COMPTIA SECURITY+ / STUDY RESOURCE Set a pace you can keep.
Let progress guide the date.

"How long should I study for Security+?" is the most common question from prospective candidates. The honest answer: it depends on your starting point. This guide provides realistic timelines based on your experience level, helping you set appropriate expectations and create an effective study plan.

Key points for your next step

Security+ study time depends on your background: IT professionals with networking experience need 2-3 months (100-150 hours). IT support professionals need 3-4 months (150-200 hours). Complete beginners need 4-6 months (200-300 hours including networking fundamentals). Study 10-15 hours weekly for optimal retention.

IT Professionals

2-3 Months

IT Support

3-4 Months

Beginners

4-6 Months

Weekly Hours

10-15

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.

Study Timeline by Experience

• Security experience: 4-6 weeks (1-2 hours daily)
• IT background (Network+/A+): 6-10 weeks (2 hours daily)
• Some IT knowledge: 2-3 months (2-3 hours daily)
• Complete beginner: 3-4 months (3+ hours daily)

Experienced IT Professionals (2-3 months): Background: Network administrators, sysadmins, or security-adjacent roles with 2+ years experience Prior certs: Network+, CCNA, or equivalent knowledge Study hours: 100-150 total (8-12 hours/week) Why faster: Already understand networking, systems, and basic security concepts

IT Support Professionals (3-4 months): Background: Help desk, desktop support, or IT generalist roles Prior certs: A+ or equivalent hands-on experience Study hours: 150-200 total (10-15 hours/week) Why this timeline: Need to deepen networking and add security-specific knowledge

Career Changers with Technical Background (3-5 months): Background: Software development, data analysis, or technical roles Prior certs: None IT-specific, but technical aptitude Study hours: 175-250 total (12-15 hours/week) Why variable: Depends on networking knowledge and learning speed

Complete Beginners (4-6 months): Background: Non-technical roles, new to IT Prior certs: None Study hours: 200-300 total (10-15 hours/week) Why longest: Must learn networking fundamentals before security content

Honest Self-Assessment

Most candidates overestimate their starting knowledge. If uncertain, take a free Security+ practice test. Scoring below 50% without study suggests the beginner timeline is appropriate.

Maximum Efficiency Strategies:

1. Active vs. Passive Learning Passive: Watching videos without notes Active: Taking notes, explaining concepts, practice questions Impact: Active learning reduces total time needed by 30-40%

2. Spaced Repetition Review material at increasing intervals (1 day, 3 days, 7 days, etc.) Tools: Anki, physical flashcards Impact: Better retention with less total time

3. Practice-Heavy Approach Start practice questions at 50-60% content completion Learn from incorrect answers—targeted study is efficient Impact: Identifies weaknesses faster than linear study

4. Eliminate Distractions Phone in another room Study environment dedicated to learning Use website blockers during study sessions Impact: 45 focused minutes > 90 distracted minutes

5. Strategic Resource Use Don't use every available resource—diminishing returns Choose one primary video course + one book + practice exams Impact: Prevents resource hopping that wastes time

The 85% Rule

Schedule your exam when you consistently score 85%+ on practice exams from multiple providers. This is more reliable than arbitrary timeline adherence.

Total Hours Breakdown

Where Your Hours Go:

*Video Content: 40-60 hours*

• Complete video course (Professor Messer or equivalent)
• Replay complex sections
• Note-taking during viewing

*Reading/Study Guide: 25-40 hours*

• Study guide book chapters
• Official exam objectives review
• Additional research on weak areas

*Practice Questions: 30-50 hours*

• Domain-specific practice
• Full-length practice exams
• Detailed review of all answers

*Hands-On Labs: 20-40 hours*

• TryHackMe or similar platforms
• Virtual machine practice
• Tool familiarization (Wireshark, etc.)

*Review and Reinforcement: 15-25 hours*

• Flashcard review
• Concept mapping
• Final exam preparation

Total Range: 130-215 hours Add 50-100 hours for beginners needing networking fundamentals.

