Why CompTIA Security+ needs to be renewed
Unlike older certifications that lasted a lifetime, modern CompTIA Security+ is a "CE" (Continuing Education) certification with a 3-year validity period. This change reflects how quickly cybersecurity evolves. A Security+ holder certified in 2022 needs to demonstrate they've kept up with changes in cloud security, zero trust architecture, AI-related threats, and evolving compliance requirements.
The CompTIA CE program is how this continuous learning gets tracked. Every Security+ certified professional must earn 50 CEUs within their 3-year cycle and pay an annual CE fee to maintain their certification. Miss the deadline and the certification expires with no grace period - the only recovery is retaking the current version of the exam.
CompTIA Security+ is part of the CompTIA Continuing Education (CE) program, which applies to most current CompTIA certifications including Network+, A+, CySA+, CASP+, and PenTest+. The CEU requirements vary by certification level.
Your CompTIA Security+ renewal options
There are three main ways to renew CompTIA Security+ before expiry. Most holders use option 1, but options 2 and 3 can make sense depending on your career trajectory.
Option 1: Earn 50 CEUs (most popular)
The standard renewal path. Earn 50 Continuing Education Units through approved activities over your 3-year cycle, pay the annual CE fee of $50 per year, and submit documentation through CertMaster CE. Total cost: around $150 over 3 years.
Option 2: Retake the Security+ exam
If you haven't earned CEUs and your expiry is approaching, you can retake the current version of the Security+ exam. This costs around $400 but automatically renews your certification for another 3 years. Only worth doing if you've missed the CEU window or want to refresh your knowledge significantly.
Option 3: Earn a higher-level CompTIA certification
Passing a higher-level CompTIA certification automatically renews any lower-level certifications under the CE program. This is called "stacking" and works as follows:
| If you earn | It renews |
|---|---|
| CySA+ (Cybersecurity Analyst+) | Security+, Network+, A+ |
| PenTest+ | Security+, Network+, A+ |
| CASP+ (Advanced Security Practitioner) | Security+, Network+, A+, CySA+, PenTest+ |
| SecurityX (replacing CASP+) | Security+, CySA+, PenTest+, and others |
For anyone planning to advance up the CompTIA security ladder anyway, earning a higher certification kills two birds with one stone - you gain a new credential and automatically renew your existing ones.
How to earn your 50 CEUs
CompTIA accepts CEUs from five main activity categories. Each has limits on how many CEUs you can claim per activity type, so the best approach is to spread your CEU earning across multiple categories.
1. Training activities (up to 50 CEUs)
The most flexible category. You can earn all 50 CEUs from training alone if you want. Approved activities include completing industry-recognised training courses, attending CompTIA-approved webinars, completing ACE (American Council on Education) courses, and relevant college courses. Online self-paced courses count, as do live classroom and virtual training.
2. Industry certifications (up to 50 CEUs)
Earning another industry certification automatically earns CEUs. A CISSP earns 50 CEUs (renews Security+ entirely), a GIAC certification earns varying amounts depending on the cert, and Microsoft or Cisco certifications earn CEUs at specific rates. CompTIA maintains an approved list with exact CEU values for each external certification.
3. Teaching and presenting (up to 24 CEUs)
Teaching a security course, presenting at a conference, or delivering a webinar earns CEUs at 2 CEUs per hour of delivered content. This is excellent value if you're already involved in speaking or training.
4. Publishing (up to 36 CEUs)
Publishing an article earns 3 CEUs. Publishing a white paper earns 8 CEUs. Publishing a book earns 20-40 CEUs depending on length and scope. For anyone creating content in the security space, this category adds up quickly.
5. Work experience (up to 9 CEUs, max 3 per year)
Relevant paid work experience in the security field earns up to 9 CEUs total over the 3-year cycle, at a maximum of 3 CEUs per year. At least 50% of the work must align with Security+ exam objectives. Documentation from your employer is required.
CompTIA requires supporting documentation for every CEU activity submitted. Save certificates of completion, attendance records, employer letters, and conference badges as you go. Don't leave documentation collection until the end of your 3-year cycle - it's much harder to retrieve evidence for activities from 2 years ago.
Step-by-step Security+ renewal process
Here's the full process from day one of your certification through successful renewal:
Note your expiry date immediately
Your Security+ is valid for 3 years from the date you passed the exam. Log this date the day you receive your certification so you know exactly when your renewal deadline falls.
Set up CertMaster CE access
Log into your CompTIA account and access the CertMaster CE portal. This is where you'll submit CEUs, pay fees, and track your renewal progress throughout the 3-year cycle.
