Changes in GIAC recertification policy
The time to complete your recertification attempt, once registered and payment is received has changed from three to four months. Additionally recertification exams have moved to the single exam format delivered in a proctored setting. For details regarding the GIAC Proctor Program please visit http://www.giac.org/proctor/.
Log into your portal account at https://portal.sans.org/login.php to see any completed certifications by clicking on the "Cert Attempts / History" link. If you don't see this link, or don't see your certifications, please email recert@giac.org. Please include any email addresses that you have used during your training and certification. It is possible that you have more than one account and we will need to merge accounts and consolidate all your certification history into a single portal account.
Your recertification will become available for registration in your portal account one year in advance of your certification expiration. You will be able to see your certification and its new expiration date in your portal account via the "Certification History" link on your portal home page. Recertification will require one proctored exam. Recertification candidates will be taking exactly the same exams as current certification candidates.
General Recertification Information
As a holder of a GIAC certification, you get access to the latest version of the SANS course books for refresher training as part of the GIAC recertification process. We owe it to ourselves and especially to the clients, businesses, and organizations that we serve to keep up to date on the latest technologies, threats, and countermeasures. Regular renewal of a certification ensures that GIAC professionals maintain their knowledge and skills over time.
Through the renewal process, the GIAC program will come to demonstrate not only knowledge, but experience as well. For instance, someone who holds a certification for five years will have demonstrated not only mastery of the subject area, but the ability to adapt to the rapid changes that define information security. Since they must continually prove they have mastered the latest security information, their certificate becomes more valuable - not less - over time.
Recertification Requirements in the Portal System
To recertify, you must pass the same exams as current GIAC certification students based on the current SANS course material. If you are a security professional actively involved in the field, you will generally be keeping current through your normal job duties. However, you will have the option to receive the current course books to help you brush up and prepare for the exam.
Registration will be through your portal account via the "Certification History" link. The option to recertify will become available to you one year before your certification expires to allow for time management. The recertification fee is $325 plus applicable shipping fees for the current course materials should you choose to purchase them. Certified individuals who must renew multiple certifications in a single calendar year can renew secondary certifications for a reduced fee of $200 plus any applicable shipping fees for the course books. Once your registration and payment have been processed, your course books, if you have chosen to purchase them, will be shipped to the address used in your registration. You will receive access to audio files, as available, of the course as presented at a recent conference through the "Self Study Files" link on your portal home page. You'll receive two practice exams available from the "Practice Exams" link on your portal home page. You'll have access to recertification and deadline information through the "Certification Attempts" link. You'll have four months from the date your registration is processed to complete your review of the course materials and take the current certification exams. You will be taking exactly the same exams as current certification candidates.
Your deadline to register for your recertification is displayed in your portal account via the "Certification History" link on your portal home page. Certifications expire on the last day of the month in which you originally earned your certification.
In the event that you fail your recertification exam, you can register for up to two retakes. The deadline to register and pay for a retake is the exam deadline displayed in your portal account. A retake would extend your deadline by one month for you to complete your review and try again. There are no extensions. If you miss your deadline, your recertification attempt is considered over.
GIAC certifications must be renewed according to the following schedule:
Why Recertify?
It may be tempting to postpone renewing your certification, or simply to let it expire. Here are some things to consider:
Frequently Asked Questions about Recertification
- What happens if I don't pass the exam?
- Why do I have to renew my certification?
- Are there limits to when I can renew my certification?
- What if my certification previously expired under the old two year certification period?
- How much time do I have to complete the recertification?
- How will I know when my certification is due for renewal
- What is the cost of the recertification?
- What is involved in the recertification?
- What is the deadline for completing the recertification?
- What if I don't finish before my deadline?
- Are practice exams available?
- What happens after I pass my recertification exam?
- What happens if my certification expires?
- How do I register?
- What happens if I don't pass the exam?
- If you fail an exam before your final deadline, you may purchase up to two retakes. Retakes are $199. Retakes can be purchased by logging into your portal account and clicking on the "buy retake" link in the certification grid. A retake will extend your final deadline by one month. The adjusted deadline will be displayed in the certification grid in your portal account. If you purchase a second retake, payment must be received by the end of the previous retake period. The retake option will not be available unless you have attempted and failed some portion of the certification within the retake period.
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- Why do I have to renew my certification?
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The field of information technology in general, and information security in particular, changes rapidly. As a certified security professional, it is important to not only demonstrate your knowledge at a given point in time, but continue to learn and maintain that same level of knowledge over time.
