Security+ SY0-801 release date and SY0-701 retirement
By 8140.study · Published 2026-09-15 · Last updated 2026-09-15
This page separates what CompTIA has confirmed from what is only reported, and says where each date 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 draft objectives posted | Posted (document version 1.5) | Draft published by CompTIA |
| SY0-801 preview for training partners | Around October 20, 2026 | Reported, not confirmed |
| SY0-801 release | November 2026 | Reported, not confirmed |
| 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+ certification page lists SY0-701 as the current exam, launched November 7, 2023, with retirement on June 11, 2027 for English and August 13, 2027 for Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, and Thai.
CompTIA has also posted draft Security+ V8 (SY0-801) exam objectives on its page for objectives under development. CompTIA says drafts there are published to inform the public about proposed objectives, and that final versions replace them when exam development is complete. The draft’s changes are covered in our SY0-701 vs SY0-801 comparison.
What is reported but not confirmed
On CompTIA’s own Instructors Network, an instructor post from August 17, 2026 describes a suggested release timeframe of November 2026 and says there is no firm date. Several training providers report a partner preview around October 20, 2026 and a release on November 17, 2026, attributing those dates to CompTIA representatives. Treat all of them as a plan that can move.
One conflict worth knowing about: a post in that same thread cites mid-May 2027 for SY0-701 retirement. CompTIA’s own Security+ page says June 11, 2027 for English, and that is the date we use.
What the overlap means for you
SY0-701 remains available until its retirement date. If SY0-801 releases before then, both versions will be available for a period, and you choose which one to sit. After June 11, 2027, the English SY0-701 exam is no longer offered.
Study tip: pick your version before you pick your materials. Book your exam date first, check which versions will be 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?
If you are studying now, or need the certification for a job soon, SY0-701 is the exam you can book today, with mature study material and a confirmed window through June 11, 2027. If you have not started and expect to test after mid-2027, plan around SY0-801 and watch for CompTIA to publish its final objectives and release date. Our Security+ certification page is updated when CompTIA publishes new dates.
Whichever version you pass, CompTIA says a Security+ certification is valid for three years, renewable through continuing education units, the CertMaster CE course, or a higher-level CompTIA certification.
FAQ
When is Security+ SY0-801 coming out?
CompTIA has not published an SY0-801 release date as of September 15, 2026. Instructors and training providers report a partner preview around October 20, 2026 and a release in November 2026, but CompTIA has not confirmed those dates.
When does SY0-701 retire?
CompTIA's Security+ page lists June 11, 2027 for the English SY0-701 exam and August 13, 2027 for Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, and Thai, as of September 15, 2026.
Can I still take SY0-701 after SY0-801 is released?
Yes, until SY0-701 retires. CompTIA lists June 11, 2027 for the English exam, so if SY0-801 is released before then, both versions will be available for a period.
Taking SY0-701 before it retires? Start with the free first module of our Security+ course, General Security Concepts.