Most Cisco certifications are active for three years. You can keep your certification active by recertifying at any point during those three years.

CE credits are awarded when you complete qualifying Cisco training and successfully pass exams.

You must complete all requirements for recertification by your certification expiration date. Credits accumulate until you recertify your highest level of certification. At that point, all certifications at that level and below become recertified.

If you let a certification expire, you must complete the full examination process again to earn active status. Any ‘Pending’ CE credits at the time of expiration will retroactively apply towards recertification based on the activity completion date once your claim is validated.