What are the CompTIA Security+ renewal requirements in 2026?

Your certification expires three years from the day you earned it, and you must renew before that date. Security+ needs 50 CEUs, meaning continuing education units, plus a $150 fee. Three routes waive that fee: CertMaster CE, a qualifying higher-level CompTIA certification, or the latest Security+ exam. A qualifying non-CompTIA certification counts as all 50 CEUs but still carries the $150 fee.

How many CEUs does CompTIA Security+ renewal need, and what will not count?

50 CEUs. For comparison, A+ needs 20, Network+ 30, CySA+ and PenTest+ 60, SecurityX 75, and SecAI+ 15. Tech+ needs no CEUs at all. Three rules knock out most failed submissions. The activity must be completed during your three-year cycle. At least half of the content must map to the Security+ exam objectives. And you must submit supporting documentation for training, publishing, non-CompTIA certifications and work experience.

Can I renew CompTIA Security+ by retaking the exam instead of earning CEUs?

Yes, and the CE fee is waived for the current cycle. The catch is version timing. Security+ V8, code SY0-801, is expected to launch on or around 17 November 2026. V7, code SY0-701, retires on 11 June 2027 for English and 13 August 2027 for Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish and Thai. A retake also costs a $439 voucher, and the same exam cannot be taken and passed twice to renew.

What are the CompTIA Security+ renewal requirements if my certification has already expired?

You get a 30-day grace period after the renewal cycle ends. Use it to pay an outstanding fee or submit CEUs earned inside the original three-year cycle. Once that window closes, the only route back is to pass the latest exam version. CEUs earned outside the three-year cycle do not count, so you cannot backdate them. A lapsed Security+ certificate usually means a full retake.

Does another certification count toward CompTIA Security+ renewal?

A single qualifying non-CompTIA certification counts as all 50 CEUs. The list includes CISSP, the Certified Information Systems Security Professional, and the Certified Ethical Hacker, or CEH, among others. Two details are worth checking. Microsoft Certified: Security Operations Analyst Associate is worth only 38 CEUs, so it cannot renew Security+ on its own. And a non-CompTIA certification still carries the $150 fee, while a qualifying CompTIA certification waives it.

How much does CompTIA Security+ renewal cost with CE tokens?

The Security+ fee is $150 for the whole three-year cycle, and it must be paid by your expiration date. You can buy it as CE tokens of $25 or $50 each. Tokens do not expire, and they are non-refundable once uploaded. Qualifying organizations and Department of Defense components can buy tokens in bulk for employees, so check with your employer first.

CompTIA Security Plus Renewal Requirements and Cost

What are the CompTIA Security+ renewal requirements right now?

A CompTIA certification expires three years from the day you earned it. You must renew before that expiration date to keep the credential active.

A CEU is a continuing education unit. It records learning and work that keep your skills current. The CompTIA page on earning CEUs lists the requirement for every CompTIA exam. Security+ asks for 50 CEUs. A+ asks for 20, Network+ 30, and SecurityX 75.

The Security+ continuing education fee is $150 for the full three-year renewal period. You pay it when you upload your CEUs, and it must reach CompTIA by your expiration date. The CompTIA fee page lists every amount.

Qualifying activity	CEU rate	Max per three-year cycle	Covers all 50 alone
One qualifying non-CompTIA certification	50 CEUs per credential	50	Yes
CompTIA exam development workshop	1 CEU per hour	50	Yes
Teach or mentor	1 CEU per hour	20	No
Create instructional materials	2 CEUs per hour	20	No
Combination of activities	Mixed	Sum of each cap	Yes, if the caps add up to 50

Two activities can clear 50 CEUs on their own. A single qualifying non-CompTIA certification counts as all 50. The list includes the Certified Information Systems Security Professional, or CISSP, and the Certified Ethical Hacker, or CEH, among others. Some certifications fall short. The Microsoft Certified: Security Operations Analyst Associate is worth only 38 CEUs, so it cannot renew Security+ by itself.

The caps also set a floor on the hours you need. Teaching or mentoring earns 1 CEU per hour and stops at 20 CEUs. Creating instructional materials earns 2 CEUs per hour and also stops at 20. A free plan built on all three routes needs about 40 hours. Here are the inputs. Twenty hours of teaching earns 20 CEUs. Ten hours writing instructional materials earns 20 CEUs. Ten hours in an exam development workshop earns 10 CEUs. That is 50 CEUs from about 40 hours, spread across three years rather than one weekend.

