How to Maintain, Renew & Upgrade Your DoD Certifications (CEUs, Continuing Training & 8140 Updates)

Earning a DoD-approved cybersecurity certification is only the first step. What truly determines long-term success and continued eligibility for sensitive cybersecurity roles is maintaining, renewing, and upgrading those certifications according to DoD 8570 and DoD 8140 requirements.

DoD cybersecurity certifications are not lifetime credentials. Most of them require renewal every three years, strict continuing education credits (CEUs/ECUs/CPDs), mandatory professional development, and compliance with new 8140 updates that define how individuals retain workforce qualification.

If you work in an IAT, IAM, IASAE, or CSSP role, keeping your certifications active is essential. Failure to renew can make you non-compliant, remove you from your assigned DoD role, and jeopardize your employer’s contract readiness.

This guide provides a complete breakdown of renewal requirements, CEUs, continuing training expectations, upgrade paths, and how DoD 8140 impacts ongoing certification maintenance.

Why Certification Maintenance Matters Under 8570 & 8140

DoD cybersecurity personnel must remain fully qualified at all times. Certification expiration triggers immediate non-compliance, which can result in:

• Loss of role eligibility
• Reassignment or suspension
• Security clearance impact
• Inability to work on certain contracts
• Organizational audit failures

Maintaining certifications is not optional — it is a federally mandated requirement.

Understanding DoD Renewal Requirements

Most certifications fall into three renewal categories:

1. CEU-Based Renewal

You must earn a specific number of CEUs over a 3-year period.

2. Annual Maintenance Fees

Organizations such as CompTIA, ISC2, and ISACA require annual membership/security fees.

3. Recertification through Retesting

Some GIAC certifications require retesting if CEUs aren't met.

Each vendor has different requirements, but the DoD expects you to keep your certification active according to the vendor policies.

What Are CEUs? (Continuing Education Units)

CEUs (Continuing Education Units) also known as CPEs or CPDs depending on the vendor represent documented learning activities that support your cybersecurity knowledge.

Examples include:

• Attending cybersecurity courses and workshops
• Completing online training modules
• Participating in cyber exercises
• Publishing or presenting cybersecurity research
• Completing DoD training programs (Cyber Awareness, RMF, etc.)
• Hands-on lab environments (TryHackMe, HTB, Immersive Labs)
• Industry conferences or webinars
• Teaching or mentoring others

CEUs must be logged and submitted to the certifying authority.

CEU Requirements for Major DoD Certifications

Below is a breakdown of CEU requirements for common DoD-approved certifications.

CompTIA (Security+, CySA+, CASP+, PenTest+, Network+, A+)

• CEU Requirement: 20–75 CEUs over 3 years A+: 20 CEUs Security+: 50 CEUs CySA+: 60 CEUs PenTest+: 60 CEUs CASP+: 75 CEUs
• Annual Fee: $50
• Renewal Cycle: 3 years

CompTIA CEUs can be earned through:

• Completing CompTIA CEU courses
• Passing a higher-level certification
• Attending approved training
• Hands-on labs

ISC2 (CISSP, SSCP, CCSP, ISSAP, ISSEP)

• CEU Requirement: CISSP: 120 CPEs (40 per year) SSCP: 60 CPEs (20 per year) CCSP: 90 CPEs (30 per year)
• Annual Maintenance Fee: $125 for CISSP, $50 for others
• Renewal Cycle: 3 years

ISC2 accepts a wide range of CPE activities, including:

• Professional work experience
• Conferences
• Webinars
• Academic coursework

ISACA (CISM, CRISC)

• CEUs Required: 120 CPE hours in 3 years
• Annual Fee: $45–$85
• Renewal Cycle: 3 years

ISACA often requires verifiable documentation for CEUs.

EC-Council (CEH, CHFI)

• CEUs Required: 120 ECE credits in 3 years
• Annual Fee: $80
• Renewal Cycle: 3 years

Examples of ECE activities:

• Cyber competitions
• EC-Council events
• Blog writing
• Offensive security lab work

GIAC (GSEC, GCIH, GCIA, GPEN, GCFA, GCFE)

• CEUs Required: 36 CPEs every 4 years
• Renewal Fee: $469
• Retake Fee: $899 (if CEUs not met)

GIAC CEUs must be high-quality activities such as SANS training, cyber ranges, or formal education.

