CompTIA Security AI+ (SecAI+) Ultimate 2026 Guide

If you’re aiming to combine cybersecurity skill with the fast-moving world of AI, the new CompTIA Security AI+—officially branded as CompTIA SecAI+—belongs on your shortlist. In this ultimate guide, we’ll break down what the certification covers, how the exam works, the best resources to study, and how to turn SecAI+ knowledge into real projects that impress hiring managers. We’ll use the official objectives and announcements so you can plan with confidence.

Note on naming: CompTIA’s official product name is “SecAI+.” Many people still say “CompTIA Security AI+” or even “SE AI+,” so we’ll use both terms for clarity—but when you register or download objectives, look for SecAI+.

What Is CompTIA SecAI+ (Security AI+) and Why It Matters

CompTIA SecAI+ is a vendor‑neutral certification focused on two big realities of modern security work:

• You must secure AI systems themselves (models, data pipelines, prompts, gateways).

• You can (and should) use AI to boost security operations (triage, analytics, incident response)—safely and compliantly.

CompTIA positions SecAI+ inside its new Expansion series, with a launch targeted for February 17, 2026, in English. The official page highlights four domains: basic AI concepts for cyber, securing AI systems, AI‑assisted security, and AI governance, risk and compliance (GRC).

Why now? Security teams are moving from small pilots to broader AI adoption—but many organizations say security, compliance, and observability are the biggest blockers. Certifications that connect AI and security engineering are timely and valuable.

Actionable takeaway:

• Write one sentence you can use in an interview or stand‑up: “I’m preparing for CompTIA SecAI+ to help our team both secure AI features and safely leverage AI to speed up triage and incident response.”

Who Should Take SecAI+ and What Experience Helps

CompTIA recommends 3–4 years of IT experience with 2+ years hands‑on in cybersecurity. Prior certifications like Security+, CySA+, or PenTest+, or equivalent experience, are recommended but not required. Typical target roles include security administrator, analyst, architect, engineer, specialist, and pentester.

What this means for you:

• If you’re a student or early‑career learner, don’t be discouraged. You can still prepare effectively by focusing on fundamentals (identity, network/app security, cloud, data protection) while building small AI security projects that demonstrate applied skills.

Actionable takeaway:

• Audit your skills against CompTIA’s four domains (see next section) and tag each objective as “confident,” “needs review,” or “needs hands‑on.” Use this to plan your study sprints.

Exam Details at a Glance

Here’s what the official draft objectives document tells us about the SecAI+ (CY0‑001) exam:

• Exam code/version: CY0‑001 (V1).

• Questions: up to 60.

• Time: 60 minutes.

• Item types: multiple choice + performance‑based questions (PBQs).

• Passing score: 600 on a 100–900 scale.

• Language at launch: English.

Domains and weights (from the CompTIA site):

• Basic AI concepts related to cybersecurity – 17%

• Securing AI systems – 40%

• AI‑assisted security – 24%

• AI governance, risk and compliance – 19%

Testing options and retakes:

• You can test at a Pearson VUE center or via CompTIA’s OnVUE online proctoring; logistics and system checks are provided on CompTIA’s help pages.

• Standard retake policy: no waiting period between the 1st and 2nd attempt; a 14‑day wait before a 3rd attempt and beyond.

Actionable takeaway:

• Schedule your date first, then backward‑plan your study calendar. Treat the 60‑minute clock seriously—practice under time pressure.

Deep Dive: What Each Domain Really Covers

This is where most candidates either excel or get overwhelmed. Use these notes to focus your study.

Domain 1: Basic AI Concepts Related to Cybersecurity (17%)

What to know:

• Core AI/ML terminology you’ll see in security contexts: large vs. small language models (LLMs/SLMs), embeddings, RAG (retrieval‑augmented generation), vector databases, fine‑tuning, inference, latency/cost tradeoffs.

• Where AI slots into common SOC workflows: log triage, alert correlation, case summarization, enrichment, de‑duplication.

