Recertification - Alpha Documentation

Why Annual Recertification

AI governance is evolving rapidly. The EU AI Act enforcement begins August 2, 2026. New regulatory frameworks emerge quarterly. Board directors need current competency, not a one-time credential. Annual recertification ensures that certified directors maintain active, relevant governance knowledge.

Requirements

Credential	Recertification Fee	Requirements
ACD.AI	$600/year	20 CPE credits + abbreviated assessment
ACE.AI	$900/year	30 CPE credits + abbreviated assessment

Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Credits

Credits can be earned through:

Activity	Credits
Alpha Council monthly sessions	1 per session (12/year max)
Quarterly emerging tech briefings	2 per briefing (8/year max)
Board Red Team exercise (facilitator)	5 per exercise
Board Red Team exercise (participant)	3 per exercise
Alpha Institute published contribution	5 per article
Approved external governance education	Varies (submit for review)

Abbreviated Assessment

The recertification assessment is shorter than the initial certification (45 minutes) and focuses on:

Regulatory updates since last certification
New governance frameworks and standards
Emerging technology governance scenarios (agentic AI, autonomous systems)
Applied case studies from the past year

Grace Period

Certified directors have a 90-day grace period after their annual renewal date. During the grace period:

Credential remains valid but marked as “Renewal Pending”
Public registry shows renewal status
After 90 days without renewal, credential status changes to “Expired”

Reinstatement

Expired credentials can be reinstated within 12 months by completing the full recertification requirements plus a reinstatement fee. After 12 months, a full re-assessment is required.

Verification

Credential verification through the API always returns current status:

{
  "credential_id": "ACD-2026-001234",
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "Jane Smith",
  "credential_type": "ACD.AI",
  "issued": "2026-03-15",
  "expires": "2027-03-15",
  "cpe_credits": 14,
  "cpe_required": 20
}

​Why Annual Recertification

​Requirements

​Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Credits

​Abbreviated Assessment

​Grace Period

​Reinstatement

​Verification