Those hours are an illustration, not a promise. You need a way to teach, to write material, and to join a workshop.

Which four renewal paths can you use and what does each one cost?

The CompTIA Security+ renewal requirements give you four ways to renew. Each one carries a different cash cost and a different effect on your exam version.

The CEU route costs the $150 fee for the cycle, which is $50.00 a year of validity across three years. The retake route costs a $439 exam voucher, which is $146.33 a year. The gap between the two routes is $289. The CompTIA Security+ price hike of June 2026 covers the move from $425 to $439 on 29 May 2026.

A retake charges list price for the same three years the fee route covers with $150. See also CompTIA Security+ exam cost and Security+ certification cost breakdown for 2026.

Fee waivers differ. CertMaster CE, a qualifying higher-level CompTIA certification, or the latest Security+ exam waive the CE fee. A qualifying non-CompTIA certification still requires it.

Criterion	50 CEUs	CertMaster CE	Higher-level certification	Retake the exam
What you do	Complete approved activities in the cycle	Finish the Security+ CertMaster CE course online	Pass a qualifying certification	Sit the latest exam at a test centre
CE fee	$150	$0, waived for the current cycle	$0 for CompTIA, $150 for non-CompTIA	$0, waived for the current cycle
Cash cost before study materials	$150	$0 plus the course price	That exam's price	$439 voucher
Cost per year of validity	$50.00	Course price divided by 3	That exam price divided by 3	$146.33
Time and effort	Spread over three years, about 40 hours	About 8 to 10 hours of study	Full exam preparation and testing	Full exam preparation and testing
Effect on exam version	None	None	None	Moves you to the version you sit

CertMaster CE is a CompTIA course built for Security+ renewal.

Passing a qualifying CompTIA certification renews Security+ and waives the fee. Passing a qualifying non-CompTIA certification renews it too, but you still pay $150.

How does the Security+ V7 to V8 exam switch change your decision?

Security+ V8, exam code SY0-801, is expected to launch on or around 17 November 2026. It covers more ground, including risks tied to artificial intelligence, security operations and modern environments. Security+ V7, exam code SY0-701, retires on 11 June 2027 for the English exam. The Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish and Thai versions retire on 13 August 2027. The CompTIA V7 exam page lists these dates.

One rule often surprises readers. CompTIA states that the same exam cannot be taken and passed twice to renew a credential. A retake of V7 in early 2027 renews you for three years. You then face V8 at your next renewal. Every CEU-based route leaves your exam version where it is.

Retake only if your renewal window closes before 11 June 2027. If your window opens after that date, take the V8 exam or renew with CEUs instead. A CEU-based renewal keeps the credential alive for three more years with no exam.

What happens if your Security+ renewal is late?

You still get a window. CompTIA allows 30 days after the renewal cycle ends. Use them to pay an outstanding fee or submit CEUs earned in the original cycle. The CompTIA certification renewal policy sets that rule.

Once the 30 days close, the only route back is the latest exam version. CEUs earned outside the three-year cycle do not count, so you cannot backdate them. A lapsed Security+ certificate usually means a full retake.

Which renewal path should you pick and when should you act?

The CompTIA Security+ renewal requirements get simple once you know your expiration date. Then ask two questions. Do you already hold a qualifying certification? Do you want to spend money or time?

CertMaster CE - about 8 to 10 hours of study and no CE fee
50 CEUs - $150 over three years
A qualifying certification - renews on its own, adds that exam price
A retake - $439, and the only route that moves your exam version

The 50-CEU route costs $150 and leaves your exam version alone. If your window closes before 11 June 2027, a retake works. It suits you if you prefer one exam to three years of activity logs. If your window opens after that date, renew with CEUs and stay on the current version.

What are the next steps for your renewal?

Three tasks cover the decision. Do them this week.

Find your date - open your CompTIA account and note the expiration date
Check your version - compare your renewal window with the 11 June 2027 date
Plan your CEUs - list activities that fit the caps and collect documentation

Photo: hudsoncrafted, Pixabay Content License, via Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/photos/planner-march-calendar-schedule-4884740/)

CompTIA Security Plus Renewal Requirements and Cheapest Path

What are the CompTIA Security+ renewal requirements right now?

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