The exam is the down payment; training and renewal are the rest of the cost. Below is what each piece actually costs, every figure sourced and dated. The exam, the training, and the renewal are separate — a course is not the certification.
See the certification itself: CompTIA SecurityX.
What it costs
| Cost | Amount | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exam fee (one-time) | $544 | 2026-06-08 | official |
| Training (optional; across 2 providers) | $2,495–$3,295 | 2026-06-14 | provider |
| Renewal / maintenance | $150 per 3-year cycle | 2026-07-01 | official |
Keeping it current
This credential is valid for 3 years. Renewal model: Upload CEUs / CertMaster CE / or retake; fee waived by passing a higher CompTIA cert. You must earn 75 continuing-education credits per 3-year cycle. Continuing-education credits are something you earn (often through activities you'd do anyway); the renewal/maintenance fee above is the amount paid to the certifying body.
A transparent 3-year estimate
Minimum 3-year ownership cost ≈ $694 — the exam ($544) plus renewal $150 over 3 years. This is a cost horizon, not a study-duration estimate; optional preparation materials and retakes are excluded.
With a paid course ≈ $3,189 — add the lowest published training ($2,495–$3,295) to the exam and renewal.
These are illustrations from cited components, not quotes; they exclude retakes, study materials, and your time, and use the lowest published (commercial, non-discounted) training price. Your cost will differ.
Many certification vendors publish free self-paced training (for example AWS Skill Builder and Microsoft Learn), so the training line can be $0 if you self-study — see the training-options pages and the training providers hub.