Use the issuing regulator or certification body first, then official handbooks/standards. Third-party summaries should help you navigate, not replace the authoritative source.
Start with the credential record
Check the exact status and dates shown in the issuer portal before making a recovery or renewal plan. Terms such as “expired,” “inactive,” “suspended,” and “grace period” can have different consequences.
Use the current issuer rule
Certification programs change maintenance pathways, fees, assessments, and reinstatement rules. Use a current issuer page or handbook rather than a search snippet or an older colleague’s cycle.
Document the decision
Save the page or policy you relied on and the date you checked it. If the requirement changes later, you can see which cycle the old rule belonged to.