How to Renew Your CCSP Certification

Passing the CCSP exam is a significant achievement—one that validates your deep understanding of cloud security and your commitment to protecting organizations in the cloud-first era. However, this is just the beginning. Keeping your certification means committing to continuous learning, staying current with industry trends, and meeting professional development requirements that validate your ongoing expertise.

In this guide, we'll walk you through everything you need to know about renewing your CCSP certification. From CPE requirements to submission deadlines, we'll break down the process into clear, actionable steps to help ensure your certification remains active and your cloud security expertise stays current.

CCSP Renewal Requirements Overview

Maintaining your CCSP certification involves two key components that work hand in hand to keep your credentials active: Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits and your Annual Maintenance Fee (AMF).

Let's talk about the financial commitment first. As a CCSP holder, you'll need to pay an Annual Maintenance Fee of US $135, which is due on your certification anniversary date. Here's some good news—if you hold multiple ISC2 certifications, you'll only need to pay this fee once, not for each certification. This single fee covers all your ISC2 credentials, making it a cost-effective investment in your professional future.

The educational component is equally important. Over your three-year certification cycle, you'll need to earn 90 CPE credits to demonstrate your ongoing commitment to professional development. While this might sound like a lot, it breaks down to about 30 credits per year—a very achievable target when planned properly. Of these 90 credits, at least 60 must be Group A credits, which are directly related to cloud security domains. The remaining 30 can be Group B credits, focusing on broader professional development activities.

Think of these requirements as your roadmap to maintaining professional excellence. The combination of continuous learning through CPE credits and professional membership through AMF ensures that your CCSP certification remains both active and meaningful in our rapidly evolving cloud security landscape.

Understanding Group A and Group B CPE Credits

As mentioned, one of the critical components of renewing your CCSP is the CPE credits requirement. Let's explore how these credits are categorized and what activities qualify for each group.

Group A CPE Credits

These credits directly relate to cloud security domains covered by your CCSP certification. Think of Group A credits as activities that enhance your technical expertise and keep you current with cloud security trends. Qualifying activities include:

• Participating in cloud security webinars and virtual conferences
• Writing articles or white papers about cloud security topics
• Attending specialized cloud computing and security workshops
• Contributing to cloud security research or development projects
• Teaching or presenting on cloud security topics
• Working on special cloud security projects outside your regular duties
• Completing self-study programs focused on cloud architecture and security
• Engaging in cloud security-focused volunteer work
• Taking advanced courses in cloud security or related technologies

Group B CPE Credits

While Group A focuses on technical expertise, Group B credits help develop your overall professional capabilities. These credits come from activities that enhance your general professional skills, even if they're not directly related to cloud security. Common Group B activities include:

• Attending business leadership workshops
• Taking courses in project management or team leadership
• Participating in communication and presentation skills training
• Joining professional development committees
• Contributing to industry organizations in non-technical roles
• Developing general business and management competencies

For CCSP maintenance, remember that while you need both types of credits, the emphasis is on Group A activities, reflecting the importance of maintaining current cloud security expertise.

Ways to Earn CPE Credits for CCSP Renewal

Earning your CPE credits doesn't have to be overwhelming. With proper planning and by taking advantage of various learning opportunities, you can easily meet your CCSP renewal requirements while enhancing your professional growth.

ISC2 offers numerous pathways to earn CPE credits, many of which are free or included with your membership. From webinars and virtual events to contributing to the profession, you can mix and match activities that best fit your schedule and learning style. Here's a practical example of how you could earn your recommended 30 CPE credits per year:

Quarterly Plan

• Attend ISC2 Security Congress or a major cloud security conference
• Complete one cloud security webinar monthly
• Read and review two cloud security white papers
• Write one technical blog post about cloud security

Alternative Monthly Approach

Month 1-3:

• Attend monthly chapter meetings
• Complete ISC2 Secure Summit

Month 4-6:

• Take a specialized cloud security course
• Watch recorded webinars

Month 7-9:

• Participate in a cloud security research project
• Attend vendor-specific cloud security training

Month 10-12:

• Present at a local security meeting
• Complete self-study activities
• Attend end-of-year security conference

These are just examples—you can customize your plan based on your interests and availability. The key is to maintain a steady pace throughout the year rather than trying to earn all credits at once.

How CPEs are Calculated

CPE credits are typically earned on an hourly basis—one hour of qualifying activity equals one CPE credit. For more precise tracking, you can report your activities in quarter-hour increments (0.25, 0.50, and 0.75). Some activities may earn you additional credits based on their depth of study or level of ongoing commitment. Keep in mind that regular job activities where you earn income don't qualify for CPE credits, and no single activity can earn more than 40 CPE credits.

For activities that span multiple days, the end date determines which certification cycle receives the credits. For instance, if you complete a course from November 1 to December 5, 2024, those credits apply to whichever certification cycle was active on December 5, 2024.

