Most IT certifications require renewal, though the specific rules vary significantly across providers and technological domains. Renewal is necessary because technology fields change rapidly, meaning foundational knowledge and product features evolve constantly. Credentials must be periodically updated to remain a current and accurate measure of professional competency, ensuring verifiable professional standing in the industry.
Why IT Certifications Require Renewal
Certifications serve as a verifiable standard of knowledge for employers and the industry. Periodically renewing credentials ensures the holder possesses knowledge that is current and relevant to today’s enterprise environments. This process maintains the integrity of the certification brand, signaling that the credential represents active, contemporary competence. The rapid introduction of new frameworks, security threats, and cloud infrastructure necessitates this structured approach.
Standard Expiration Models
Certifying bodies employ several structures for credential expiration. The most common is fixed-term expiration, where a certificate is valid for a set duration, typically three years, regardless of technological shifts. Another model is version-dependent expiration, where the credential remains valid until the specific exam version is formally retired by the vendor. While a small number of older certifications were once designated as “Lifetime,” this status is now rare due to the accelerated rate of technological obsolescence.
Major Vendor Renewal Policies
CompTIA
CompTIA certifications generally operate on a three-year renewal cycle, applying to core credentials like the A+, Network+, and Security+. Renewal is managed through the collection and submission of Continuing Education Units (CEUs), which track professional development activities. Professionals must earn a specific number of CEUs, varying by certification, and pay an annual maintenance fee to keep the credential active without retesting. Acceptable activities, such as attending conferences or publishing relevant articles, must be logged and approved within the three-year window.
Cisco (CCNA/CCNP)
Cisco’s CCNA and CCNP certifications maintain a three-year expiration period from the date the exam was passed. Professionals have several renewal pathways within this timeframe. One method involves passing a current, higher-level qualifying exam within the same certification track before the existing credential expires. Alternatively, Cisco offers a Continuing Education program where candidates earn credits through authorized training and specific learning activities, automatically renewing the certification for three years.
Microsoft (Role-Based Certifications)
Microsoft’s current role-based certifications, such as Azure Administrator or Azure Developer, utilize a distinct and more frequent renewal policy. These credentials expire after only one year, requiring a faster cadence of professional upkeep. Renewal is accomplished by passing a free, online assessment available exclusively to the active certificate holder within six months of the expiration date. This assessment focuses specifically on new features and services introduced since the certification was last renewed and must be completed successfully before the one-year mark.
AWS/Google Cloud
Cloud provider certifications from Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google Cloud Platform (GCP) follow a three-year expiration timeline for their Associate and Professional-level credentials. Renewal requires the candidate to pass the full, current version of the corresponding examination. There is no direct credit accumulation program or free assessment option for renewal across the main certification tracks. This structure ensures professionals re-validate their ability to perform core functions against the most recent platform capabilities.
Actionable Renewal Methods
Professionals can generally choose from three primary actions to keep their credentials current, depending on the vendor’s policy. The most direct method is re-testing, which involves sitting for and passing the current version of the original certification exam. This option confirms comprehensive knowledge of the latest exam objectives, but it often requires the greatest time and financial investment.
A second prevalent method involves earning Continuing Education (CE) credits. These credits are accumulated by participating in pre-approved activities, such as attending vendor-specific training or industry webinars. The certificate holder tracks and submits evidence of these activities to the certifying body for validation and automatic renewal processing.
The final strategy involves achieving a higher-level certification within the same technology track before the lower-level credential expires. Earning an advanced certification often automatically renews all associated prerequisite certifications beneath it in the same hierarchy. This approach maximizes professional development time by focusing efforts on advancing one’s career while simultaneously fulfilling renewal obligations.
What Happens When a Certification Lapses
Allowing a certification to pass its expiration date results in the immediate loss of its active status. Once the deadline is missed, the professional’s name is removed from the vendor’s certification verification directory. This means prospective employers or clients can no longer verify the credential as current.
The primary consequence of a lapse is the mandatory requirement to re-take the full certification exam to regain the credential. There is usually no grace period or extension available once the expiration date has passed. Re-testing often incurs the full examination fee and requires substantial study time, treating the professional as a new candidate.
Keeping Your Certifications Relevant to Your Career
Maintaining active certification status signals a professional commitment to continuous learning. Employers view current credentials as validation that an employee’s skills are aligned with modern industry demands. Professionals should use the renewal cycle as a scheduled prompt for skill gap analysis. Planning for renewal allows individuals to intentionally choose CE activities or higher-level exams that strategically fill knowledge gaps and prepare them for their next career move.