Plan your 50 CEUs from year one
Spreading 50 CEUs over 3 years means ~17 CEUs per year. This is much more manageable than trying to earn 50 CEUs in the final year. Pick CEU activities aligned with your actual career development where possible.
Earn CEUs and document as you go
Every time you complete a CEU-earning activity, submit it to CertMaster CE immediately with supporting documentation. CompTIA typically reviews submissions within 30 days and confirms the credits.
Pay the annual CE fee
Pay $50 each year throughout the renewal cycle. This is separate from any training costs and must be current for your renewal to process. Some holders choose to pay all 3 years upfront for $150.
Submit final renewal before expiry
Ensure all 50 CEUs are submitted and approved, and all CE fees are paid, before your 3-year expiry date. CompTIA will then officially renew your Security+ for another 3 years and update your Credly badge automatically.
CompTIA Security+ renewal costs
The full cost of renewing Security+ depends on the path you choose:
| Renewal method | Cost | Time required |
|---|---|---|
| 50 CEUs + CE fees | $150 + any training costs | 3-year cycle |
| Retake Security+ exam | ~$400 | 1 exam sitting |
| Pass CySA+ or PenTest+ | ~$400 + CE fees | 1 exam + prep time |
| Pass CASP+ / SecurityX | ~$500 + CE fees | 1 exam + extensive prep |
The $150 CE fee path is the cheapest pure-renewal option, but many CEU activities have additional costs. A typical security conference attendance (worth 6-16 CEUs) might cost $500-2,000 including travel. Free CEU options do exist though - CompTIA-approved webinars, published articles, and certain work experience can be earned at no additional cost.
What happens if your Security+ expires
CompTIA Security+ does not have a grace period. When your 3-year certification period ends without successful renewal, your certification is immediately marked as expired and you lose your CompTIA certified status.
The practical consequences include:
- Loss of Credly badge status - your digital badge will show as expired rather than active
- Compliance risk - if your employment or contract requires an active Security+, you may be in breach
- Verification failures - anyone checking your CompTIA certification through CertMetrics or Credly will see it as expired
- Only recovery is retesting - CompTIA does not accept late CEU submissions. To regain certified status you must sit and pass the current version of the Security+ exam
Unlike some certifications that offer grace periods, CompTIA has zero tolerance for expired certifications. Missing your renewal deadline by even one day means your only path back is a full exam retake. This is why proactive tracking and early CEU earning are essential.
Tracking CompTIA renewals across a team
For individual practitioners, tracking a single Security+ renewal is manageable with a calendar reminder and a spreadsheet. For security managers overseeing a team where multiple people hold CompTIA certifications at different stages of their 3-year cycles, the complexity compounds quickly.
A typical security team might have:
- Junior analysts with Security+ and Network+ at different expiry dates
- Mid-level staff with CySA+ or PenTest+ alongside their Security+
- Senior staff with CASP+ plus older CompTIA and GIAC certifications
- New hires bringing certifications from previous employers with unknown renewal status
Tracking all this manually doesn't scale. The consequence of missing one renewal is significant - you can't use that person's certification for compliance reporting or client credential requirements until they've retaken the exam, which takes weeks to schedule.
This is exactly the problem TrackACert is built to solve. It provides:
- CompTIA certification tracker covering Security+, Network+, A+, CySA+, CASP+, PenTest+, and the full CompTIA catalogue alongside 200+ other IT certifications
- Automated expiry tracking with email alerts at 60 and 30 days before any CompTIA renewal deadline, giving enough notice to complete CEUs or schedule an exam retake
- Audit-ready exports proving to auditors that every team member's certification is current and documented
Track your team's CompTIA renewals automatically
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Start tracking free → 100% free · No credit card · All features includedHow to verify a CompTIA Security+ certification
For hiring managers or compliance officers needing to verify a Security+ claim, CompTIA provides three verification paths:
1. Credly digital badge
Every active CompTIA certification holder has a corresponding Credly badge. Click the badge to see a verified credential page showing the holder's name, certification date, and current status. If a badge shows as expired, the certification has lapsed. Credly is the fastest verification path for CompTIA certifications.
2. CompTIA CertMetrics
CompTIA's CertMetrics portal allows certificate holders to generate a direct verification link for employers. The holder logs in, requests the link, and shares it with whoever needs to verify. This is useful when hiring or onboarding where a formal verification record is required.
3. Formal employment verification
For background checks and formal employment verification, CompTIA offers a verification service through third-party providers. This produces official documentation suitable for regulated industries.