How to Get CompTIA Security+ Certified for Free in 2026
Learn how scholarships, workforce programs, education funding, employers, nonprofits, and donated vouchers can help you earn Security+ without paying the full certification cost yourself.
Can you get Security+ for free?
Yes, but there is an important catch. There is not a universal free Security+ exam voucher available to everyone. Instead, eligible learners may be able to have the exam funded through scholarships, workforce programs, colleges, employers, nonprofit organizations, or donated vouchers.
CompTIA Security+ can be an important certification for people trying to enter or advance in cybersecurity.
The problem is that certification exams are not always cheap. For someone who is unemployed, changing careers, attending school, or working with a limited budget, the exam fee can become one of the biggest obstacles to getting certified.
The good news is that you may not have to pay the full cost yourself.
There are legitimate ways to have Security+ training and exam costs covered by another organization.
The goal is not to find a "secret free exam." The goal is to find a legitimate program that pays the certification cost for you.
This guide explains the most realistic ways to pursue Security+ at little or no personal cost in 2026.
What Does Security+ Normally Cost?
The first thing to understand is that "free Security+" does not mean that CompTIA has eliminated the cost of the certification exam.
The official CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 exam requires an exam voucher. The current CompTIA Security+ information lists the exam voucher as a paid purchase.
Free usually means funded
When someone says they earned Security+ for free, they often mean that another organization paid the exam cost for them. That organization could be a college, employer, workforce program, scholarship, nonprofit, or other legitimate sponsor.
This distinction is important because it helps you avoid websites making unrealistic promises about free certifications.
1. Look for Security+ Scholarships
Scholarships are one of the best options if you cannot afford the exam yourself.
Cybersecurity organizations, nonprofit groups, schools, foundations, and community programs sometimes provide scholarships or other financial assistance to people pursuing cybersecurity education.
Who May Qualify?
- Students
- Career changers
- Unemployed workers
- Underrepresented learners
- People demonstrating financial need
What to Search For
- Security+ scholarship
- CompTIA voucher scholarship
- cybersecurity certification scholarship
- cybersecurity workforce scholarship
- CompTIA exam voucher assistance
Scholarship availability changes frequently, so always check the organization's current eligibility rules, deadlines, and application requirements before relying on a particular scholarship.
2. Check Workforce Development Programs
Workforce-development programs can be one of the most powerful options for people who are unemployed, underemployed, or changing careers.
Depending on where you live and your circumstances, a workforce program may cover training costs and sometimes the certification exam as part of an approved career-training pathway.
Ask about cybersecurity training funding
Contact your local workforce-development office and ask whether CompTIA Security+ training or certification is an approved program and whether exam vouchers are included.
Some programs have income, employment, residency, age, education, or other eligibility requirements.
Do not assume that you qualify based on income or employment status alone. Ask the program directly about current eligibility.
3. Check Your College or University
If you are a student, your school may be one of the best places to look for a free Security+ exam voucher.
Some colleges include professional certification exams as part of specific courses, programs, scholarships, or career-development initiatives.
Ask Your Department
Contact your cybersecurity, information technology, networking, or computer science department.
Ask Financial Aid
Ask whether professional certification costs can be covered through grants, scholarships, workforce funding, or other education programs.
Ask Career Services
Career centers sometimes know about certification assistance and external programs that students may not know about.
For example, Northern Virginia Community College currently operates an ACE Credentials program through which eligible students can receive certain IT certification exam vouchers at no cost, including Security+ SY0-701 for qualifying students.
That does not mean every college offers the same program. It demonstrates why checking your own school can be worthwhile.
4. Ask Your Employer to Pay for Security+
If you already work in IT, cybersecurity, networking, systems administration, or another technical role, check whether your employer offers professional-development benefits.
Your employer may have a budget for:
- Certification exam vouchers
- Training courses
- Study materials
- Professional-development expenses
- Continuing education
How to ask
Instead of simply asking, "Will you pay for Security+?", explain how the certification relates to your current responsibilities and how the knowledge could benefit your role or team.
