Renewal Cycle
CCDL1 and CCDL2 certifications are valid for 4 years. You can renew by retaking the exam or by earning 36 CPE credits during that 4-year window; this article covers the CPE path.
Pre-Approved Activities
Each activity below has a fixed CPE value and a cap on how much it can contribute toward your 36-credit total per cycle.
Standalone option (fully satisfies renewal on its own):
Activity | CPE Value | Evidence Required |
Earn the other CCDL certification (CCDL1 holder earns CCDL2, or vice versa) | 36 CPEs fully satisfies your requirement on its own | Certificate for the newly earned certification |
Combinable activities (mix and match to reach 36 CPEs):
Activity | CPE Value | Cap per Cycle | Evidence Required |
Earn another vendor certification (exam pass required; course/module completion alone does not qualify) | 1 CPE/hour of the course tied to that certification | 18 CPEs | Certification credential/certificate showing exam pass |
BlueYard Range labs or CTF participation | 1 CPE/hour | 12 CPEs | Screenshot or platform completion record |
Conference attendance or technical talks | 1 CPE/hour | 18 CPEs | Proof of attendance (badge, agenda, registration) |
Relevant work experience | 3 CPEs/year | 12 CPEs | Manager/HR confirmation letter |
Published article or whitepaper (4+ pages) | 4 CPEs each | 12 CPEs* | Link to published content |
Blog post (500+ words) | 1 CPE each | 12 CPEs* | Link to published content |
Public speaking, teaching, or mentoring | 1 CPE/hour | 12 CPEs* | Description + supporting material |
Community contribution (open-source tooling, CTF challenge authoring) | 2 CPEs each | 12 CPEs* | Link or evidence of contribution |
Activities marked with * share a combined cap of 12 CPEs per cycle. All caps apply per full 4-year cycle, not per year.
How to Submit
Submit your activities and evidence through the CPE Submission Form, linked directly in this article, no login required, any time during your 4-year cycle.