Table of contents
- How long is an SAP certification valid?
- Why SAP moved to annual validity
- How the 90-day Stay Certified window works
- What you need to stay certified
- Stay Certified assessment vs. certification exam
- What happens if your SAP certification expires
- What happens when SAP retires a certification
- How to check your SAP certification status
How long is an SAP certification valid?
An SAP Certification is valid for one year. SAP asks certified professionals to return at least once a year to show that their knowledge is still current. Passing a Stay Certified assessment extends validity by another 12 months.
This annual model applies across the SAP Certification portfolio. It replaced a mix of older rules in April 2024. Every certification issued before April 2024 automatically expired on March 31, 2025, unless the holder completed a Stay Certified assessment or an alternative certification before that date.
Before the change, validity depended on the certification. Some cloud certifications already required regular “stay current” assessments tied to product releases. Others carried long fixed validity periods. If you rely on an older certificate, check its current status in your SAP account rather than the issue date on the original document.
Why SAP moved to annual validity
SAP’s stated reason is that cloud products change much faster than on-premise software, so professionals need to update their skills more often. An annual check is meant to show employers and clients that a certified person knows the product as it works today, not as it worked several releases ago.
For consultants, this has a practical side. Certification status is easy for a client or hiring manager to verify, so a lapsed certification can raise questions about current readiness even when your project experience is strong.
How the 90-day Stay Certified window works
You can complete your Stay Certified assessment at any time while your certification is valid. However, the timing affects your new expiry date.
If you pass within the final 90 days, your certification is extended by 12 months from its original expiry date, so you don’t lose any validity. If you pass earlier, the new 12-month validity period starts on the day you pass.
| Scenario | Current expiry date | Date you pass | New expiry date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pass early in the window | December 1, 2026 | September 15, 2026 | December 1, 2027 |
| Pass on the last day | December 1, 2026 | December 1, 2026 | December 1, 2027 |
| Fail to renew before expiry | December 1, 2026 | Not completed | Certification expires |
Because there is no penalty for finishing early, the safest approach is to complete the assessment soon after the window opens. That leaves time to retry or contact support if something goes wrong.
What you need to stay certified
Three things determine whether you can renew through the Stay Certified route.
- An SAP Universal ID. SAP uses your Universal ID to track your certifications and their validity. It must have at least two email addresses from different domains linked to it.
- An active SAP Learning Hub subscription. SAP states that Stay Certified assessments are accessible only with an SAP Learning Hub subscription. The subscription also includes preparation materials, practice systems and four certification exam attempts.
- A valid certification. The assessment extends an active certification. It is not a way to restore one that has already expired.
If you do not have an SAP Learning Hub subscription, SAP’s alternative is to purchase and retake the certification exam every year.
| Route | What it includes | How you renew each year |
|---|---|---|
| SAP Learning Hub subscription | Learning content, practice systems, four exam attempts and Stay Certified assessments | Pass a short Stay Certified assessment in the 90-day window |
| SAP Certification exam purchase | Exam attempts purchased separately (options vary), with preparation resources depending on the package. Stay Certified assessments are not included. | Purchase and pass the certification exam again |
Prices vary by region and edition, so check the current SAP Learning Hub pricing and SAP Certification exam pages before budgeting.
Stay Certified assessment vs. certification exam
The certification exam and the Stay Certified assessment serve different purposes. The exam validates the full set of skills for a solution or role. The assessment confirms that your knowledge has kept pace as the solution changes.
| Aspect | Certification exam | Stay Certified assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Earn a certification | Extend an existing certification |
| Format | Proctored multiple-choice exam, or SAP’s newer practical, open-book exam in real SAP systems | AI-roleplay assessment (SAP’s recommended option) or multiple-choice assessment, depending on the certification |
| Supervision | Depends on exam format | Non-proctored |
| Access | Exam purchase or SAP Learning Hub | SAP Learning Hub only |
| Result | Certification valid for 12 months | Validity extended by 12 months |
The AI-roleplay option asks you to demonstrate your skills in simulated customer interactions. Multiple-choice assessments remain available as an alternative.
What happens if your SAP certification expires
If you do not complete the Stay Certified assessment, or a recommended successor certification, before the expiry date, you are no longer certified. Your status changes to expired.
