CompTIA Security+ SY0-801 is coming. The tentative preview launch date is around October 20, 2026, with general availability following shortly after. SY0-701 has been live since November 2023 and will retire roughly six months after 801 goes live. If you hold a current Security+ certification, it stays valid for three years from your test date regardless of which version you took.
That is the short answer. If you came here looking for a release date, you have it. What follows covers what is actually changing, what is still unknown, and what to do about it depending on where you sit in your study plan.
The headline change is artificial intelligence. SY0-801 introduces dedicated coverage of Large Language Models under Objective 2.4 and AI usage in threats and vulnerabilities under Objective 2.6. Neither existed in 701 in any meaningful form.
When Is CompTIA Security+ SY0-801 Coming Out?
The tentative preview launch is around October 20, 2026. This date comes from discussions inside the CompTIA Instructors Network, where CompTIA shares early timing with the training community. General availability typically follows the preview launch by a few weeks or months, putting full public availability in late 2026 or early 2027.
Two important caveats. CompTIA has historically slipped announced release dates by three to six months. The 701 launch hit close to schedule, but earlier exam versions have drifted considerably from initial projections. Treat October 20 as the optimistic case, not the guaranteed date.
The other thing to know is the overlap window. When a new Security+ version launches, the previous version typically stays available for six months. That cushion exists specifically so people mid-study do not get caught out. Anyone testing on 701 before that window closes still earns a valid Security+ credential.
The SY0-801 Domains and Weighting
CompTIA published draft objectives in late 2025 under the document title “CompTIA Security+ SY0-801 V8 Exam Objectives, Version 1.0.” The structure keeps five domains, matching the 701 format. Domain weights shift slightly from the current version.
A few items remain marked TBD in the draft. Total question count is not yet specified. Exam length is not yet specified. CompTIA will publish those details closer to the preview launch. Expect a format similar to 701, which runs up to 90 questions across 90 minutes with a mix of multiple-choice and performance-based items.
What Is New in SY0-801 That Was Not in SY0-701
Three areas stand out as substantively new based on the draft objectives.
Large Language Models (Objective 2.4)
SY0-701 mentions AI only in passing. SY0-801 dedicates an entire objective to LLMs. Expect coverage of how LLMs work at a conceptual level, prompt injection as an attack vector, data leakage through model interactions, and basic defensive patterns like input validation and output filtering. Candidates do not need to build models, but they do need to recognize the security implications when their organization deploys one.
AI in Threats and Vulnerabilities (Objective 2.6)
This objective covers AI as a weapon rather than AI as a target. AI-generated phishing, deepfake-enabled social engineering, automated vulnerability discovery, and AI-assisted malware development all fall here. The framing is practical. Security analysts now face attackers who use the same tools defenders do, often with fewer ethical constraints.
Refreshed Cloud and Hybrid Security
Domain 3 retains the cloud and hybrid focus introduced in 701 but updates the patterns. Expect more attention to SASE, SD-WAN, container security, and CSPM tooling. The shift reflects how enterprise environments actually deploy security controls in 2026 versus what was current in 2023.
When Does SY0-701 Retire?
CompTIA has not published a firm retirement date for SY0-701 yet. Based on the standard six-month overlap pattern, expect 701 to retire roughly six months after 801 reaches general availability. If 801 launches as planned in late 2026, 701 would retire somewhere around mid-2027.
Your existing 701 certification does not retire when the exam does. CompTIA Security+ stays valid for three years from your test date regardless of which version you sat. A Security+ earned on SY0-701 in 2025 stays valid through 2028, well past the exam’s retirement.
Should You Wait for 801 or Take 701 Now?
For most candidates, take 701 now. Three reasons drive that recommendation.
Study materials are mature. Books, practice exams, instructor experience, and our own Security+ training program have had over two years to refine their coverage of 701. New exam versions go through a learning period where study resources catch up unevenly. That period typically lasts six to nine months.
Employers do not distinguish between versions. A Security+ certification appears on a resume as Security+. Recruiters, hiring managers, and government employers care that the credential is current, not which version generated it. CompTIA does the work of treating both versions equally.
The hiring market does not pause for exam updates. If you need Security+ for a job application, security clearance, or contract requirement, delaying six months while you wait for 801 likely means missing the opportunity. Hiring cycles move faster than CompTIA release schedules.
There is one case where waiting makes sense. If your realistic test-ready date sits past mid-2027, target 801 directly. Studying for an exam version about to retire wastes effort, especially when your hiring manager will be more familiar with the newer objectives by the time you apply.
What About DoD 8140 and Federal Requirements?
Security+ holds DoD 8140 approval for multiple work roles including cyber defense analyst, incident responder, vulnerability analyst, and security control assessor. That approval applies to the credential, not a specific exam version. When 801 launches, DoD 8140 mapping will extend to it through the normal CompTIA accreditation process.
Federal contractors with current Security+ on 701 do not need to retake the exam. The certification carries the same federal recognition through its full three-year validity period. Renewal happens through continuing education or by retaking the current exam version when your existing credential expires.