Earning CPEs with Multiple ISC2 Credentials

If you hold additional ISC2 certifications alongside your CCSP, like the CISSP, you'll benefit from ISC2's streamlined CPE process. Group A CPE credits automatically count toward all your active certifications that share relevant domains. This means one cloud security activity could help maintain multiple credentials simultaneously, making your professional development more efficient.

For activities that don't align with all your certifications' domains, you can select "None of the Above" in the CPE portal to apply them as Group B credits where appropriate. Additionally, CPE credits added to your account directly by ISC2 will automatically apply to all your certifications within their active cycle. However, this automatic application doesn't extend to certifications in their grace period.

Remember: you should never enter the same activity into the CPE portal more than once, even if it applies to multiple certifications. The system will handle the appropriate distribution of credits across your credentials automatically.

CCSP Renewal Key Dates and Requirements

Staying on top of your CCSP certification maintenance goes beyond just earning CPE credits. It's about managing deadlines, tracking your progress, and ensuring all requirements are met to keep your credentials active. Here's what you need to know to keep your certification in good standing.

Annual Requirements

Your AMF of US $135 is due on your certification anniversary date. If you hold multiple ISC2 certifications, you'll only pay one AMF that covers all your credentials, with the payment due on the first-anniversary date of your membership cycle and the same date each year thereafter. For example, if you earned your CISSP in January and your CCSP in March, your AMF would be due annually in January.

Tracking Progress and Recordkeeping

ISC2 provides a CPE portal where you can log your earned credits, monitor your progress toward your three-year goal, store documentation for completed activities, and review your certification cycle dates.

As a best practice, keep proof of completion for all CPE activities, such as:

• Course transcripts, certificates, or attendance receipts
• Research or preparation notes for speaking/teaching
• Copies of published articles or meeting minutes
• Registration documentation

Remember that ISC2 conducts random audits of submitted CPE activities. If selected, you'll need to provide documentation supporting your claimed credits within 90 days. Maintaining good records from the start makes this process much smoother.

If you earn more than your required credits, there's good news—excess Group A CPE credits earned in the last six months of your certification cycle can be rolled over. The number of credits you can roll over is limited to your credential's recommended annual minimum, and these credits automatically apply to the first year of your next cycle, giving you a head start on your next certification period.

What If You Fall Behind?

Life happens, and you might find yourself falling behind on your CPE requirements. Don't panic—ISC2 understands that professionals sometimes need extra time to meet their certification requirements. That's why they provide a 90-day grace period after your certification cycle ends. During these three months, you can still earn and submit CPE credits, provide any missing documentation, and pay outstanding fees while keeping your certification active.

However, failing to meet the requirements within this grace period has serious consequences. Your certification will be suspended, meaning you can no longer claim your CCSP credential professionally. Your digital badge will be disabled, and your name will be removed from the online Member Verification tool that employers and clients use to verify credentials.

While a suspension isn't permanent initially, it's important to address it promptly. You can maintain suspended status for up to two years, but after that, your certification and membership will be terminated. Reinstatement after termination requires significant effort—you'll either need to earn a substantial number of CPE credits in your primary domain and across all certification domains or retake the certification examination entirely.

The best strategy, of course, is to stay on track with your requirements throughout your certification cycle. Regular engagement with professional development activities not only keeps your certification active but also ensures you're continuously growing in your cloud security expertise.

Tips on Maintaining Your CCSP Certification

Your CCSP certification represents a significant achievement in your cloud security career, and maintaining it shouldn't feel like a burden. While we've covered the formal requirements, let's look at some practical strategies that successful CCSP holders use to stay on track with their certification maintenance. These tips can help you seamlessly integrate professional development into your career journey while ensuring your certification remains active.

• Create a CPE calendar at the start of your cycle, marking key events, conferences, and learning opportunities throughout the year
• Set up quarterly check-ins with yourself to review your CPE progress and adjust your plans if needed
• Take advantage of free ISC2 member benefits like webinars, chapter meetings, and online resources
• Keep a digital folder for all your CPE documentation as you earn them, rather than scrambling during an audit
• Set up automatic payments for your AMF to avoid any lapses in your certification status
• Connect with other CCSP holders through ISC2 chapters or online communities to share learning opportunities
• Consider volunteering or contributing to the profession—it's both rewarding and earns you CPE credits
• Align your CPE activities with your career goals and current job responsibilities for maximum benefit
• Subscribe to ISC2 newsletters and communications to stay informed about new CPE opportunities
• Schedule recurring reminders for important dates like your certification anniversary and cycle end date

FAQs

Moving Forward with Your Cloud Security Journey

Maintaining your CCSP certification is more than just meeting requirements—it's about staying current in the ever-evolving cloud security landscape. With proper planning and regular engagement in professional development activities, you can turn the maintenance process into an opportunity for career growth and networking within the cloud security community.

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