Keeping certifications active: continuing education credits and renewal

Renewal cycles

Many certifications expire unless renewed. CompTIA certifications typically renew on a three-year cycle through continuing education units or a higher certification, and ISC2 certifications such as CISSP require annual fees and continuing professional education credits over a three-year cycle. Some practical certifications do not expire. Check each body’s current policy, since details change.

Activities that usually count

Attending conferences and webinars, completing training courses, earning related certifications, teaching or presenting, writing articles, and volunteering for security organizations commonly qualify. Each body defines how activities map to credits and what evidence to keep.

• Conferences and webinars
• Courses and higher certifications
• Presenting or teaching
• Writing and research
• Community volunteering

Lab: start a renewal log

Create a renewal log for each certification you hold or plan to earn. Record expiry date, credits required, and credits earned so far. Add each activity with the date, hours, and a link to evidence such as a certificate of attendance, and set a reminder six months before expiry.

cert | expires | required | earned | next reminder
Security+ | 2029-11 | 50 CEUs | 18 | 2029-05

date | activity | hours | evidence
2026-10-14 | regional security conference, two days | 12 | attendance-certificate.pdf
2026-11-02 | webinar on DMARC reporting | 1 | email-confirmation.pdf

Make it part of learning

Logging activities as you do them avoids a rush before expiry. Choose activities that build the next skill you want, so renewal supports your career plan instead of becoming paperwork.