Cost and Format Details
CompTIA has not announced SY0-801 pricing yet. Historical pattern suggests pricing will closely mirror 701, currently $404 for a single voucher in the United States. Bundled packages with practice tests and training materials run higher.
Format details listed as TBD in the current draft objectives include total question count and exam length. Both are expected to align closely with 701, which uses up to 90 questions across 90 minutes. Performance-based questions will appear early in the exam, typically the first three to five items. Passing score will likely remain 750 on a scale of 100 to 900.
Available languages at launch usually start with English, with Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, and Thai following within several months. International candidates should check the official CompTIA page for language availability before scheduling.
How SY0-801 Compares to SecAI+
A natural question comes up when people see the new AI content in 801. Does Security+ now overlap with CompTIA SecAI+, which launched in early 2026 as a dedicated AI security certification?
There is overlap in vocabulary, but the depth is very different. Security+ 801 covers AI security at a general security professional level. You learn to recognize the risks and apply existing security principles to AI systems. SecAI+ goes much deeper into adversarial machine learning, MLOps security, model gateway design, and the technical mechanics of LLM defense. The two certifications target different career paths.
Most security professionals will hold Security+ regardless and add SecAI+ if their role requires deep AI security work. Our team covered this exact comparison in our review of whether SecAI+ is worth the investment.
What Is Still Unknown
Several pieces of information are not yet available. Exact question count remains TBD. Final exam length remains TBD. Pricing has not been announced. CertMaster Learn content is currently in authoring and editing rather than published. Beta exam registration windows have not been opened. Official launch confirmation from CompTIA has not appeared on their main certification page.
All of these will firm up in the months leading to the preview launch. Current draft objectives carry Version 1.0 and explicit “under development” language. Expect refinements before the final published version. CompTIA typically opens beta exam slots three to four months before public launch, so beta registration in summer 2026 is plausible if the October date holds.
For the most current information directly from CompTIA, check the official Security+ certification page. Federal candidates can also check the DoD Cyber Workforce Framework for Security+ work role mappings as they update for the new version.
What to Do Right Now
The action items depend on your current situation. Anyone mid-study on 701 should stay the course and aim to test within the next six months. If you bought a 701 voucher months ago, verify the expiration date and use it before the version retires. Newly starting candidates with a job deadline should still target 701 because study materials are mature and the credential is identical from an employer perspective.
Self-paced candidates with no deadline who realistically need until summer 2027 or later should plan around 801. Subscribe to CompTIA email updates, watch for beta exam registration in summer 2026, and pace your study to align with the launch window. For those tracking the full CompTIA roadmap, our guide to CompTIA stackable certifications shows where Security+ sits in the broader certification path.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is CompTIA Security+ SY0-801 being released?
The tentative preview launch date for Security+ SY0-801 is around October 20, 2026, based on information shared in the CompTIA Instructors Network. General availability typically follows the preview launch by a few weeks to a few months. Final dates have not been officially confirmed by CompTIA and could slip by three to six months based on historical patterns.
When does CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 retire?
CompTIA has not announced a firm retirement date for SY0-701. Based on the standard six-month overlap period between exam versions, SY0-701 will likely retire approximately six months after SY0-801 reaches general availability, placing retirement somewhere in mid-2027 if the launch timeline holds.
Is my SY0-701 certification still valid after 801 launches?
Yes. A CompTIA Security+ certification remains valid for three full years from your test date regardless of which exam version you took. Both SY0-701 and SY0-801 carry equal weight as Security+ credentials for renewal purposes and employer recognition.
What is the biggest change in Security+ SY0-801?
The most significant addition is dedicated artificial intelligence content. Objective 2.4 covers Large Language Models specifically, and Objective 2.6 addresses AI usage in threats and vulnerabilities. Domain 4 (Security Operations) also grows in weight to 27% of the exam, reflecting increased emphasis on practical security work.
Should I wait for SY0-801 or take SY0-701 now?
For most candidates, taking SY0-701 now is the better choice. Study materials are mature, employers do not distinguish between versions, and hiring cycles move faster than exam release schedules. Waiting for SY0-801 makes sense only when your realistic test-ready date falls past mid-2027 or when you work in AI-heavy security roles where the new content matches your day-to-day work.
How many questions are on the SY0-801 exam?
CompTIA has not yet confirmed the final question count for SY0-801. The current draft objectives document lists question count and exam length as TBD. Format is expected to align closely with SY0-701, which uses up to 90 questions spread across 90 minutes including multiple-choice and performance-based items.
Will Security+ SY0-801 still meet DoD 8140 requirements?
Yes. DoD 8140 approval applies to the Security+ credential rather than a specific exam version. CompTIA Security+ currently qualifies for multiple DoD 8140 work roles including cyber defense analyst, incident responder, vulnerability analyst, and security control assessor. That mapping will extend to SY0-801 through the standard accreditation process once the new version launches.
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