By Quick answer: Do certifications expire, and how do you renew them?
- AWS — three years.
- Microsoft — yearly, free; fundamentals don't expire.
- CompTIA, PMP, CISSP — three-year cycles.
- Scrum — CSM two years; PSM I never.
Key takeaways
- Check expiry before you book.
- Free renewals lower long-term cost.
- Log continuing education as you go.
Certifications often expire so that holders stay current. Here's how renewal works for the most popular ones. Rules change, so always check the issuer's page.
Certifications that answer this
Ranked for this reader. Costs and formats come from each issuer's own page, checked on 3 November 2026; prices change, so confirm before you book.
| # | Certification | Cost | Time | Prove it free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AWS Certified Solutions Architect – AssociateAmazon Web Services | $1501 | 130 minutes, 65 questions | Free test |
| 2 | Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104)Microsoft | Exam priced by country2 | 100 minutes; renew free every 12 months | Free test |
| 3 | Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)Microsoft | Exam priced by country3 | 45 minutes | Free test |
| 4 | CompTIA Security+CompTIA | Voucher price on the CompTIA store4 | V7 retiring; V8 adds AI-related risk | Free test |
| 5 | PMP – Project Management ProfessionalPMI | $425 PMI members / $675 non-members5 | 240 minutes, 180 questions | Free test |
| 6 | CISSP – Certified Information Systems Security ProfessionalISC2 | See ISC2 page6 | Check issuer | Free test |
| 7 | Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)Scrum Alliance | Included in a 2-day course price7 | 16-hour course, then a 50-question test | Free test |
| 8 | Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I)Scrum.org | Check the official page8 | Check issuer | Free test |
Prove it free before you pay for an exam
Take the free test first. Pay for an exam only when you pass.
Every pick above has a matching free practice test on Science of Apps, one of the world's largest libraries of free certification tests (1,200+). Check your level before you pay for an exam, or add a verifiable credential to LinkedIn while you study. (Disclosure: we publish these tests; the certifications above earn us nothing.)
- AWS Solutions Architect Associate Practice ExamPractise for AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate before you pay.Start free test →
- Azure Administrator AZ-104 Practice TestPractise for Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104) before you pay.Start free test →
- AZ-900 Practice TestPractise for Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) before you pay.Start free test →
- CompTIA Security+ Practice TestPractise for CompTIA Security+ before you pay.Start free test →
Each certification, and why it's here
- AWSAWS Certified Solutions Architect – AssociateThree years$150
- MicrosoftMicrosoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104)Yearly, freeExam priced by country
- MicrosoftMicrosoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)No expiryExam priced by country
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
- Cost
- $1501
- Format
- 130 minutes, 65 questions
Recertify every three years. AWS's associate exam tests designing secure, resilient, high-performing and cost-aware systems on AWS. It's 130 minutes with 65 questions and costs $150, and it's the cloud credential most often named in job posts.
Best forthree years
Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104)
- Cost
- Exam priced by country2
- Format
- 100 minutes; renew free every 12 months
Free online renewal every 12 months. Microsoft's associate exam proves you can manage Azure identity, storage, compute and networking. It's 100 minutes, priced by country, and renews free online every 12 months, which keeps long-term cost low.
Best foryearly, free
Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)
- Cost
- Exam priced by country3
- Format
- 45 minutes
Fundamentals don't expire. Microsoft's Azure fundamentals exam covers cloud concepts, core Azure services, pricing and governance in 45 minutes. Training is free on Microsoft Learn, the exam is priced by country and it doesn't expire.
Best forno expiry
CompTIA Security+
- Cost
- Voucher price on the CompTIA store4
- Format
- V7 retiring; V8 adds AI-related risk
Three years via continuing education. CompTIA's vendor-neutral security exam covers threats, architecture, operations and governance, and the new version adds AI-related risk. It's listed in ANAB's ISO/IEC 17024 directory; voucher prices vary by country.