Quality vs. Quantity

Focused, active study beats passive hours. One hour of practice questions with thorough review beats three hours of distracted video watching.

Sample Study Schedules

Intensive Schedule (8 weeks, 20+ hours/week): Best for: Full-time students, career changers with dedicated time

• Weeks 1-4: All five domains (5-6 hours/domain/week)
• Weeks 5-6: Practice exams and weakness review
• Weeks 7-8: Intensive practice, final prep, exam

Total hours: ~160-180

Standard Schedule (12 weeks, 12-15 hours/week): Best for: Working professionals with consistent availability

• Weeks 1-8: Domain content (1 domain every 1.5 weeks)
• Weeks 9-10: Practice exams, identify weaknesses
• Weeks 11-12: Targeted review, final practice, exam

Total hours: ~150-180

Part-Time Schedule (16-20 weeks, 8-10 hours/week): Best for: Busy professionals, parents, those with unpredictable schedules

• Weeks 1-12: Domain content with extra review time
• Weeks 13-16: Practice exams and comprehensive review
• Weeks 17-20: Final preparation and exam

Total hours: ~140-200

Beginner Extended Schedule (20-24 weeks):

• Weeks 1-6: Networking fundamentals
• Weeks 7-18: Security+ content
• Weeks 19-24: Practice and exam

Total hours: ~250-300

Consistency Matters Most

Daily 45-minute sessions outperform weekly 4-hour marathons. Consistent study builds neural pathways that irregular cramming cannot replicate.

Factors That Affect Your Timeline

Factors That Speed Up Study:

• Prior networking certification (Network+, CCNA)
• Current security-adjacent work role
• Strong self-discipline and study habits
• Full-time study availability
• Quality resources and structured plan

Factors That Extend Study:

• No prior IT experience
• Inconsistent study schedule
• Working full-time plus studying
• Learning disabilities or test anxiety
• Using low-quality or outdated resources
• Passive learning (watching without practicing)

Red Flags Your Timeline Is Too Aggressive:

• Planning to study for less than 8 weeks as a beginner
• Expecting to study less than 100 total hours
• Scheduling the exam before completing content review
• Practice test scores consistently below 70%
• Feeling overwhelmed by basic concepts

When to Extend Your Timeline

If practice scores plateau below 75% after 2 weeks of review, extend your timeline. Rushing to exam day wastes the exam fee and damages confidence.

Put the guidance into practice

1. Assess Your Starting Point

   Take a free practice test and honestly evaluate your networking knowledge.

   Score interpretation: 60%+ = experienced timeline; 40-60% = standard; below 40% = beginner.

2. Choose Your Schedule

   Select intensive, standard, or part-time based on your life circumstances.

   Be realistic about sustainable study hours—burnout extends timelines.

3. Set Milestones

   Break your timeline into weekly goals with specific objectives.

   Calendar blocking for study sessions increases follow-through.

4. Adjust Based on Progress

   Monitor practice scores and adjust timeline if needed.

   It's better to extend your timeline than to fail and restart.

More study tips

Schedule your exam date early—having a deadline creates productive urgency.

Track your study hours weekly to ensure you're on pace.

Quality beats quantity—45 focused minutes beats 2 distracted hours.

Start practice exams earlier than feels comfortable—they're diagnostic, not just evaluative.

If practice scores plateau, change your approach rather than just adding more hours.

Build buffer time into your timeline for life interruptions.

Mistakes to check for

Setting unrealistically short timelines (4 weeks as a beginner).

Scheduling the exam before achieving consistent 85% practice scores.

Studying passively (watching videos without engagement).

Cramming for extended periods instead of consistent daily practice.

Comparing your timeline to others with different backgrounds.

Not adjusting timeline when practice scores indicate unreadiness.

Study note

The candidates who pass efficiently are those who set realistic timelines based on honest self-assessment, study consistently rather than cramming, and schedule their exam when practice scores—not calendars—indicate readiness.

Start Tracking Your Security+ Progress

Use practice tests to benchmark your knowledge and track improvement over time.