To become certified again, you need to pass the certification exam for the current release of that certification. The Stay Certified assessment is only for active certifications, so it cannot be used after the expiry date.
SAP support may consider a special extension in limited cases. SAP lists three examples:
- You have been out of projects for six months for any reason, confirmed by an employer statement
- Your SAP Learning Hub license is still being purchased or renewed
- A natural disaster has affected your location
If one of these applies, contact SAP support before your certification expires.
What happens when SAP retires a certification
SAP periodically retires certifications, for example when a product or role changes significantly. After the retirement date, you can no longer book that exam or take its Stay Certified assessment.
If your certification is valid on the retirement date, SAP grants an additional 12 months of validity from that date. For example, a certification retired on June 30, 2025, stays valid until June 30, 2026, without a Stay Certified assessment. After that, it expires.
When SAP recommends a successor or alternative certification, earning it before your current certificate expires keeps your certified status continuous.
How to check your SAP certification status
Sign in to SAP Learning with your SAP Universal ID and open the Certification section of your My Learning page. Each certification shows one of three statuses:
- Valid: your expiry date is not close and no action is needed yet
- Stay certified due: your certification is approaching expiry, and you must pass the assessment before the listed date
- Expired: the certification is no longer valid, and you need to pass a current exam to recertify
The “Stay certified due” date is the last day your certification is valid. After you pass a Stay Certified assessment, your updated digital badge shows the new validity date.
Keeping your certifications when you change employers
Your certifications are tied to your SAP Universal ID, not your employer. If you work for an SAP customer, add your new work email to your Universal ID and remove the old one. If you work for an SAP partner, you may still need to request a certification transfer through the SAP Partner Portal. Do not delete a Universal ID that holds active certifications, because SAP deletes the certificates with it.
Key takeaways
- SAP certifications now run on a 12-month validity cycle, and the rule has applied to all certifications since April 2024.
- Renewal happens in a 90-day window before expiry, and passing early never shortens your validity.
- The Stay Certified route requires an active SAP Learning Hub subscription; without one, you retake the full exam each year.
- Once a certification expires, the short assessment is no longer an option, and you must pass a current exam.
- Retired certifications receive 12 extra months of validity from the retirement date, then expire unless you move to a successor.
- Your certifications live on your SAP Universal ID, so keep that account active when you change jobs.
Conclusion
SAP certifications do expire. Each one is valid for 12 months, and you keep it valid by passing a Stay Certified assessment during the 90-day window before your expiry date, or by passing the certification exam again.
Your next step is simple: sign in to SAP Learning, find your “Stay certified due” date and add the start of your 90-day window to your calendar. If you plan to renew through the assessment, confirm that your SAP Learning Hub access will still be active on that date.
Planning to stay certified year after year? K2U offers access to SAP Learning Hub, which includes the Stay Certified assessments, preparation content and practice systems you need to keep your SAP Certification valid.
FAQ
Does SAP certification expire?
Yes. SAP certifications are valid for 12 months. You can extend validity by another 12 months by passing a Stay Certified assessment before your expiry date.
How long is an SAP certification valid?
One year from the date it is earned or last extended. Your exact expiry date appears as the “Stay certified due” date in the Certification section of your SAP Learning account.
Can I renew an SAP certification without SAP Learning Hub?
Not through the Stay Certified assessment, which SAP makes available only with an SAP Learning Hub subscription. Without a subscription, you need to purchase and pass the certification exam again each year.
What happens if I miss the Stay Certified deadline?
Your certification expires and you are no longer certified. To regain the credential, you need to pass the exam for the current release of that certification.
Will I lose time if I renew early?
No. Your new expiry date is set 12 months after your original expiry date, regardless of when in the 90-day window you pass.
Is the Stay Certified assessment proctored?
No. SAP describes Stay Certified assessments as short and non-proctored. Depending on the certification, you can choose an AI-roleplay assessment or a multiple-choice assessment.
What happens to my certification if SAP retires it?
If it is valid on the retirement date, it stays valid for 12 more months from that date. After that, it expires, so consider earning any successor certification SAP recommends before then.
Do I lose my SAP certifications if I change employers?
No, as long as they are linked to your SAP Universal ID. Update the email addresses on your Universal ID instead of creating a new one. SAP partner employees may need to request a certification transfer.