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- Are there limits to when I can renew my certification?
Yes. Re-certification will be available starting one year before your expiration date, and will remain available through your expiration date. You must register for the re-certification before your certification expiration date. All certifications have now gone to a four year certification period.
Log into your portal account to see any completed certifications by clicking on the "Certification History" link. Your certification should be listed, and if you are within a year of your certification's expiration date, you will see a "recertify now" option. If you don't see this link, or don't see your certifications, please email recert@giac.org. Please include any email addresses that you have used during your training and certification. It is possible that you have more than one account and we will need to merge accounts so that you will be able to consolidate all your certification history into one single portal account.
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- What if my certification previously expired under the old two year certification period?
- All certification listings have been updated to reflect the four year certification period. If your certification listing is showing a date in the future, then you will be able to recertify through your portal account.
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- How much time do I have to complete the recertification?
- Once you register and payment is received, you have four months to take and pass the recertification exam (even if this takes you past your certification expiration date). Your exam deadline will be displayed from the "Certification Attempts" link in your portal home page.
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- How will I know when my certification is due for renewal
- Your certification and expiration date will be displayed in two places. All certifications are posted at http://www.giac.org/certified_professionals/. Your certification and expiration date will be posted in your portal account. Once you log in, click on the "Certification History" link on your portal home page. As noted above, if you don't see your certification or recertification registration option in your portal account, please email mailto:recert@giac.org along with any email addresses that you have used in your training or certification.
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- What is the cost of the recertification?
The recertification fee is $325 plus applicable shipping fees for the current course materials should you choose to purchase them. Once your registration and payment have been processed, your course books will be shipped to the address used in your registration. You will receive access to audio files, as available, of the course as presented at a recent conference through the "Self Study Files" link on your portal home page. You'll receive two practice exams available from the "Practice Exams" link on your portal home page. This will allow you to study, keep current with the latest SANS course material, and prepare for the exam. You are not required to complete the online course - you are only required to pass the exam.
You'll have access to recertification and deadline information through the "Cert Attempts / History" link. You'll have four months from the date your registration is processed to complete your review of the course materials and take the current certification exam. You will be taking exactly the same exam as current certification candidates.
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- What is involved in the recertification?
- Recertification candidates must complete one proctored exam, the same exam that current certification candidates are taking. For details regarding the GIAC Proctor Program please visit http://www.giac.org/proctor/. The exams are based on the current course and training objectives. The objectives remain fairly stable over time, but will of course be updated to reflect changes in technology and the current state of practice. You will not have to complete any written assignment for recertification.
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- What is the deadline for completing the recertification?
- You must register for the re-certification before your certification expiration date. If you are not sure, please check your portal account to verify your certification expiration date. After that date, the recertification option will no longer be available to you. From the date that you register and payment is received, you will have four months to review the current courseware and take the recertification exam.
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- What if I don't finish before my deadline?
- There are no extensions. If you don't complete your exams by the deadline displayed in your portal account, your recertification is considered over and your certification expired. In this case, you would lose your existing analyst number. To reinstate your certification, you would need to complete the full certification process again from scratch, following the current certification requirements. Your "certified since" date would become the date you earn your new certification. You would get a new analyst number.
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- Are practice exams available?
- Practice Tests are a proven aid in helping to master material covered on the GIAC exams. You will be provided with 2 practice exams for each exam you need to take. Additional practice exams are available for $99 each through the GIAC website. The practice tests are taken on-line and have the same format as the actual examinations. The practice questions are written by the actual exam writers so you can be confident that the practice exams will be of similar quality as the actual exams.
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- What happens after I pass my recertification exam?
- Your certification is valid for another four years from your certification expiration date. In order to receive an updated certificate, you must send your name, as you want it to appear on your certificate, your current mailing address, and your portal account SD number to certificate@giac.org.
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- What happens if my certification expires?
If your certification expires, you are no longer certified. If you wish to reinstate your certification, you must reapply for certification by completing the full certification requirements. If you reinstate your certification after it expires, your "certified since" date will become the date of your new certification. You will also lose your original analyst number and be assigned a new one.
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- How do I register?
Registration will be through your SANS portal account via the "Certification History" link. The option to recertify will become available to you one year before your certification expires to allow for time management. The link will appear as "recertify now."
If the option to register for your recertification is not available from your portal account, please contact recert@giac.org. You will need to provide the original email address used during your certification as identification.
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