First published by DailyDebian. The full, sortable table with a source link for every row is the IT Certification Price Index.
Most people budget for one number: the exam fee. That number is real, but it is rarely the whole bill. A retake can cost the same again. Some certifications charge every year just to stay active. A few vendors quote a different price for members. If you plan a certification path without these, the total can surprise you.
The figures below come from each vendor's own pricing page, read on 8 November 2026. They are US list prices in US dollars for a first attempt, before tax. Vendors charge different amounts in some countries, so check the vendor page before you book.
The headline exam fees
Here is a quick sample across the big vendors:
| Exam | Vendor | Exam fee (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| A+ 220-1201 and 220-1202 | CompTIA | $274 each (two exams) |
| Network+ N10-009 | CompTIA | $399 |
| Security+ SY0-701 | CompTIA | $439 |
| SecurityX CAS-005 | CompTIA | $544 |
| CCNA 200-301 | Cisco | $300 |
| 350-401 ENCOR | Cisco | $400 |
| Cloud Practitioner CLF-C02 | AWS | $100 |
| Solutions Architect Associate SAA-C03 | AWS | $150 |
| Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 | AWS | $300 |
| AZ-900 | Microsoft | $99 |
| AZ-104 | Microsoft | $165 |
| Associate Cloud Engineer | Google Cloud | $125 |
| CISSP | ISC2 | $749 |
| CISA, CISM, CRISC | ISACA | $575 member, $760 non-member |
| GSEC | GIAC | $999 |
| PMP | PMI | $324 member, $575 non-member |
Two things stand out. First, A+ is two exams, so the real entry price is $548, not $274. Second, the spread is huge. A cloud fundamentals exam costs about $100, while a GIAC exam costs close to $1,000.
Retakes: the cost most people forget
Failing once is common, and most vendors charge the full fee again.
- CompTIA charges the full exam price for each attempt. You can buy a voucher bundled with a retake instead. For Security+ that bundle is $579, against $439 for the voucher alone. If you think there is a real chance you will need a second try, the bundle costs less than two vouchers.
- Microsoft charges again for each attempt. After a first fail you wait 24 hours. After later fails you wait 14 days between attempts.
- Cisco gives no retake fee on the page, but you must wait 5 days before trying again.
- ISC2 charges the full fee for each attempt unless you bought its retake protection. Waits grow to 30, 60 and then 90 days.
- ISACA charges the full registration fee each attempt, with waits of 30 and 90 days.
- GIAC lists a retake at $899 for GSEC, almost the price of the first attempt.
Waiting periods matter as much as money. A 90-day wait can push a job start or a promotion back by a full quarter.
Renewal: the yearly bill
Passing is not the end. Many certifications must be renewed, and the price models differ a lot:
- CompTIA: most core certifications carry a continuing education fee of $150 every 3 years if you renew by uploading CEUs ($75 for A+, Data+ and SecAI+). Tech+ has no CE fee; you renew it by passing the latest exam.
- ISC2: an annual maintenance fee of $135. It is one fee however many ISC2 certifications you hold, so CISSP plus CCSP still costs $135 a year.
- ISACA: an annual maintenance fee of $45 for members and $85 for non-members.
- Cisco: certifications are valid for 3 years. You recertify by exam or by continuing education credits.
- AWS: valid for 3 years. You recertify by taking the latest version of the exam.
- Microsoft: associate, expert and specialty certifications renew through a free online assessment. Fundamentals certifications such as AZ-900 do not expire.
- Google Cloud: for Associate Cloud Engineer, the renewal exam is $75.
- GIAC: GSEC renewal is $499.
Over three years, an ISC2 certification adds $405 in maintenance fees. An AWS certification adds the price of the next exam. A Microsoft associate certification adds nothing but your time.
Small print that changes the total
- Member prices. ISACA and PMI quote lower prices to members. PMP is $324 for members against $575 for everyone else. Membership costs money too, so do the sum before you join just for the discount.
- Delivery method. EC-Council lists the CEH v13 remote-proctored voucher at $950 and a Pearson VUE voucher at $1,199. The index also lists a $100 eligibility application fee, so check whether it applies to you.
- Bundles. PMI sells CPMAI as a prep course and exam bundle, not as an exam-only fee. Compare it with care.
How to budget a certification
A simple rule: plan for the exam fee, plus one retake, plus three years of renewal. For Security+ that is $439 + $439 + $150 = $1,028 in the worst case. Buying the retake bundle brings it to $579 + $150 = $729. For CISSP it is $749 + $749 + $405 = $1,903. That is not a reason to avoid either one. It is a reason to prepare well enough to pass the first time.
How these prices were checked
Every price comes from the vendor's own page. No third-party price lists were used. If a vendor does not publish a figure, the index says "Not published by vendor" instead of guessing. Each row shows the date it was last checked. The sources are re-read every quarter, and the next full update is due on 1 January 2027.
The full table covers 137 exams from CompTIA, ISC2, ISACA, Cisco, AWS, Microsoft, Google Cloud, GIAC, EC-Council and PMI. You can filter it by vendor, and every row has a source link: IT Certification Price Index 2026.
If you also want questions, time limits and pass marks for each exam, see the IT certification exam facts table.
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