Failed or Incomplete Exams:
- Certification must be added or dropped by the last day of the conference.
- Deadlines are displayed in Universal Time (UTC), also known as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
- If you fail an exam, you may purchase a retake. Retakes are $199 for Silver certifications. **Please note that the retake option will only become available if a certification exam is failed. Once purchased, retakes are non-refundable.
- 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 in order for you to complete all requirements of certification. The adjusted deadline will be displayed in the certification grid in your portal account.
- If you purchase a retake for an exam, you do not have to repeat any component of the certification you have already passed.
- 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.
- If you do not purchase the retake before your certification deadline expires, you will need to purchase the extension for $199 and then purchase the retake. Please see the information on extensions below.
- Your access to any course audio files will expire on the original deadline regardless of any certification retake status.
- You may not purchase a retake more than two times during your entire certification attempt. A third failed or incomplete portion of your certification means your attempt is over.
Extensions:
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If you have not used all three possible exam attempts and you also run out of time, you may purchase an extension of 30 days. Extensions cost $199 USD for Silver certifications and $50 USD for S.T.A.Rs. Once purchased, extensions are non-refundable.
Please note that extensions may not be purchased in advance. The buy extension link, accessed through your portal account, will only be present after your certification time has expired. Additionally this link will only be available for 30 days after your certification deadline expires.
Purchasing an extension will add 30 days to the date your certification attempt expires. The extension does not add 30 days from the date you purchase the extension, but rather 30 days to your current expiration date. Please be advised that if you wait for a number of weeks before you purchase your extension, you will not be taking advantage of the full 30 days.
GIAC requests students manage their time properly and prepare for the exams so that extensions and retakes are very rare events. Please note that the exam failure rate is much higher for students taking exams in the last 48 hours of their certification time.
