Maintaining Your Certification

One of the hallmarks of a strong professional certification program like CAP and aCAP is a process for verifying the continuing competence of certification holders. To renew certification at the end of each three-year cycle, CAPs and aCAPs must demonstrate compliance with requirements that ensure they develop new data science skills and deepen their familiarity with advanced analytics concepts. Maintaining your certification means charting a course for years of continued learning and growth that will help keep you accountable and on track to achieve your professional goals.

You may submit your recertification within three (3) months prior to your certfication expiration. If you do not recertify within that timeframe, your certification will be suspended. After certification suspension, you will have a six (6) month period during you may apply to reinstate your certification. If you do not recertify by the end of your suspension period your certification will be revoked.

Fees as of January 1, 2024

INFORMS members can save money on recertification fees if paid prior to certificatin expiration, or reinstatement fees if paid during their six (6) month certification suspension period.

CAP Recertification
$120 Recertification/Reinstatement Fee
$40 INFORMS Member* Recertification Fee (before CAP expiration)
$80 INFORMS Member* Reinstatement Fee (within 6 months after CAP expiration)
$20 INFORMS Member from Developing Country** Recertification Fee (before CAP expiration)
$40 INFORMS Member from Developing Country** Reinstatement Fee (within 6 months after CAP expiration)

aCAP Recertification
$60 Recertification/Reinstatement Fee
$20 INFORMS Member* Recertification Fee (before aCAP expiration)
$40 INFORMS Member* Reinstatement Fee (within 6 months after aCAP expiration)
$10 INFORMS Member from Developing Country** Recertification Fee (before aCAP expiration)
$20 INFORMS Member from Developing Country** Reinstatement Fee (within 6 months after aCAP expiration)
$100 aCAP to CAP Transition  Fee

*Applicants must be members of INFORMS in good standing at the time of application to receive
the member discount. No refunds will be granted for applicants joining INFORMS after submission
of certification application materials.

**Applicants must be members of INFORMS, from an INFORMS-designated developing country,
in good standing at the time of application to receive the member from a developing country
discount. No refunds will be granted for applicants joining INFORMS after submission of certification
application materials.

Recertification Requirements

All certification holders will be required to achieve 30 Professional Development Units (PDUs) in a three-year renewal period. The following table describes options for achieving the required PDUs along with any required minimum or maximum PDUs specified in each category.

How to get Professional Development Units (PDUs)

All claimed PDUs must be submitted to and verified by INFORMS prior to the conclusion of a certificate holder’s three-year renewal cycle. Certificate holders are reminded that they will not be able to claim more than the maximum PDUs allowed in any specific category.

The following table describes options for achieving the required PDUs along with any required minimum or maximum PDUs specified in each category. A maximum of ten (10) PDUs is allowed per category unless otherwise stated below or in the handbook.