Fellow ISACA certification-holders sometimes reach out to me, puzzled, telling me that their certification(s) was revoked. From inquiring further, I usually learn that they forgot to report their CPE hours on time, or that they had no idea that they needed to renew as per the annual requirement for every certification holder to maintain their certification(s).
Preparing for an ISACA certification exam takes a lot of time and sacrifice, including an investment of resources and preparation to ensure that you pass the exam. Attaining an ISACA certification is crucial to anyone’s career and, as such, you wouldn't want to lose that certification that you have worked so hard to achieve.
If you are struggling with how to maintain any of your ISACA certifications, worry no more. This article is intended to illustrate smart ways for how to maintain your ISACA certification. (Side note: Passing the exam doesn’t mean you are certified by default; you must meet the required years of experience and apply to get certified).
Once you become certified, you need to understand the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) policy requirements for that certification. You can earn CPEs through ISACA by attending conferences, using self-paced options such as CPE on-demand and online courses, completing ISACA Journal quizzes, and more. Learn more about ISACA’s CPE policy here. You will need to report your CPE hours annually for your certification to remain valid.
Adhering to the CPE policy means that you'll be involved in activities that qualify for CPE hours. These may include technical and managerial training that is directly applicable to the job practice areas associated with the certification(s) to ensure a proper balance of professional development is attained.
Note: CPE hours are not accepted for on-the-job activities unless they fall into a specific qualifying professional education activity. Training in basic office productivity software, such as Microsoft Word or Excel, does not qualify as CPE. Specific activities have annual CPE hour limits. CPEs can be reported in quarter hour increments. - ISACA
Managing your CPE requirements
Here are some keys to keep in mind when it comes to managing your CPE requirements:
- Managing your CPEs requires earning and reporting a minimum of prescribed CPE hours annually for each of the certifications that you hold.
- You will need to pay an annual maintenance fee for each of your certification
- Diligently apply your earned CPE hours to each of your respective certifications. Apply integrity when reporting CPE hours.
- Stay active, be involved and maintain your certification. If you no longer need it, or are in a non-practicing status, there is an option for retiring your certification. Learn more here.
I wish you all the best – be career smart and protect those hard-earned certifications.