Recertification Program FAQs

General

• What is recertification?
  Recertification is the process by which professionals maintain their certification by meeting specific requirements set by the certifying body. Recertification is necessary to verify continuing competence for maintaining AACE certification for an additional certification term.

• How often do I need to recertify?

• Recertification is every three years.
  

Eligibility and Requirements

• Who is eligible for recertification?
  Individuals who hold a current AACE certification, including CCP, CEP, CFCC, DRMP, EVP, PSP, and PRMP. CCT and CST certifications are not renewable.

• I have multiple certifications. Do I have to make an application for each one?
  Yes, you must submit an application for each certification you hold. To avoid re-entering your information for each application, complete one application in its entirety first. When you create your subsequent applications, the details will be automatically copied, and any applicable items within the recertification period will be included.
  

Process and Documentation

• How do I recertify?
  Recertification must occur before your expiration date. To recertify by activity, you must complete an application through your AACE profile. To recertify by examination, please email recertification@aacei.org.

• Can I recertify if my certification has expired?
  You have a 6-month grace period to recertify by activity or by exam. If recertification has not been achieved by the end of your grace period, the certification is immediately decertified and not eligible for further extension.

Timing and Deadlines

• When should I start the recertification process?
  You can create a recertification application and begin tracking your activities from the day you become certified or recertified. Also, you can recertify as early as six months before your expiration date.
  
  If you have acquired at least 12 CEUs in more than one category and are within six months of expiration, you can complete and submit your application today.

• When does my recertification start?
  Your recertification begins at initial certification, the day you become certified.

Recertification by Activity (CEUs) 

• What is a CEU?
  CEU stands for Continuing Education Units, which are used in the recertification process. Other groups may refer to these as Professional Development Units (PDUs) or Professional Development Hours (PDHs).

• What constitutes one CEU?
  One CEU equals ten contact hours of participation in organized continuing education classes, training, or meetings. A contact hour is equivalent to one 60-minute interaction between an instructor or presenter and the participant.

• How do I convert PDUs to CEUs?
  10 hours = 1 CEU

• How many CEUs can I claim for AACE's Conference & Expo?
  This depends on the total hours of technical sessions. Once the program is finalized, the total CEUs are listed on our website. Typically, the average range is 1.5 to 1.8 CEUs.

• How many CEUs do I need to recertify by Continuing Education Units (CEUs)?
  You must show that you have accumulated a minimum of 12 CEUs for the past three-year certification period.

Recertification by Examination

• Can I recertify by exam?
  Yes, this option requires registration for a certification examination and payment. You must pass the examination to renew your certification for three additional years.

• When can I recertify by exam?
  You can recertify by exam up to six months before your end date.

• How long do I have to take my recertification exam?
  You must have taken and passed your recertification examination before your expiration date (grace period expiration) unless other arrangements have been made and approved by AACE Certification Staff.

• How many attempts do I have to pass my Recertification by Examination?
  You get one attempt to pass your Recertification by Examination.

Support and Resources 

• I am significantly short on CEUs and do not want to recertify by re-examination. Are there ways to earn additional CEUs through AACE?
  Our annual Conference & Expo gathers the industry's leading cost professionals for learning, sharing, and networking. The technical presentations aim to enhance your management, planning, scheduling, and technology implementation skills. Recordings of these presentations, with audio overlaid on the slides, are available and contain 70-100 hours of material on various topics. Watching each presentation will earn you 0.1 CEUs toward AACE recertification. To explore Product Bundles, click here.

• Are there any no-cost ways to earn CEUs through AACE?
  Providing volunteer support to the AACE International Certification program is a great way to lend your expertise in the areas of certification while earning recertification credits to maintain your credentials. To explore certification-related volunteer opportunities, click here.

For more information on volunteer opportunities throughout AACE, please click here.
 

To remain strong and responsive to the needs of certified members and other cost professionals, the public, and AACE International Certification Institute, our certification programs solicit input from all interested individuals and organizations as to the policies and procedures used in administering the Association’s certification programs. Please address any comments you may have regarding the administration of certification programs to the Certification Board via e-mail to certification@aacei.org or via U.S. mail at Certification Board, AACE International, 726 East Park Avenue #180, Fairmont, WV 26554 USA