Network+ vs Security+: which one should you take first?
By 8140.study · Published 2026-10-05 · Last updated 2026-10-05
Every exam figure below was read off CompTIA’s own certification and continuing education pages on October 5, 2026, and each is linked to the page it came from.
The two exams side by side
| Network+ (N10-009) | Security+ (SY0-701) | |
|---|---|---|
| Questions | Max 90 | Max 90 |
| Time | 90 minutes | 90 minutes |
| Question types | Multiple-choice and performance-based | Multiple-choice and performance-based |
| Passing score | 720 on 100 to 900 | 750 on 100 to 900 |
| Recommended experience | A+, with 9 to 12 months of hands-on experience as a junior network administrator or network support technician | Network+ and two years in a security or systems administrator job role |
| CEUs to renew | 30 | 50 |
| CE fee per 3 year cycle | $150 | $150 |
On paper the two exams look almost identical: the same 90 minutes, the same maximum of 90 questions, and the same mix of multiple-choice and performance-based questions. The passing scores differ, 720 against 750, but both are scaled scores on 100 to 900, and CompTIA does not publish how a scaled score maps to questions answered correctly. Do not read the gap as a measure of difficulty. The real difference is what the questions are about.
What each exam covers
Network+ is about making networks work: addressing, routing and switching, wireless, documentation, monitoring, and troubleshooting. Security+ assumes you can already picture that network and asks how to defend it.
| Network+ N10-009 domain | Weight |
|---|---|
| Networking concepts | 23% |
| Network implementation | 20% |
| Network operations | 19% |
| Network security | 14% |
| Network troubleshooting | 24% |
| Security+ SY0-701 domain | Weight |
|---|---|
| General security concepts | 12% |
| Threats, vulnerabilities, and mitigations | 22% |
| Security architecture | 18% |
| Security operations | 28% |
| Security program management and oversight | 20% |
Two numbers tell the story. Network security is the smallest Network+ domain at 14 percent, while troubleshooting is the largest at 24 percent. On Security+, security operations alone is 28 percent. Network+ touches security; Security+ is nothing but security. Topics such as ports and protocols, VLANs, VPNs, and network segmentation appear in the Network+ objectives, and Security+ assumes you already know them.
Which one first
Network+ first, if networking is new to you. If subnetting, the difference between a switch and a router, or what DNS and DHCP actually do still feel shaky, Security+ will be harder than it needs to be. That is exactly why CompTIA’s Security+ V7 page lists Network+ as part of its recommended experience. If you are coming up from help desk or desktop support, this is probably you, and CompTIA recommends A+ before Network+ for the same reason.
Security+ first, if you already work with networks or the paperwork names it. Recommended experience is a recommendation, not a gate. Neither exam page lists a required certification. If you configure switches, manage firewalls, or administer servers today, you likely have the networking background already. When a posting or contract names Security+, that is the one you need, whatever order would be tidier. If yours names IAT Level II, our IAT Level II certification guide compares every option for that requirement.
One detail for anyone planning around SY0-801: the Security+ V8 page words its recommended experience as “security administrator with two years of hands-on experience” and does not mention Network+. The networking knowledge is still assumed; the page simply does not name the certification.
The renewal rule that rewards taking them in order
CompTIA’s higher level certification renewal page lists Security+ as fully renewing Network+ and A+. Network+, in turn, fully renews only A+. So the order matters:
- Network+, then Security+ within three years. Passing Security+ renews Network+ automatically. CompTIA waives the Network+ CE fee and moves the Network+ expiration date to match the new Security+ one. You do not log 30 CEUs for Network+ in that cycle.
- Security+, then Network+. Network+ does not renew Security+. You keep both, and each has its own renewal to handle.
The timing rule is strict: the higher level certification has to be earned during your three year renewal cycle. A Security+ pass after Network+ has already expired does not bring Network+ back. Renewing either certification on its own takes CEUs and a $150 CE fee per three year cycle, 30 CEUs for Network+ and 50 for Security+, per CompTIA’s CEU table and fee table. Our Security+ renewal guide walks through what counts toward those 50.
Which exam versions are live
Security+ is mid transition; Network+ is not yet, which matters when you buy material.
| Exam | Status | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Network+ N10-009 (V9) | Current, launched | June 20, 2024 |
| Network+ N10-009 (V9) | Retires | CompTIA says usually three years after launch (estimated 2027) |
| Security+ SY0-701 (V7) | English exam retires | June 11, 2027 |
| Security+ SY0-801 (V8) | Launches | November 17, 2026 |
For Network+, N10-009 is the only exam to study for. CompTIA had not published a date for its successor as of October 5, 2026. For Security+, both versions are available between November 17, 2026 and June 11, 2027, so pick the version your study material was written for and book the matching exam.
A sensible order
New to networking: Network+, then Security+ inside the three year Network+ window, so the second exam renews the first. Already comfortable with networks, or holding an offer that names Security+: Security+ now, and treat Network+ as optional. Our A+ and Network+ course covers the foundation if you go the long way round.
FAQ
Should I take Network+ or Security+ first?
Network+ first if networking is new to you, because Security+ assumes you understand addressing, protocols, and how traffic moves. Security+ first if you already work with networks, or if a job posting or contract names Security+ specifically.
Do I need Network+ before Security+?
No. CompTIA's Security+ V7 page lists Network+ under recommended experience, alongside two years in a security or systems administrator role, but neither exam page lists a required certification, as of October 5, 2026.
Does Security+ renew Network+?
Yes. CompTIA lists Security+ as fully renewing Network+ and A+. You must earn Security+ during your Network+ three year renewal cycle. CompTIA then waives the Network+ CE fee and aligns its expiration date to the new Security+ date. Network+ does not renew Security+.
Is Network+ easier than Security+?
CompTIA positions Network+ earlier in the path: it recommends A+ and 9 to 12 months as a junior network administrator or support technician for Network+, against Network+ and two years in a security or systems administrator role for Security+. Both exams allow up to 90 questions in 90 minutes.
What is the passing score for Network+ and Security+?
720 for Network+ and 750 for Security+, both on a scale of 100 to 900. These are scaled scores, so the two numbers are not directly comparable.
How many CEUs do Network+ and Security+ need to renew?
30 CEUs for Network+ and 50 for Security+ over the three year cycle, with a CE fee of $150 for either, as of October 5, 2026.
Going straight to Security+? The first module of our Security+ course, General security concepts, is free and covers 12 percent of the SY0-701 exam.