5. Look for Nonprofit Cybersecurity Programs
Some nonprofit organizations and community programs help people enter cybersecurity by providing training, mentorship, career support, or certification assistance.
These programs can be especially useful for career changers and people who cannot afford traditional cybersecurity training.
Training Assistance
Some organizations provide free or subsidized cybersecurity training.
Exam Assistance
Some programs may provide an exam voucher or help qualified participants obtain one.
Mentorship
Some nonprofit programs also provide mentoring, career guidance, networking, or job-readiness support.
Because nonprofit programs can change their offerings, always verify that the program currently includes Security+ and determine exactly what costs are covered.
6. Look for Legitimate Donated or Sponsored Vouchers
Another possibility is a donated or sponsored exam voucher.
Cybersecurity communities, nonprofits, training organizations, and individuals sometimes sponsor certification vouchers or run legitimate giveaways.
Verify the source before using a voucher
Make sure the voucher comes from a legitimate organization or person and that it is valid for your exam region, exam version, and intended testing method.
Never purchase or use leaked exam questions, stolen vouchers, hacked accounts, or other unauthorized materials.
A legitimate free certification means that someone else legitimately covered the cost of the official exam—not that you bypassed the certification process.
7. Study for Security+ for Free
Even if you find a program that covers your exam voucher, you can save additional money by using free study resources.
You do not necessarily need an expensive training package to begin learning the Security+ material.
Free Learning Materials
Use reputable free educational content to learn the concepts covered by the Security+ objectives.
Learning Cards
Use short question-and-answer sessions to reinforce important Security+ concepts.
Practice Questions
Practice applying concepts and identify the areas where you need additional review.
Hands-On Practice
Build small labs and practice cybersecurity concepts using accessible tools and environments.
Security+ SY0-701 Learning Cards
Reinforce Security+ concepts with short, focused learning sessions.
Start LearningSecurity+ Scams and Shortcuts to Avoid
Searching for a free certification can make you a target for websites promising shortcuts.
Be extremely cautious if a website claims that you can become Security+ certified without taking the official exam.
Avoid these red flags
- Guaranteed certification without taking the exam
- "Real exam questions" or leaked Security+ questions
- Stolen or unauthorized exam vouchers
- Requests for your CompTIA account password
- Websites claiming they can change your official exam score
The safest approach is simple:
Find legitimate funding for the official certification rather than looking for a shortcut around the certification.
A Step-by-Step Plan to Get Security+ for Free
If you cannot afford Security+ right now, do not assume that certification is out of reach. Work through these steps.
Begin learning Security+ concepts while searching for funding.
Ask whether your college provides certification vouchers.
Ask about cybersecurity training and certification funding.
Check professional-development and certification benefits.
Look for current cybersecurity and CompTIA voucher scholarships.
Look for legitimate programs that sponsor cybersecurity certification.
Submit applications and provide documentation when required.
Once funded, schedule and take the official Security+ SY0-701 exam.
So, Can You Get CompTIA Security+ for Free?
Yes, it is possible for eligible people to earn Security+ without paying the certification cost themselves.
But there is no universal free Security+ voucher that everyone can simply claim.
The most realistic approach is to find an organization or program willing to cover the cost for you.
If You Are a Student
Check your school, cybersecurity department, financial-aid office, and career center for certification assistance.
If You Are Unemployed
Check workforce-development programs and organizations that provide cybersecurity career training.
If You Already Work in IT
Ask your employer whether certification and professional-development expenses can be covered.
If You Cannot Afford the Exam
Search for scholarships, nonprofit programs, sponsored vouchers, and legitimate certification assistance.
Start Preparing for Security+ Today
You do not have to wait until you can afford the exam to begin learning. Start studying Security+ concepts now while you search for a legitimate way to fund your certification exam.
Important: Funding programs, scholarships, voucher availability, eligibility requirements, and certification costs can change. Always verify current program information directly with the organization providing the funding. "Free" certification generally means that an eligible third party covers the cost; it does not mean that the official CompTIA exam is universally free.