The re-certification cycle

The heart of ValidLearn: IT security knowledge has to stay fresh. Certificates therefore have a limited validity, and the platform guides renewal automatically.

Validity

Passing a course yields a certificate with a validity date — six months by default (configurable per course).

Advance warning and refresher test

In good time before expiry (e.g. 21 days), a short refresher test is unlocked and the learner is notified. It is deliberately short and targets the most security-critical topics.

• Passed → the certificate is extended by another six months, without repeating the whole course.
• Failed or deadline missed → the certificate expires, and the full course path (content + final exam) becomes mandatory again.

Certificate states

1. Valid — course and final exam passed.
2. Due for renewal — expiry approaching, refresher test unlocked.
3. Expired — deadline missed or refresher failed; the full course is required again.

Why this way?

The cycle rewards people whose knowledge is solid with a quick check — and catches those whose knowledge has faded, without making anyone needlessly redo the whole course.