Continuing Education Credits (CEU) Policy and Handbook

I.                  Purpose:

This handbook outlines AKYLADE’s requirements, procedures, and policies for earning and submitting Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) to maintain certifications awarded by our organization. These guidelines ensure certified professionals remain up to date with industry standards, enhance their skills, and demonstrate their commitment to professional growth.

II.              Certification Maintenance Cycle:

All certifications awarded by our organization operate on a three-year maintenance cycle.

To maintain an active certification status, certified professionals must do one of the following:

1. Earn and submit the required number of CEUs before the end of the three-year cycle;
2. Retake and pass the certification exam prior to the cycle’s expiration date;
3. Pass the next level certification exam prior to the cycle’s expiration date (i.e. if you have taken and passed the A/CCRF, then taking and passing A/CCRP prior to the three-year expiration will satisfy the CEU requirement).

Failure to fulfill one of these options will result in the certification being marked as inactive. Individuals with inactive certifications must retake and pass the exam to reinstate their status.

As a member holding one or more AKYLADE certifications, you are required to pay a maintenance fee of U.S. $50, due on the third anniversary date of your Certification Maintenance Cycle. You will only pay a single maintenance fee, regardless of how many AKYLADE certifications you hold.

At the end of the three-year Certification Maintenance Cycle, when the CEU credits and maintenance fee payment requirements are met, members will be automatically recertified for a new cycle, requiring no additional action.

III.           Approved CEU Activities:

CEUs are awarded for activities that directly enhance the knowledge and skills relevant to the certification’s domain. Approved activities include, but are not limited to:

1.       Professional Development

o    Attending industry conferences, workshops, and seminars.

o    Completing relevant online courses or webinars.

2.      Education Contributions

o    Presenting at professional events.

o    Authoring articles, white papers, or books in the certification’s field.

3.      Training and Mentorship

o    Delivering training or mentoring in related subject areas. This does not apply to instructors teaching AKYLADE Training Courses

4.      Relevant Academic Coursework

o    Completing courses from accredited institutions that align with certification objectives. 

5.      Participation in Exam Development

o    Contributing to item writing, review processes, or Job Task Analysis (JTA) for certifications.

6.      Volunteering

o    Conducting security-related activities within government, the public sector and other charitable organizations.

Each activity must be supported by appropriate documentation (e.g., certificates of attendance, transcripts, agendas, or signed attestations).

IV.            CEU Requirements Per Certification

V.                Calculating CEU Credits

CEU credits are typically earned at a rate of one credit per hour of participation in an eligible activity. Credits can be reported in 0.5 increments, depending on the activity’s duration. Some activities may qualify for additional credits due to their complexity or the level of commitment required. Routine job responsibilities, where compensation is received, do not qualify for CEU credits.

 A single activity can count for up to 40 CPE credits at most. For activities that take place over multiple days, the date the activity ends determines which certification cycle the credits apply to. For instance, if an activity starts on September 1, 2025, and ends on October 12, 2025, the credits would apply to any cycle active as of October 12, 2025.

VI.            Submitting CEUs

Certified professionals must submit CEUs through the Candidate Portal on our website members.akylade.com

Follow these steps:

1. Log in to the Candidate Portal using your registered account credentials.
2. Navigate to the “Certifications” section.
3. After locating the applicable certification, click “+ Add CEUs” and complete the required fields, including:
• Description of the activity.
• Date of completion.
• CEU hours completed.
• Other supporting information in provided fields.
4. Upload supporting documentation in PDF, JPEG, or PNG format.

o   Proof of CEU credits earned may be in the form of course transcripts, awarded diplomas, certificates, or receipts of attendance, research/pre notes for speaking or teaching, copies of official meeting minutes, or rosters/documentation of registration materials.

o   You should retain documentation and proof of CEU credits earned for at least 12 months beyond the expiration of your current Certification Maintenance Cycle in the event of an audit.

5. Click “Submit” to send the application for review.

Once submitted, you will receive an email confirmation. CEU submissions are reviewed within 7-10 business days, and decisions will be communicated via email.

VII.        CEU Approval Criteria:

To be approved, CEUs must:

·         Directly align with the certification’s core objectives.

·         Be completed within the three-year (36 month) certification cycle that starts once you earn your certification.

·         Include verifiable documentation.

Activities deemed unrelated, inadequately documented, or completed outside the maintenance cycle will not be approved.

VIII.     Audits and Appeals

AKYADE performs random audits of submitted CEU activities by members and associates. This is an important process that upholds the integrity of AKYLADE credentials and ensures compliance with ISO accreditation standards.  Random audits of CEU submissions will be conducted to ensure compliance with AKYLADE policies.

If you are selected for an audit, you will receive an email with instructions about the necessary documentation to support the activities, unless you have already provided these during the submission process. You will need to provide proof of attendance or a brief description of the activity in question, if you have not done so already. Candidates selected for an audit will be required to provide additional documentation or clarification within 15 business days of notification.

In the event that your CEU activity submission is denied, you have the right to appeal pursuant to AKYLADE Appeal Policy located at: https://support.akylade.com/portal/en/kb/articles/complaint-review-and-appeals-process

IX.            Grace Period

If you have met all of your CEU credit requirements but have not paid your Certification Maintenance Cycle fee within the 36 month Certification Maintenance Cycle, Your certification(s) shall be placed in a suspended state for no more than 30 days to allow You time to pay Your Certification Maintenance Cycle renewal fee.

If payment is not received within the 30-day suspension window, then Your certification(s) shall be fully revoked.

If payment is received within the 30-day suspension window, then Your certification(s) will be renewed and reinstated for another 36month Certification Maintenance Cycle, provided all other renewal requirements have been satisfied (per each individual certification).

In the event that your certification(s) are suspended or revoked, you have the right to appeal pursuant to AKYLADE’s Appeal Policy located at: https://support.akylade.com/portal/en/kb/articles/complaint-review-and-appeals-process

X.               Additional Information:

For questions or assistance, contact our support team at support@akylade.com.

This policy may be updated periodically to reflect changes in certification requirements or industry standards. Certified professionals are encouraged to review this handbook regularly to stay informed of any updates.