider and regional prices change; confirm current costs before purchase.

Retake policy · Renewal routes · CE fees

SY0-701 retirement: English ends June 11, 2027; Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, and Thai end August 13, 2027. Check the official exam page before booking and choose resources for your exam version.

Ways to Earn Security+ CEUs

CompTIA offers multiple paths to earn CEUs, giving you flexibility to choose activities that fit your career and interests:

• CertMaster CE is a single-activity option when your earned exam version is eligible. Check current course price and version rules; the separate US$150 CE fee is not required for this route.
• Higher-level CompTIA certifications: Earning CySA+, PenTest+, or CASP+ automatically renews Security+ and all lower CompTIA certs. This is the most efficient path if you're advancing your career.
• Non-CompTIA certifications can earn credit when they appear on CompTIA’s current approved list. Check the exact certification, CEUs allowed, earned date, documentation, and remaining fees before relying on it for renewal.
• Eligible training, conferences, publishing, and work experience can support renewal. CompTIA sets activity limits, relevance rules, and evidence requirements; confirm the credit allowed for each activity before you submit it.
• Eligible training, conferences, publishing, and work experience can support renewal. CompTIA sets activity limits, relevance rules, and evidence requirements; confirm the credit allowed for each activity before you submit it.
• Teaching and presenting: Develop and deliver security training or present at conferences. Preparation and delivery time both count.
• Eligible training, conferences, publishing, and work experience can support renewal. CompTIA sets activity limits, relevance rules, and evidence requirements; confirm the credit allowed for each activity before you submit it.
• Eligible training, conferences, publishing, and work experience can support renewal. CompTIA sets activity limits, relevance rules, and evidence requirements; confirm the credit allowed for each activity before you submit it.

CompTIA accepts a variety of activities for continuing education credits:

Training and Education:

• Complete online courses or in-person training
• Attend conferences, seminars, or workshops
• Participate in webinars (live or recorded)
• Earn higher-level or related certifications

Professional Activities:

• Publish articles, blog posts, or white papers
• Present at conferences or user groups
• Teach courses or training sessions
• Mentor other professionals

Self-Study:

• Read industry books, magazines, or publications
• Complete vendor-provided learning paths
• Participate in study groups

Work Experience:

• Some on-the-job learning activities qualify
• Projects that expand your skills may count
• Leadership and management responsibilities

Track all activities throughout the year rather than scrambling before expiration. Most vendors provide online portals where you log activities and track progress toward requirements.

Security+ Renewal Cost Breakdown

The total cost of renewing CompTIA Security+ includes both direct fees and the value of time invested in continuing education:

Direct Costs:

• Renewal/maintenance fee: US$150 total for the 3-year CE cycle
• Optional training courses: $100-$500+ depending on choices

Time Investment: Plan eligible learning across the three-year cycle. Credit depends on CompTIA’s rules for each activity, so 50 CEUs should not be treated as a fixed universal number of hours. Keep the required completion records as you go.

Cost-Effective Strategies: 1. Many activities you already do count toward credits (reading, attending meetings, on-the-job training) 2. Free webinars and online resources often qualify for credits 3. Contributing to the community (blogging, mentoring, speaking) earns credits while building your reputation

Renewing by Earning a Higher Certification

One of the most popular renewal strategies is earning a higher-level CompTIA certification. When you pass CySA+ (Cybersecurity Analyst), PenTest+ (Penetration Tester), or CASP+ (Advanced Security Practitioner), CompTIA automatically renews Security+ and all certifications below it in the CompTIA certification stack. This means Network+ and A+ are also renewed simultaneously.

Non-CompTIA certifications can earn credit when they appear on CompTIA’s current approved list. Check the exact certification, CEUs allowed, earned date, documentation, and remaining fees before relying on it for renewal.

Keep records of completion and submit the required evidence. Eligible activity types have limits and documentation rules; do not assume ordinary reading, meetings, or mentoring automatically earns CEUs.

What Happens If Security+ Expires

If your Security+ expires, you lose the ability to claim active certification status. This can have immediate career implications—government contractors may be unable to continue in their current roles, and job applications requiring active Security+ will not accept an expired credential. CompTIA may offer a limited grace period, but you should not rely on this.

To regain the certification after expiration, you must retake and pass the current version of the Security+ exam. The exam requires a new voucher at the current price and requires significant study time, especially if the exam version has changed since you originally certified. Maintaining through CEUs is far more cost-effective and less stressful.

If the certification expires, do not describe it as current on a resume or application. The earlier achievement remains part of your history.

A submission grace period, where applicable, does not extend the period for earning CEUs. Check CompTIA’s policy and contact support about an expired credential; do not assume a late fee restores it.

Prevention: Set reminders at 12, 6, and 3 months before expiry. Track eligible activities throughout the cycle and complete renewal before the deadline.

CompTIA Security+ Certification Validity Period

Your CompTIA Security+ certification is valid for 3 years from the date you pass your exam. After this period, your certification status changes to "expired" unless you complete renewal requirements.

Key Dates to Track:

• Certification Date: The date you passed your exam (shown on your certificate)
• Expiration Date: Exactly 3 years after certification
• Renewal Window: Most vendors allow renewal starting 6-12 months before expiration

What "Expired" Means: When your certification expires, you can no longer claim active certification status. You cannot use the credential on your resume as current, and verification services will show your certification as inactive. However, expiration doesn't erase your achievement—you can still mention that you "previously held" the certification.

Grace Periods and Extensions

A submission grace period, where applicable, does not extend the period for earning CEUs. Check CompTIA’s policy and contact support about an expired credential; do not assume a late fee restores it.

More study tips

Focus on the official CompTIA exam objectives as your study checklist—every question ties directly to these objectives.

CompTIA scenario questions often include irrelevant details. Identify what they're actually asking before reading answer choices.

Use CompTIA CertMaster Labs or similar environments to get hands-on practice that mirrors PBQ scenarios.

Set calendar reminders at 12, 6, and 3 months before expiration to track your Security+ renewal progress.

Log CEU activities immediately after completing them—don't rely on memory at renewal time.

Consider earning a higher-level certification to automatically renew Security+.

Mistakes to check for

Waiting until the last month before expiration to start accumulating CEUs.

Not tracking activities throughout the certification cycle and forgetting eligible credits.

Assuming all training automatically qualifies for CEUs without checking vendor requirements.

Letting the certification expire and then needing to retake the exam.

Not considering higher-level certifications that would automatically renew current credentials.

Failing to budget for renewal costs and being surprised by fees.

Prepare for Your CompTIA Security+ Journey

Whether you're pursuing initial certification or preparing for renewal, practice questions help you stay sharp.