Why it matters:

• Understanding model behavior, prompts, tokens, and retrieval patterns is now table stakes for any defender working with AI‑enabled features or tools.

Practice ideas:

• Build a tiny RAG demo that answers questions about your organization’s acceptable‑use policy or security handbook. Log every prompt/response and note costs and latencies. Tie this lab to incident response or triage workflows.

Domain 2: Securing AI Systems (40%)

What to know:

• AI‑specific threats and mitigations: prompt injection, data exfiltration via responses, model poisoning, membership inference, model inversion, and model theft.

• Architectural controls: prompt firewalls/guardrails, identity and access management for models and vector stores, rate limits and quotas, encryption in transit/at rest/in use, content moderation and safety filters, and logging/telemetry across the AI gateway.

• Threat modeling: combining AI‑specific threat catalogs with traditional frameworks to identify attack surfaces across data collection, training, deployment, and inference.

Study anchors:

• The official SecAI+ objectives call out the OWASP Top 10 for LLM Applications and adversarial tactics knowledge bases like MITRE ATLAS—master both to anticipate exam scenarios and real‑world attacks.

Practice ideas:

• Implement a simple “prompt firewall” policy and test it against OWASP prompt injection examples. Add role‑based access and per‑user rate limits to your gateway. Document which logs would help during incident response.

Domain 3: AI‑Assisted Security (24%)

What to know:

• Responsible, auditable use of AI in security operations: triage, case notes, summarization, impact analysis, and runbook drafting—with human approval and data handling rules.

• Measuring value and risk: How to set up review workflows, confidence thresholds, and “no‑go” data categories that the AI tooling should never touch.

• Where AI helps most today: monitoring/IDS, EDR, vulnerability management, and threat modeling are strong early‑ROI areas according to industry surveys.

Practice ideas:

• Take three of your recurring tickets or alerts and document a human‑in‑the‑loop AI workflow that saves time without compromising accuracy or policy.

Domain 4: AI Governance, Risk, and Compliance (19%)

What to know:

• Governance frameworks for AI, especially the NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0), and how it translates into organizational policy, risk controls, and monitoring.

• How AI GRC ties to existing privacy and security obligations (e.g., GDPR, sectoral rules) and internal standards like data classification and acceptable use.

• Program elements: roles and responsibilities for AI safety, model release checklists, evaluation/monitoring metrics, incident handling for AI issues, and documentation practices.

Practice ideas:

• Draft a one‑page “AI Acceptable Use & Safety” policy for your lab environment. Include prohibited data types, allowed tools, logging requirements, and approval steps.

Actionable takeaway for all domains:

• For every topic you study, ask: “How would I implement and measure this in a real environment?” That’s how you convert theory into performance‑based readiness.

The Official Objectives and What They Reveal

CompTIA’s official SecAI+ draft objectives (CY0‑001 V1) include exam structure, item types, and a granular topic list—this is your primary map for study. The document confirms up to 60 questions, 60 minutes, multiple‑choice and performance‑based items, and a passing score of 600. It also highlights AI‑specific threats and defenses, AI‑assisted workflows, and GRC frameworks you should know. Download it and build your checklist.

Actionable takeaway:

• Print the objectives and highlight every verb (define, implement, evaluate, mitigate, monitor). Verbs often hint at the depth of skill (recognition vs. hands‑on).

Study Plan: A 4‑Week Sprint to Launch

If you’re targeting an exam date near launch, here’s a pragmatic plan tailored to students and early‑career learners. Adjust to 6–8 weeks if you’re new to AI.

Week 1: Foundations and GRC

• Read the NIST AI RMF 1.0 overview. Summarize its core functions (Map, Measure, Manage, Govern) and write where each function maps to your environment.

• Create a one‑page AI policy draft: data handling (what’s in/out), approval steps, logging, and review cadence.

• Skim the entire objectives list once, then mark each topic by confidence level.

