Security+ SY0-801 release date and SY0-701 retirement
By 8140.study · Published 2026-09-15 · Last updated 2026-09-23
This page separates what CompTIA has confirmed from what is still draft or only reported, and says where each fact comes from. We re-check CompTIA’s pages and update the last-updated date above when anything changes.
The timeline at a glance
| Milestone | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| SY0-701 launched | November 7, 2023 | Confirmed by CompTIA |
| SY0-801 objectives posted | Posted as a draft | Draft, still under development |
| SY0-801 preview for training partners | Around October 20, 2026 | Reported, not confirmed |
| SY0-801 launches | on or around November 17, 2026 | Confirmed by CompTIA |
| SY0-701 retires (English) | June 11, 2027 | Confirmed by CompTIA |
| SY0-701 retires (Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, and Thai) | August 13, 2027 | Confirmed by CompTIA |
What CompTIA has confirmed
CompTIA’s Security+ V8 page gives the exam code SY0-801, the launch date of November 17, 2026, and the five domain weights. The format matches SY0-701: a maximum of 90 questions in 90 minutes, passing at 750 on a scale of 100 to 900. The main Security+ page words the date slightly more loosely, as on or around November 17, 2026, which is the wording we use.
Retirement is unchanged. CompTIA’s Security+ V7 page lists SY0-701 retiring June 11, 2027 for English and August 13, 2027 for Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, and Thai. What changed in the new weights is covered in our SY0-701 vs SY0-801 comparison.
What is still a draft
The objectives. CompTIA continues to list draft Security+ V8 exam objectives on its page for objectives under development, and CompTIA says drafts there describe proposed objectives that final versions replace when exam development finishes. A published launch date and published domain weights are not the same thing as final objectives, and anyone telling you the objectives are final is ahead of CompTIA’s own page. Study the draft for direction, not for exact wording.
What is still only reported
A partner preview around October 20, 2026, described on CompTIA’s Instructors Network and by training providers. CompTIA has not published that date, and it does not affect when you can sit the exam.
What the overlap means for you
From November 17, 2026 until June 11, 2027, both versions are expected to be available and you choose which one to sit. After that date the English SY0-701 exam is no longer offered. That is roughly seven months of overlap, which is unusually generous, and it removes any reason to rush a booking.
Pick your version before you pick your materials. Book the exam date first, check which versions are available on that date, and study to that version’s objectives. Mixing SY0-701 and SY0-801 material wastes hours on weightings you will not be tested on.
Take SY0-701 now, or wait for SY0-801?
Testing before November 17, 2026: SY0-701, because it is the only option.
Testing in the overlap: SY0-701 is the safer choice while SY0-801 is new. Study material, question banks, and instructor experience are mature for SY0-701 and thin for any exam in its first months, and both certifications carry the same name on your resume and the same three year renewal cycle.
Testing after June 2027: SY0-801, and expect more AI content. Our Security+ certification page tracks whichever version is current.
FAQ
When is Security+ SY0-801 coming out?
CompTIA's Security+ V8 page gives a launch date of November 17, 2026, worded on the main Security+ page as on or around November 17, 2026, as of September 23, 2026.
When does SY0-701 retire?
CompTIA lists June 11, 2027 for the English SY0-701 exam and August 13, 2027 for Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, and Thai, as of September 23, 2026.
Are the SY0-801 exam objectives final?
Not as of September 23, 2026. CompTIA has published the V8 domain weights and launch date on its own page, but the objectives are still listed as a draft on CompTIA's exam objectives under development page.
Can I still take SY0-701 after SY0-801 is released?
Yes. SY0-801 launches on or around November 17, 2026 and the English SY0-701 exam is offered until June 11, 2027, so both are available for about seven months.
Should I wait for SY0-801?
Usually no. If you are ready to test now, SY0-701 has mature study material and is valid for three years after you pass. Waiting for a brand new exam version means studying against thinner material for the same certification.
Taking SY0-701 before it retires? Start with the free first module of our Security+ course, General Security Concepts, or try 10 free practice questions.