SY0-701 or SY0-801: Which Security+ Exam Should You Take?
From November 17, 2026 to June 11, 2027, both Security+ exams are available in English, and both earn the same certification. Which one to take comes down to when you'll test, how far into your studies you are, and how much room you want for a retake.
The short answer
| Your situation | Take |
|---|---|
| Testing before November 17, 2026 | SY0-701, the only option |
| Most of the way through SY0-701 study, with time for a retake before June 11, 2027 | SY0-701 |
| Starting now, and your test date plus one retake could run past May 2027 | SY0-801 |
| Starting now, testing by early 2027 | Either; SY0-801 for current topics, SY0-701 for more study material |
| Testing in English after June 11, 2027 | SY0-801, the only option |
| Testing in Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish or Thai | SY0-701 until August 13, 2027; SY0-801 launches in English only |
Both exams earn the same certification
There is one CompTIA Security+ certification, whichever exam you pass. It's valid for 3 years from the date you earn it and renews with 50 continuing education units, and CompTIA says retiring an exam doesn't affect certifications already earned. Job postings and DoD 8140 qualifications generally name the certification, not an exam version, so a SY0-701 pass should count the same as a SY0-801 pass. If an employer or contract names a specific exam version, check with them.
When SY0-701 is the better choice
- You're already deep into SY0-701 study. If your practice scores are close to where you want them, finishing beats switching. Most topics carry over, but the new ones would cost you study time.
- You want the widest choice of study material. SY0-701 has been out since November 7, 2023, so books, courses and practice tests are plentiful. Material for a new exam usually arrives over the weeks and months after launch.
- You need to test before November 17, 2026. Until then, SY0-701 is the only Security+ exam.
- You're testing in a language other than English. SY0-701 stays available in Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish and Thai until August 13, 2027, and CompTIA has announced SY0-801 in English only.
When SY0-801 is the better choice
- Your test date, plus time for one retake, could run past May 2027. Studying SY0-701 then means racing its retirement on June 11, 2027; SY0-801 has no such deadline.
- Your test date is after June 11, 2027. In English, SY0-801 is then the only choice.
- You want the current topics. SY0-801 covers threats from using AI and newer identity topics such as passkeys, which SY0-701 doesn't list.
Leave room for a retake
CompTIA lets you retake a failed exam right away the first time, then makes you wait 14 days before any later attempt. If you plan to take SY0-701 close to June 11, 2027, a failed attempt could leave you switching to SY0-801 mid-preparation. Book SY0-701 early enough that one retake still fits before the retirement date.
What about a voucher you already bought?
CompTIA's help center says a voucher is generally tied to the exam, not to a version, so a standard Security+ voucher should work for either exam while it's valid: check its expiry date. Retake vouchers are the exception. CompTIA's voucher terms say a retake voucher works only for the exam version it was bought for, and an exam's retirement date overrides a voucher's expiry, so the retake in a SY0-701 bundle has to be used by June 11, 2027. CompTIA's store listed the SY0-701 voucher at $439 when we checked in October 2026, with no SY0-801 price published yet.
How much changes if you switch
The format stays the same, and so do the five domains apart from one rename. The weights shift toward General Security Concepts, AI threats arrive as new content, threat intelligence and CVSS get an objective of their own, and some topics such as blockchain, SD-WAN, SASE and wireless settings are no longer listed. See what changed in Security+ V8 for every objective, and the SY0-801 objectives overview for the new blueprint.