CompTIA & AWS Exam Vouchers: 7 Ways to Pay Less for Your Certification (2026)

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Most people budget for the course and forget the exam, which is often the bigger bill. A good Security+ course on sale costs less than lunch out, while the Security+ exam costs $439 for one attempt, and you pay that again if you fail.

Very few people need to pay list price, though. Discounted vouchers, vendor loyalty discounts, retake bundles and student pricing can each cut the cost, and some of them cut it in half. Below are seven ways to pay less in 2026, plus one kind of "deal" to stay away from.

What the exams cost at list price

These are the standard US prices for one attempt.

Prices checked September 2026 from AWS’s exam pricing page, CompTIA’s US store, and Microsoft Learn. All three vendors adjust prices periodically and by country, so check the vendor’s store for today’s exact figure.

CompTIA is the expensive vendor, and A+ alone is two separate exams. AWS is cheap to start, but every retake is full price unless you planned for one.

1. Buy a discounted exam voucher

A voucher is prepaid credit for one exam attempt. You buy it, then enter the code when you book the exam with Pearson VUE. The exam is the same; you just paid less for it.

Udemy now sells official vouchers for AWS, CompTIA and Microsoft exams at least 10% below the vendor's price. That covers every exam in the table above, and it fits neatly with a Udemy prep course you may already be taking. On a $439 Security+ exam, 10% is about $44.

2. Already hold an AWS cert? Use your 50% discount

This is the biggest saving on the list, and plenty of people never claim it. Once you hold any active AWS certification, AWS gives you 50% off your next AWS exam; you'll find it under Benefits in your AWS Certification account. Pass Cloud Practitioner for $100 and your Solutions Architect Associate costs $75 instead of $150. A $300 Professional exam drops to $150.

So if you already have an AWS cert, use AWS's 50% benefit instead of a 10% voucher. The Udemy voucher is the better deal for your first AWS exam, before you have the benefit.

3. Bundle a retake before you need one

Plenty of people fail on the first try, especially on AWS Associate and CompTIA Security+, which both have a reputation for tricky scenario questions. Paying full price for a retake doubles the cost.

Udemy's AWS Second Chance bundle pairs an exam voucher with a retake voucher and saves up to 40% compared with paying for two separate attempts. Both vouchers are valid for 9 months. Before you buy, know that:

• the retake has to be added when you first buy, and can't be added after a failed attempt;
• it covers AWS exams only;
• it isn't available in Japan.

For CompTIA, Udemy's voucher page also sells Security+ and A+ vouchers bundled with Retake Assurance (CompTIA's own retake guarantee) below CompTIA's bundle price.

If you pass the first time, the retake goes unused, so think of a bundle as insurance. It makes the most sense for your first certification or an exam you're taking on a tight timeline.

See vouchers with retakes on Udemy →

4. Check for student or academic pricing

If you're enrolled at a college or university, check academic pricing first. CompTIA sells discounted academic vouchers to eligible students through its own store, and Microsoft offers reduced exam prices to verified students. Those savings are usually larger than any public voucher discount. You'll typically need a school email address or proof of enrollment.

5. Ask your employer to pay

Few people ask, and many employers will say yes. IT employers, managed service providers and government contractors often reimburse certification exams, and some are required to certify their staff. Security+ is on the US Department of Defense's approved list for its cyber workforce (DoD 8140), so defense contractors often pay for it outright.

Ask before you buy, because some reimbursement policies only cover vouchers bought through a company account, or only pay after you pass.

6. Watch for free vendor training events

For years Microsoft has run free online training days for its fundamentals exams, and attendees have often been offered a free or heavily discounted exam afterward. AWS runs free training through AWS Skill Builder, plus periodic certification challenges. These offers come and go, so don't plan around them, but when one lines up with the exam you want, it's the cheapest route available.

7. Spend less on prep and pass the first time

A retake costs far more than a good prep course, so the prep is where your money goes furthest. You don't need a $2,000 bootcamp. Two discounted courses on our site cover the most popular exams:

• AWS Certified Solutions Architect (Stephane Maarek), the most popular AWS prep course on Udemy, with practice exams;
• CompTIA Security+ Complete Course, with full SY0-701 coverage.

Let practice exams decide when you book. Once you're scoring comfortably above the passing mark on full-length timed practice tests, buy the voucher and pick a date.

Still choosing a platform? We compared the two biggest in Udemy vs Coursera for cybersecurity, and our guide to cyber security courses online covers the wider field.

Vouchers to avoid

Search for "CompTIA voucher" and you'll find sellers on marketplaces, forums and social media offering Security+ vouchers at half price or less. These are sometimes stolen, already redeemed, or restricted to a different country, and CompTIA and Pearson VUE can cancel them. If a bad code fails at booking, the money is usually gone, and a fraudulent voucher can even put your certification at risk.

Buy from the vendor's own store, an authorized training partner, or a major platform like Udemy that sells vouchers under an official program.

Which savings to combine

• For your first AWS exam, use a discounted voucher, or Second Chance if you want a safety net, then claim your 50% benefit for the next one.
• For CompTIA A+, Network+ or Security+, use student pricing if you qualify and employer reimbursement if you can get it; otherwise buy a discounted voucher. If you want a retake safety net, compare CompTIA's Retake Assurance bundle ($579 for Security+) with a single voucher.
• For Microsoft fundamentals, look for a free training-day offer first. These exams are cheap, so a voucher discount matters less.

Buy the voucher when you're ready, and book the exam within a few weeks so it doesn't expire. For how much certifications count with employers, see how online certifications impact your resume.

Ready to buy? Browse Udemy's certification exam vouchers or read the details on our exam voucher coupon page.

Frequently asked questions

What is a CompTIA exam voucher?

A voucher is prepaid credit for one attempt at a specific CompTIA exam. You buy it ahead of time, then enter the voucher code when you schedule the exam with Pearson VUE. The exam is the same either way, and buying a voucher from an authorized seller is often cheaper than paying at booking.

How much is the Security+ exam?

CompTIA Security+ costs $439 for a single attempt in CompTIA’s US store (September 2026), or $579 with Retake Assurance, the most expensive of the three core CompTIA certifications. A discounted voucher, student pricing or employer reimbursement can bring that down a lot.

Can I get a discount on an AWS certification exam?

Yes. If you already hold any active AWS certification, AWS gives you a 50% discount on your next exam, available in your AWS Certification account. For a first exam, a discounted voucher (such as Udemy’s, at least 10% off) is the simplest saving, and AWS Second Chance bundles add a retake for up to 40% less than paying for two attempts.

Are cheap exam vouchers from resellers safe?

Only buy from the vendor or an authorized partner. Vouchers sold far below list price on marketplaces or social media are sometimes stolen, already used, or regional vouchers that will not work where you test. If the code fails at booking, you have usually lost the money.

Do exam vouchers expire?

Yes. Most exam vouchers are valid for a fixed period, commonly around 12 months for CompTIA and 9 months for AWS Second Chance bundles sold through Udemy. Buy the voucher when you’re a few weeks from being ready, rather than when you start studying.