When a certificate is awarded, it is awarded for a full year starting on the day you passed the exam. Your first full year has no CPE requirement (because you spent at least 8 hours preparing for and taking the exam). Starting your second year, you must earn at least eight (8) credits of continuing education related to the certification topic annually. When a certificate renews, it renews for a full year. Automatic renewal on the day of certificate expiration happens if both of these conditions are true: a) Member has an active AAP and b) CPE requirement has been met (if applicable). If the expiration date passes and you do not meet both conditions, you have a grace period of 90 days to fulfill the requirements (renewing your AAP and/or getting enough credits). After the grace period is over, your certification gets deleted from our records, and certificates are no longer available for display.