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Which exam version should you take?
The short version: test before mid-2027, book CompTIA Security+ 701. Starting fresh with a date after 17 November 2026, study 801. Everything else, with dates and formats, is in the table. Always confirm on comptia.org before booking. Retirements move.
The 701 to 801 handover
Window shown: 2026 to 2027Security+ 701
Live now, retires 11 June 2027
Security+ 801
Starts 17 November 2026, estimated to 2029
The 801 bar continues past the visible window because its retirement is an estimate. Confirm the exact date with CompTIA.
| Exam | Status | Format | Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security+ SY0-701 | Live; English retires 11 June 2027 | Up to 90 questions, 90 min, 750 to pass | Book this if you test before mid-2027. |
| Security+ SY0-801 | Launches 17 November 2026 | Up to 90 questions, 90 min, 750 to pass | Study this if you start now with no near date. New: AI-risk topics, reweighted domains. |
| A+ Core 1 220-1201 + Core 2 220-1202 | Live since 25 March 2025 (both required for A+) | Up to 90 questions each, 90 min; 675 / 700 to pass | Take Core 1 first. There is no single 'A+ exam'. |
| Network+ N10-009 | Live since 20 June 2024 | Up to 90 questions, 90 min, 720 to pass | The bridge between A+ and Security+. |
| CySA+ CS0-004 | Live since 23 June 2026 | Up to 85 questions, 165 min, 750 to pass | After Security+. The long clock means long, log-heavy questions. |
701 vs 801: what actually changed
Domain weights from the two official objectives documents.
Top bar: 701. Bottom bar: 801.
- Domains reweighted: Concepts 12 to 16%, Threats 22 to 24%, Architecture 18 to 19%, Operations 28 to 27%, Oversight 20 to 14%.
- New AI-risk material: prompt injection, AI-assisted phishing and deepfakes, model misuse. Tested as threats with controls, not trivia.
- 29 objectives became 28. If you studied 701, learn the delta instead of repeating the whole course. The 801 cert page has the plan.
Version questions
CompTIA stops offering the retired version on the published date (June 11, 2027 for English 701). You would test 801 instead. If your date is within 3 months of retirement, study the newer version from the start.
Studying for CompTIA Security+? Compare the cert pages: SY0-701 · SY0-801 · 15 exams covered.
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