Best forthree years
PMP – Project Management Professional
- Cost
- $425 PMI members / $675 non-members5
- Format
- 240 minutes, 180 questions
- Entry
- 3–5 years leading projects (by education) plus 35 hours of training
Three-year cycle with professional development units. PMI's Project Management Professional is a 240-minute, 180-question exam covering predictive, agile and hybrid approaches. It needs 3–5 years leading projects plus 35 hours of training and costs $425 for PMI members or $675.
Best forthree-year cycle
CISSP – Certified Information Systems Security Professional
- Cost
- See ISC2 page6
- Entry
- 5 years of paid security work experience
Three-year cycle with continuing education credits. ISC2's senior credential covers eight broad security domains and requires five years of paid security experience. It's ANAB-accredited, and US holders averaged $168,060 in Skillsoft's 2025 survey, the highest of any IT certification there.
Best forthree-year cycle
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
- Cost
- Included in a 2-day course price7
- Format
- 16-hour course, then a 50-question test
Renew every two years. Scrum Alliance's Certified ScrumMaster is earned through a 16-hour, trainer-led course and a 50-question test. The price is set by the trainer, it renews every two years, and it's widely named in Scrum Master posts.
Best fortwo years
Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I)
- Cost
- Check the official page8
Doesn't expire. Scrum.org's Professional Scrum Master I is exam-only, with no course required, and it doesn't expire. Study the free Scrum Guide and practise before booking; check Scrum.org's page for the current fee.
Best forno expiry
Renewal at a glance
| Certification | Renewal |
|---|---|
| AWS | Every 3 years |
| Microsoft role-based | Yearly, free online |
| Microsoft fundamentals | Doesn't expire |
| CompTIA | Every 3 years (CE) |
| PMP | 3-year cycle (PDUs) |
| CISSP | 3-year cycle (CPEs) |
| CSM | Every 2 years |
| PSM I | Doesn't expire |
Table: Certification renewal rules, checked November 2026
How we ranked these picks
Answers draw on official certification pages checked 3 November 2026 and the sources listed.
Frequently asked questions
Do AWS certifications expire?
Yes, after three years.
Is Microsoft renewal free?
Yes for role-based certifications.
Does PSM I expire?
No.
What happens if I let it lapse?
You may need to retake the exam; check the issuer.
Is there a free test?
Yes. Science of Apps offers free practice tests.
Sources
- Amazon Web Services — AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Microsoft — Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Microsoft — Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- CompTIA — CompTIA Security+, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- PMI — PMP – Project Management Professional, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- ISC2 — CISSP – Certified Information Systems Security Professional, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Scrum Alliance — Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Scrum.org — Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Checked November 4, 2026. Figures that change — fees, salaries, prices — are reviewed every six months; if something is out of date, tell us.
Where to go from here
- The best online certifications of 2027 — the full top 10 across every field
- Certification FAQ 2027: 50 Questions Answered — related guide
- Best AI Certifications of 2027: 10 Ranked by Career Impact — related guide
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027How Long Does It Take to Get Certified Online? — answered for 2027How long it takes to get certified online in 2027: hours for short courses, weeks for fundamentals, months for associate exams, years for the CFA.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027Certification reviews for 2027: our honest verdicts on 18 popular credentialsHonest reviews of 18 popular certifications for 2027: Google certificates, AWS, Azure, Security+, CISSP, PMP, CSM, SHRM-CP, CFA and more, with verdicts.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027Certification comparisons for 2027: the head-to-head choices people ask about mostHead-to-head certification comparisons for 2027: AWS vs Azure, Security+ vs Google Cybersecurity, PMP vs CAPM, CSM vs PSM I, PL-300 vs Tableau and more.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027Certification FAQ for 2027: clear answers to the questions people ask mostAnswers to the most-asked certification questions for 2027: cost, time, worth, free options, accreditation, expiry, jobs without degrees and AI certifications.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027Which Certification Has the Best ROI in 2027? — answered for 2027Which certification has the best ROI in 2027? Cost vs US survey pay for AWS, CISSP, CISM and CISA, plus free options, with honest caveats.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027How Much Do Online Certifications Cost in 2027? — answered for 2027How much online certifications cost in 2027: free options, $99–$150 cloud and AI exams, PMI and ISACA fees, Coursera's $49/month and CKA's $445.
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