Week 2: Securing AI Systems—Controls and Threats

• Study the OWASP Top 10 for LLM Applications and map each item to a mitigation you can implement (guardrails, output validation, least privilege to data stores, etc.).

• Build a small RAG or gateway demo with: API auth, prompt firewall policies, per‑user rate limiting, logging of prompts/responses, and basic anomaly detection for costs and token bursts.

• Walk through a “what went wrong” tabletop: e.g., prompt injection exfiltrates sensitive vector data—how would you detect and respond?

Week 3: AI‑Assisted SOC—Human‑in‑the‑Loop

• Pick 2–3 security workflows to augment with AI: alert summarization, playbook drafting, artifact correlation. Define guardrails and approval steps.

• Measure baseline time and error rate vs. the AI‑assisted process. Industry research shows these are high‑ROI areas; your mini‑metrics will impress hiring managers.

Week 4: Threat Modeling and Final Review

• Use MITRE ATLAS to create an attack tree for your demo system. Note potential adversarial ML attacks and list mitigations and monitoring.

• Build a one‑page “SecAI+ cram sheet” with definitions, mitigations, and key metrics you’ll recall under time pressure.

• Run 1–2 timed practice sessions (as official practice becomes available), including short lab drills to simulate PBQs.

Actionable takeaway:

• Present your Week 2–4 artifacts (policy draft, RAG gateway, AI‑assisted workflow, ATLAS threat model) as a mini‑portfolio. Hiring managers love tangible evidence.

Scheduling, Delivery Options, and Exam Day

Availability and scheduling:

• CompTIA lists February 17, 2026 as the target launch for SecAI+ in English. Scheduling runs through Pearson VUE.

Delivery options:

• Test at a Pearson VUE center or via OnVUE online proctoring. Do an OnVUE system check if you choose remote testing. Bring required IDs and follow rules on workspace, breaks, and allowed items.

Scoring and retakes:

• Most non‑beta CompTIA exams show a provisional score immediately after you finish; official records typically post soon after. If you need a retake, there’s no waiting period between your first and second attempt; 14 days for a third attempt.

Accessibility and accommodations:

• If you need testing accommodations, request them through the Pearson/CompTIA process well before your test date.

Actionable takeaway:

• Decide now: test center or online. If online, run the system test and do a “dry run” with your webcam, lighting, and desk setup.

Cost, Pre‑Orders, and Budget Tips

Voucher pricing:

• CompTIA has not posted a U.S. voucher price for SecAI+ as of January 29, 2026. Expect it to be in the ballpark of other “Plus” level vouchers (for context, Security+ and PenTest+ are commonly listed around $425 in the U.S., but always check the store for your region).

Pre‑order terms:

• CompTIA allows pre‑orders; if a product launch is delayed or canceled, special terms apply. Generally, refunds are not offered unless a delay exceeds three months or the product is canceled, per CompTIA’s pre‑order addendum.

Promo windows:

• CompTIA ran year‑end training budget promotions in 2025; current discounts vary by time and region. Verify active offers directly with CompTIA.

Actionable takeaway:

• If your employer covers exams, ask for a “bundle” that includes a retake and official training once available—it often costs less than buying items separately.

Career Impact: Roles, Skills, and ROI

Why SecAI+ adds value:

• Companies are scaling agentic/genAI projects but cite security and compliance as top blockers; practitioners who can secure AI and operationalize it responsibly are in demand.

• Surveys of cyber teams show AI’s strongest near‑term impact in monitoring/IDS, EDR, vulnerability management, and threat modeling—skills SecAI+ explicitly targets.

Salary context (U.S., indicative):

• Cybersecurity engineers commonly land into six‑figure ranges in U.S. salary data; specialized “AI security” postings often aim higher, depending on region and responsibilities. Use this as directional context rather than a promise.

Roles aligned to SecAI+:

• Security analyst/engineer building AI‑assisted SOC workflows.

• Application/security engineer protecting AI features and data.

