CompTIA SecurityX (CAS-005) Exam Voucher: Standard or Retake?

The exam voucher is the one part of SecurityX prep where rushed decisions cost the most money. Two voucher variants are commonly sold for CAS-005: a standard Global voucher (single attempt) and a Global + Retake voucher (single attempt plus one free retake). At ~USD $509 per attempt, choosing wrong on the voucher variant is not a small error.

This article works through the math honestly. SecurityX is harder than the other CompTIA exams in this catalog, and the voucher choice should reflect that.

What each voucher includes

A CAS-005 exam voucher is a prepaid code you redeem at Pearson VUE. Redeeming gives you the right to schedule and sit one exam attempt — at a Pearson VUE physical testing centre or online via OnVUE proctored remote testing.

Standard Global voucher: One attempt. If you fail, you purchase a new voucher to retake.

Global + Retake voucher: Two attempts. Same exam, same content. If you fail your first attempt, you can use the retake voucher to schedule a second attempt without paying again. The 14-day mandatory wait period between attempts still applies.

What neither voucher includes:

• Tutoring, study material, or practice tests — purchased separately.
• ID verification at the testing centre — bring two valid forms of ID.
• Internet, webcam, or a clean room (for OnVUE) — your responsibility.

Standard Global vs Global + Retake: the math

The economics for CAS-005 specifically:

• SecurityX is an expert-level exam. The 90 questions in 165 minutes, with PBQ density and applied scenario difficulty, produce a higher first-attempt fail rate than intermediate certs. Reliable pass-rate data for SecurityX is still emerging given CAS-005 only launched in late 2024, but anecdotal evidence and CASP+ historical rates suggest 30–40% of well-prepared candidates fail on the first attempt.
• At ~USD $509 per attempt, a separately-purchased retake voucher costs the same as the original. Failing means doubling your voucher spend.
• The Global + Retake bundled voucher is priced higher than the standard Global but materially lower than buying two standard vouchers.

If you are unusually confident — Perform's timed assessment scores consistently above 85%, all four domains balanced, multiple full timed mocks passed — the standard Global voucher is the cheaper choice.

If you are realistically prepared but not bulletproof — Perform scores in the 75–85% range, one or two domains shaky, time pressure not yet comfortable — the Global + Retake voucher is the sensible choice. You are paying a smaller premium upfront for the certainty that one bad day will not cost you a second voucher purchase.

For most CAS-005 candidates, the Global + Retake voucher is the default sensible choice given SecurityX's expert-level difficulty. The 30–40% first-attempt fail rate among well-prepared candidates is real, and the retake variant is essentially insurance against a single bad day. If you are unusually confident — Perform scores above 85% and stable, time pressure manageable — the standard Global voucher is the cheaper option.

Voucher policy specifics for CAS-005

The CAS-005 voucher follows CompTIA's standard policy:

• Validity: Generally 12 months from purchase. Confirm on the product page.
• Reschedule: Pearson VUE allows rescheduling typically up to 24 hours before the exam.
• Retake wait period: 14 days between attempts. Applies to both standard and retake voucher variants.
• Third attempt and beyond: Requires waiting 14 days after each attempt and purchasing a new voucher.
• Transfer: Vouchers cannot be transferred between candidates.

How booking with Pearson VUE works

The flow from voucher purchase to exam day:

1. Receive voucher code. Email delivery, typically within minutes.
2. Sign into Pearson VUE. Account name must match your government-issued ID exactly.
3. Search for the exam. "CompTIA SecurityX CAS-005."
4. Choose delivery method. Test centre or OnVUE online proctoring.
5. Pick date, time, and location. SecurityX seats book up faster than lower-level certs at many test centres because there are fewer scheduled sessions for advanced exams. Book 3–4 weeks ahead.
6. Apply your voucher code. This consumes the voucher.
7. Receive confirmation. Pearson VUE emails the booking.

Test centre vs OnVUE for CAS-005

For SecurityX specifically, test centre vs OnVUE matters more than for shorter exams.

Test centre advantages:

• Predictable environment for a 165-minute exam with PBQ load.
• No technical risk from your home internet, webcam, or peripherals.
• Less rigid identity verification.
• No bathroom-break friction (test centres allow normal breaks; OnVUE requires proctor approval and re-scan).

OnVUE advantages:

• No travel, no commute.
• More time slot flexibility.
• Useful if you live far from a Pearson VUE centre.

OnVUE risks for SecurityX specifically:

• 165-minute exam means at least one bathroom break is realistic. OnVUE's break process is friction-heavy.
• Strict room requirements: clean desk, no second monitor, no phone in the room.
• Any internet disconnect can be flagged as a proctor concern. The proctor can void your attempt if they suspect cheating, and that voids the voucher.
• The cost of a voided OnVUE attempt at this voucher price is unforgiving.

For most CAS-005 candidates the test centre is the materially lower-risk choice. The commute is worth the predictability.

When to buy the voucher

Do not buy until your CertMaster Perform timed assessment scores consistently sit above 80%. That is the baseline rule.

If you are choosing the Global + Retake variant specifically, you can buy slightly earlier — the retake gives flexibility if your first attempt comes too soon. But this should not be an excuse to short-cut the prep.

What does not work: buying the voucher, deferring repeatedly because you do not feel ready, and eventually letting the 12-month window expire.

The realistic order most successful CAS-005 candidates follow is: CertMaster Perform for the diagnostic-led learning, optionally the SecurityX eBook as a reference and standalone CertMaster Labs if engineering reps are needed, then the Global + Retake voucher once Perform's timed assessment scores stabilise above 80%.

Common questions

How long is the voucher valid? Generally 12 months. Confirm on product page.

What ID do I need at the test centre? Two valid forms of identification. Primary must be government-issued with photo. Names must match your Pearson VUE account exactly.

What happens if I fail with the standard Global voucher? You can retake after 14 days, but you must purchase a new voucher.

What happens if I fail with the Global + Retake voucher? You can schedule the second attempt no earlier than 14 days after the first. No additional charge.

What if I fail twice? Third attempt requires waiting 14 more days and purchasing a new voucher.

Is SecurityX DoD-approved? Yes, on DoD 8140 baseline lists for security architect, control assessor, and other senior roles. Confirm current 8140.03M before relying on it.

Is the price the same globally? No — Pearson VUE pricing varies by region. The voucher product is the most reliable way to lock in a known price.

Does CASP+ still have its own voucher? No. CAS-004 (CASP+) retired June 17, 2025. The only active voucher is for CAS-005 (SecurityX). Read about the CASP+ to SecurityX rebrand →

For most CAS-005 candidates, the Global + Retake voucher is the default sensible choice given the expert-level difficulty and 30–40% first-attempt fail rate among well-prepared candidates. The standard Global voucher makes sense only if your Perform timed assessment scores have been stable above 85%.

Buy whichever voucher matches your readiness once your CertMaster Perform timed assessment scores stabilise above 80%, and pick a test centre over OnVUE if you can — for a 165-minute expert-level exam, the lower-risk environment is usually worth the commute.

If you are still mapping the full preparation arc, the complete CAS-005 guide walks through how all the official products fit together.