The CompTIA Security+ V8 exam, code SY0-801, launches on or around November 17, 2026. It carries up to 90 questions. Some are multiple choice. Others are performance based, which means you work through a task on screen. The exam runs 90 minutes. You need a score of 750 on a scale from 100 to 900. CompTIA recommends two years of hands-on work as a security administrator first. CompTIA lists an estimated retirement for V8 about three years after launch.
Industry exams, fee and format| Exam | Fee | Questions | Time | Experience suggested |
|---|
| AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner CLF-C02 | $100 | 65 | 90 min | None required; up to 6 months AWS exposure helps |
| CompTIA Security+ V8 SY0-801 | - | Up to 90 | 90 min | 2 years hands-on security admin |
Notice the fee gap in the table. The AWS exam lists its price on the certification page. The CompTIA V8 page lists no fee. Check the CompTIA store before you budget. Our best IT certifications without a degree guide covers exam costs. It covers entry rules too.
Which jobs do these certifications support?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics put median pay for computer support specialists at $62,890. That figure covers May 2025. User support roles paid $61,860 at the median. Network support roles paid $76,220. You can check the BLS computer support specialists page for the full breakdown.
Here is the honest part. The same agency projects a 3% decline in support roles from 2025 to 2035. These roles are not growing. Even so, about 48,700 openings a year come from replacement. People leave the field for other work or retire. BLS also says a high school diploma plus IT certifications may be enough. That applies to some of these jobs. User support roles typically need some college. Network support roles typically need an associate's degree.
Data scientists sit at the other end of the range. BLS reports a median of $120,230 in May 2025. Growth is projected at 35% through 2035. Entry is usually a bachelor's degree. A short certificate helps you learn the tools. It does not replace the degree most of these postings ask for. If a Microsoft track fits, our best Microsoft certifications 2026 guide covers that route.
Jobs these certifications support, BLS May 2025| Occupation | Median pay | Outlook 2025-35 | Typical entry education |
|---|
| Computer user support specialists | $61,860 | Support specialists overall -3%; 48,700 openings a year | Some college |
| Computer network support specialists | $76,220 | Support specialists overall -3% | Associate's degree |
| Data scientists | $120,230 | +35% | Bachelor's degree |
How do you pick the right first certification?
Start with the job title you want next. Entry support work asks for some college at most. A high school diploma plus the right certifications can be enough, according to BLS. Cloud and security work asks for a track record. Security+ works best after two years on the job. AWS Cloud Practitioner asks for nothing before you sit. Among short term tech certification programs online, the ones with no prerequisites let you test the field for little money.
Then match the hours to your week. Ten hours a week gets you through Google IT Support in three months. Six months at that pace covers Data Analytics. The AWS exam asks for 90 minutes and a $100 fee. It fits an evening.
Finally, think about which door opens next. A training certificate points at entry-level job titles. An industry exam points at interviews for that specific platform. Our roundup of the best cyber security certifications 2026 shows how the exams line up. Our best DevOps certifications guide covers the infrastructure track.
What should you do next?
Pick one exam or one certificate, not both. Set a weekly study schedule. Then apply where the credential matches the job description.
Compare the two tables above against your available weeks and your budget. The fastest option here is the AWS exam. The shortest training certificate is Google IT Support, at beginner level. Check the vendor pages for current pricing before you pay. The Google IT Support certificate on Coursera lists its hours and pace. Both vendor exam pages publish their own fees and formats.
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Fazlur Rahman
