Maintaining Cybersecurity Certifications: Keeping Up with CPE Requirements

Earning a cybersecurity certification is a significant achievement, but maintaining it requires ongoing effort. Many industry-recognized credentials—such as CISSP, CISM, and CRISC—require professionals to earn cybersecurity CPE credits to keep their certifications active. These credits ensure that credential holders stay up to date with industry developments, evolving threats, and emerging technologies. However, balancing the need for cybersecurity CPE credits with a full-time job and personal responsibilities can be challenging without a clear, manageable strategy.

Fortunately, many flexible ways exist to earn CPEs without disrupting daily life. Cybersecurity professionals can stay compliant with certification requirements without feeling overwhelmed by integrating learning into regular professional activities, setting up a tracking system, and using structured time management strategies. This guide will outline why CPEs matter, common ways to earn them, and how to effectively track and balance professional development efforts.

Why Cybersecurity CPE Credits Are Important

Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits ensure cybersecurity professionals stay updated with emerging threats, evolving technologies, and industry best practices. Cybersecurity is constantly changing, with new attack techniques, regulatory requirements, and security tools being introduced regularly. By earning CPEs, certification holders can maintain their expertise and adapt to the latest challenges, ensuring their skills remain relevant in a rapidly evolving field.

Beyond keeping knowledge current, maintaining CPEs protects the value of a certification. Organizations that require cybersecurity certifications, such as CISSP or CISM, expect their employees to remain informed on modern security strategies. Letting a certification lapse due to missing CPEs can negatively impact career opportunities and credibility. Keeping up with CPE requirements helps individuals stay compliant and reinforces their commitment to professional development and career growth in the cybersecurity industry.

Common CPE Activities

There are multiple ways to earn cybersecurity CPE credits, allowing professionals to choose activities that align with their interests and schedules. Some options involve formal training and events, while others involve self-directed learning or community contribution. By diversifying CPE activities, professionals can stay engaged, expand their knowledge, and meet renewal requirements efficiently.

Attending Webinars & Conferences

One of the easiest ways to earn CPEs is by attending cybersecurity webinars, conferences, and industry events. Many organizations, including (ISC)², ISACA, SANS, and Cybrary, regularly host free or paid webinars that count toward CPE requirements. These sessions cover a wide range of topics, from threat intelligence to compliance updates, making them a valuable way to stay informed while earning credits. Major security conferences like Black Hat, DEF CON, and RSA Conference offer educational sessions that qualify for CPEs.

Self-Directed Learning

Reading cybersecurity books, research papers, or industry reports can also count as CPE credits. Many certification bodies allow professionals to log hours spent studying security frameworks, reviewing white papers, or completing online courses. Podcasts and cybersecurity blogs are additional learning resources that can help professionals stay current. Keeping track of learning activities and submitting summaries to certification organizations ensures these efforts contribute to meeting CPE requirements.

Professional Contribution and Community Involvement

Contributing to the cybersecurity community by writing articles, publishing research, or sharing insights on security forums can earn CPE credits. Writing about recent threats, security best practices, or personal experiences in cybersecurity helps others while demonstrating expertise. Many professionals also participate in open-source security projects or contribute to vulnerability databases, which can count toward CPEs. These contributions help build thought leadership and strengthen professional networks.

Volunteering

Many cybersecurity organizations offer volunteer opportunities that qualify for CPE credits. Volunteering could include helping a nonprofit improve its security posture, mentoring students, or participating in cybersecurity awareness programs. Some professionals also volunteer with cybersecurity organizations, such as InfraGard, CyberPatriot, or local security meetups, to give back to the industry while earning credits.

Teaching and Mentorship

Sharing knowledge through teaching, presenting at industry events, or mentoring can be a great way to fulfill CPE requirements. Training junior security professionals, leading internal security awareness programs, or guest lecturing at educational institutions can count toward CPEs. Teaching reinforces personal expertise and helps develop leadership and communication skills.

CTF Competitions and Vulnerability Disclosures

Participating in Capture the Flag (CTF) competitions, bug bounty programs, or responsible vulnerability disclosures can sometimes be used to earn CPE credits. Many cybersecurity organizations recognize hands-on security exercises and ethical hacking activities as valuable professional development efforts. These competitions provide real-world experience in penetration testing, forensics, and exploit development, making them an engaging way to stay sharp while earning credits.

Tracking and Submitting CPEs

Keeping track of CPE activities is essential to ensure all earned credits are properly documented and submitted before certification renewal deadlines. Many certification organizations, such as (ISC)², ISACA, and CompTIA, provide online dashboards where professionals can log their CPE activities. These platforms allow users to upload proof of attendance for events, document self-study hours, and track progress toward renewal requirements. Submitting cybersecurity CPE credits in real time, rather than waiting until the last minute, helps prevent missed deadlines or forgotten credits.

Maintaining a personal tracking system can be beneficial for additional organization. Using a simple spreadsheet, a note-taking app, or setting calendar reminders for CPE deadlines can help ensure consistent progress. Professionals can list activities, the number of credits earned, and supporting documentation, such as event confirmation emails, certificates of completion, or study summaries. This proactive approach makes it easier to meet certification renewal requirements without the stress of last-minute submissions.

Balancing Work and CPE Efforts

Meeting CPE requirements while managing a full-time job can be challenging, but integrating professional development into daily responsibilities can make the process more manageable. Many employers recognize the importance of continued learning and may offer professional development budgets, paid training time, or reimbursements for certification-related activities. Discussing these options with a manager or HR representative can help professionals find ways to complete CPE activities without cutting into personal time. Some companies even allow employees to count work-related security research or internal training as CPE credits.

Scheduling CPE activities in advance can prevent the last-minute rush to meet certification requirements. Setting aside dedicated time monthly or quarterly for learning activities, such as attending webinars or reading cybersecurity reports, ensures consistent progress. Blocking out a few hours each month for CPEs makes balancing professional development with job responsibilities easier. This approach prevents the accumulation of unfulfilled CPE requirements and reduces the pressure of meeting renewal deadlines.

Combining different CPE activities can also keep the learning process engaging and less overwhelming. Instead of relying solely on webinars or self-study, professionals can mix in hands-on learning, community involvement, and mentorship. Participating in discussions, writing articles, or joining cybersecurity competitions adds variety and makes fulfilling CPEs feel more natural. By incorporating multiple methods, professionals can stay motivated, enhance their skills, and maintain their certifications without disrupting their work-life balance.

Conclusion

Maintaining cybersecurity certifications is not just about meeting formal requirements but about continuous learning and staying ahead of emerging threats. CPE activities ensure that professionals remain informed on the latest security trends, technologies, and best practices. By proactively planning CPE efforts, tracking completed activities, and integrating learning into daily routines, cybersecurity professionals can maintain their certifications without feeling overwhelmed. Flexible learning methods, mentorship opportunities, and community engagement make professional development more rewarding and sustainable.

For those looking to streamline their CPE efforts, planning out the next few months of professional development activities can help maintain consistency. Whether through webinars, research, teaching, or competitions, cybersecurity professionals have many options to stay engaged and grow their expertise. Signing up for Cybrary’s courses and training programs is a great way to earn CPEs while gaining valuable knowledge and skills. Start building a structured plan today to stay certified and advance in cybersecurity.