The Best Security+ Study Plan: How to Pass in 30, 60, or 90 Days

The time required depends on your background and study intensity. With 1-2 years of IT experience and 10-15 hours of study per week, most candidates can pass in 30 days. With no IT background, plan for 60-90 days at 10 hours per week. Beginners should allocate 60-120 total study hours. The most common study timeline among successful candidates is 6-8 weeks with consistent daily study. CompTIA itself recommends 30-40 hours of study for experienced IT professionals and 60-80 hours for newcomers.

This plan is for candidates with IT experience who can study 2-3 hours daily. Week 1: Watch Professor Messer's free Security+ video series for Domains 1 and 2, take notes, and review domain objectives. Week 2: Watch Domains 3 and 4, complete domain-specific practice questions after each video. Week 3: Watch Domain 5, begin full-length practice exams (one every other day), review all wrong answers thoroughly. Week 4: Take 3-4 full practice exams, review weak domains, study PBQ examples, and watch Messer's study group sessions. On exam day: arrive early, flag PBQs, manage your 90 minutes carefully.

Ideal for candidates with some IT background or busy schedules. Study 1-2 hours daily with weekends off. Weeks 1-2: Watch video course for all 5 domains (Messer or Dion), take chapter notes, and review CompTIA's official objectives list. Weeks 3-4: Read a study guide (GCGA or official book), take domain quizzes after each chapter, create flashcards for acronyms and port numbers. Weeks 5-6: Take 4-5 full practice exams, score at least 80% before booking the real exam, review PBQ walkthroughs on YouTube. Weeks 7-8: Final review of weak domains, retake practice questions, study exam day strategies. This is the most common study timeline and works well for most candidates.

Best for candidates with no IT experience or those studying part-time. Study 45-60 minutes daily. Months 1: Start with foundational networking concepts (learn subnetting, OSI model, TCP/IP if needed), then begin Security+ video course at a relaxed pace. Months 2: Complete the video course, start reading the study guide, take domain quizzes, and begin memorizing port numbers and acronyms. Months 3: Take full practice exams, aim for 75% initially and 85%+ before booking, study PBQ formats, review all domains systematically. Beginners should prioritize understanding concepts over memorization — the exam tests application of knowledge.

The best resources combine video, reading, and practice. Free resources: Professor Messer's Security+ video course (YouTube), CompTIA's official exam objectives PDF, and the CyberPath free study app. Paid resources ($50-200): Jason Dion's Udemy course and practice exams, Darril Gibson's Get Certified Get Ahead (GCGA) book, and the Official CompTIA Security+ Study Guide (Sybex). For practice exams: Jason Dion's 6 practice exams ($15-20 on Udemy), Professor Messer's pop quizzes, and CyberPath's free practice tests. Most successful candidates use at least two resources: a video course and a book, plus extensive practice exams. Avoid relying on a single source — different explanations help concepts stick.

Practice exams are the most important study tool. Follow this strategy: Do not take practice exams during your first 2-3 weeks of studying — build knowledge first. When ready, take one baseline exam to identify weak domains. After each practice exam, spend as much time reviewing wrong answers as you spent taking the exam. Understand why each answer is correct and why the others are wrong. Aim for 80%+ on practice exams before booking the real exam. Take practice exams in a simulated test environment (timed, no interruptions) to build stamina. Take at least 5-7 full-length practice exams before the real test. Jason Dion's exams on Udemy are widely considered the most representative of actual exam difficulty.