Once a course or certificate program is completed, they remain valid as a record of your achievement. However, some certificates might have an expiration date, especially if they are related to fields that require up-to-date knowledge or skills, such as healthcare or technology. For example, certain professional certifications might need to be renewed every few years through continuing education or re-examination.
As per UCLA Extension Policy AA150 a certificate will expire if a student does not complete all required courses within five years from the date they first enrolled in a course for that program. This means that if you start taking courses for a certificate but don’t finish all requirements within that five-year timeframe, the certificate will no longer be valid and you will need to re-apply.