• Governance/risk lead implementing AI policy and oversight.

• Red/purple teamers exploring adversarial ML scenarios.

Actionable takeaway:

• Add a SecAI+‑aligned project to your resume (e.g., “Built an AI security gateway with prompt firewall, RBAC, logging and cost anomaly alerts; used MITRE ATLAS to threat model and OWASP LLM Top 10 to validate mitigations”).

Build a Mini‑Portfolio Employers Will Love

Portfolio pieces you can finish in a few weekends:

• AI policy one‑pager: scope, data rules, tooling, approvals, and monitoring cadence (tied to NIST AI RMF).

• RAG or gateway demo: authentication, prompt firewall, rate limiting, logging, cost alerts, and safety filters (mapped to OWASP LLM Top 10 mitigations).

• Human‑in‑the‑loop SOC use case: AI‑assisted alert triage or IR note drafting with review steps and metrics; show time saved vs. baseline.

• Threat model with MITRE ATLAS: a one‑page attack tree and a mitigation matrix.

Actionable takeaway:

• Publish short write‑ups on GitHub or your blog. Screenshots + a README = credible evidence of skill.

Beta Exam: What If You Took It?

CompTIA ran a SecAI+ beta (CY1‑001) that closed on October 31, 2025. The beta page notes that results are released when the live exam launches. With a public launch date now posted for February 17, 2026, monitor your Pearson/CompTIA accounts and email that week.

Actionable takeaway:

• If you passed the beta, celebrate—but still skim the final objectives after release to catch any refinements before applying the credential on projects and in interviews.

Ethics and Exam Integrity

Avoid “brain dumps” or any material that violates the Candidate Agreement. CompTIA can revoke certifications for misconduct. Stick to official objectives, recognized frameworks (NIST, OWASP, MITRE), and reputable training providers.

Actionable takeaway:

• Use frameworks and public docs as your primary references; they’re what employers expect you to know and what SecAI+ aligns with.

FAQs

Q1: Is the certification called “Security AI+,” “SE AI+,” or “SecAI+”?

A1: CompTIA’s official name is “SecAI+.” You’ll see people say “Security AI+,” but on CompTIA’s site and in the objectives, look for “SecAI+” and the CY0‑001 exam code.

Q2: How many questions are on SecAI+ and how long is the test?

A2: Up to 60 questions in 60 minutes. Item types include multiple‑choice and performance‑based. The passing score is 600 on a 100–900 scale (per the official draft objectives).

Q3: When can I take the live exam?

A3: CompTIA lists February 17, 2026 as the target launch date for SecAI+ (English at launch). Check Pearson VUE for scheduling and delivery options (test center or OnVUE online).

Q4: What are the prerequisites?

A4: There are no formal prerequisites. CompTIA recommends 3–4 years in IT with 2+ years in cybersecurity and suggests Security+, CySA+, or PenTest+ (or equivalent) as helpful background.

Q5: What is the retake policy if I don’t pass?

A5: Standard CompTIA policy applies: no wait between the first and second attempt; a 14‑day waiting period for a third attempt (and beyond).

Q6: How much does the SecAI+ voucher cost?

A6: CompTIA has not posted a confirmed price for SecAI+ as of January 29, 2026. Based on other “Plus” certs, expect a similar range; check the CompTIA store for your region at purchase time.

Conclusion:
If you’re a student or early‑career professional, CompTIA SecAI+ is a smart way to signal that you can both defend AI systems and use AI responsibly to accelerate security operations. Focus your prep on the official objectives, anchor your learning to NIST AI RMF, OWASP LLM Top 10, and MITRE ATLAS, and build a small portfolio of hands‑on projects. With a clear plan and a few weekends of focused effort, you can be ready to sit the exam as it goes live—and have real‑world artifacts to show for it.

Want a personalized 3‑ or 6‑week study plan based on your schedule and tools? Tell me your target date and current stack, and I’ll tailor a plan to you.