Understanding DoD 8140 Updates (Impact on Renewal & Maintenance)

DoD 8140 creates new expectations for maintaining workforce readiness. The framework includes:

1. Continuous Learning Requirements

DoD 8140 aligns with the NICE Framework and emphasizes ongoing upskilling not just one-time certification.

2. Work Role Proficiency

Personnel must demonstrate skills linked to specific work roles, not just hold a certification.

3. Expanded Approved Certifications List

DoD 8140 allows more certifications to satisfy renewal and qualification requirements.

4. Multi-Certification Tracks

Under 8140, personnel may be expected to maintain more than one certification if their role spans multiple work categories.

How to Maintain Your DoD Certification Step-by-Step

Here is a practical 6-step process for maintaining compliance:

Step 1: Track Your Renewal Cycle Early

DoD personnel must renew before the expiration date.

Organizations should maintain internal tracking systems to monitor:

• CEU progress
• Upcoming expiration dates
• Personnel role alignment

Step 2: Complete Mandatory DoD Annual Training

Activities that count toward CEUs include:

• Cyber Awareness Challenge
• Insider Threat Training
• OPSEC Training
• RMF training

These trainings alone can contribute 5–10 CEUs annually.

Step 3: Participate in Approved Learning Activities

CEU sources may include:

• Webinars
• Certifications
• Vendor training
• Technical workshops
• Capture the Flag (CTF) competitions
• Whitepapers or research studies

Step 4: Document Everything

Every CEU must be documented with:

• A certificate of completion
• A sign-in log
• Transcript
• Screenshot verification (if allowed)

Step 5: Submit CEUs to the Certification Body

Using platforms like:

• CompTIA Continuing Education Portal
• ISC2 CPE Portal
• EC-Council Aspen Portal
• ISACA CPE Dashboard
• GIAC Certification Portal

Missing your submission deadline can result in expiration.

Step 6: Pay All Maintenance or Renewal Fees

Certification maintenance fees must be paid annually or at the time of renewal.

How to Upgrade Your DoD Certifications (Strategic Pathways)

DoD professionals often advance by upgrading certifications. Examples:

1. Move from Security+ → CySA+ → CASP+ or CISSP

Standard progression for technical cybersecurity practitioners.

2. Move from CEH → PenTest+ → GPEN

Ideal for penetration testers, red team operators, and offensive security specialists.

3. Move from GSEC → GCIH → GCFA/GCFE

GIAC paths support high-level CSSP Analyst, Incident Responder, and Forensics roles.

4. Move from CISSP → ISSAP / ISSEP

Critical for IASAE engineers, architects, and senior cybersecurity leadership.

5. Move into Specialized CSSP Roles

CSSP Analysts, Incident Responders, Infrastructure Support, and Auditor roles often require multiple certifications.

Tips for Staying Compliant Under DoD 8570 & 8140

✔ Renew early do not wait until the last month

Many people fail because they assume CEUs can be earned quickly.

✔ Use employer provided training programs

Most DoD contractors offer training credits or reimbursements.

✔ Pursue higher-level certifications (automatic CEU credit)

Earning a higher certification often renews lower certifications automatically.

✔ Stay informed on 8140 updates

The DoD periodically updates approved certification lists and requirements.

✔ Use cybersecurity platforms for easy CEUs

• TryHackMe
• HackTheBox
• Fortinet Academy
• ISC2 webinars

Conclusion

Maintaining, renewing, and upgrading your DoD certifications is just as important as earning them. DoD 8140 emphasizes continuous learning, workforce readiness, and ongoing professional development. Whether you are an IAT technician, IAM manager, IASAE architect, or CSSP analyst, renewal compliance ensures:

• Job eligibility
• Contract readiness
• Career progression
• Security clearance stability
• Workforce qualification

With CEUs, recurring fees, updated requirements, and evolving DoD standards, staying compliant requires planning and commitment but the payoff is long-term career advancement and readiness to support the nation’s most critical cyber missions.