CompTIA CASP+

About the CompTIA CASP+

CASP+ is CompTIA's advanced technical cert for senior practitioners who want a practitioner-focused alternative to the management-focused CISSP. It covers enterprise security architecture, cryptography at an applied level, governance and risk, and security operations. The exam is heavy on performance-based scenarios, which makes it feel closer to CySA+ than to CISSP. DoD 8570 approved for IAT Level III and IASAE Level II work roles. Useful for engineers who want the senior credential but want to stay hands-on rather than pivot to management.

Who should earn it

Senior security engineers who want an advanced cert without the CISSP management pivot, federal contractors needing IASAE Level II, and architects in non-CISSP environments.

Exam details

Provider

CompTIA

Exam code

CAS-004

Questions

90

Duration

165 minutes

Passing score

Pass/Fail (scaled)

Exam fee

$494 (verify with CompTIA)

Renewal

Every 3 years via CPE

Experience level

Advanced

DoD 8570/8140

Approved

Prerequisites

Ten years of IT administration experience, with at least five years of hands-on technical security experience, per CompTIA's recommendation. Not enforced.

Key domains

• Security Architecture
• Security Operations
• Security Engineering and Cryptography
• Governance, Risk, and Compliance

Federal and DoD relevance

The CompTIA CASP+ is approved under DoD Directive 8570.01-M (now 8140), so cybersecurity roles supporting US Department of Defense information systems can use it to satisfy the baseline certification requirement for their IAT, IAM, or CSSP workforce category. That matters for federal contractors, cleared facilities, and agencies where 8140 compliance is a hiring gate.

Salary impact

CASP+ typically adds $15,000-$25,000 for senior security engineer roles and is required by a subset of federal contract positions that mandate IASAE Level II.

Most relevant roles