CGAP Recertification 2026: Closed to New Candidates
The IIA no longer offers the CGAP, but existing holders keep it by earning 20 CPE hours a year (10 if non-practising), including 2 in ethics, and reporting by 31 December.
The Certified Government Auditing Professional, known as CGAP, is run by The Institute of Internal Auditors, or IIA. The IIA no longer accepts new CGAP candidates, but the designation remains valid for existing holders who keep up their continuing professional education. Under the IIA's annual renewal policy, a practising CGAP holder needs 20 CPE hours a year, a non-practising holder needs 10, and a retired holder needs none. Two of the hours must cover ethics. This guide sets out what the IIA says, where its pages differ and what we could not confirm. See also our internal audit CPD guide and our CPD for accountants guide.
At a glance
| Requirement | What the rules say |
|---|---|
| Status of the credential | Closed to new candidates; the IIA's policy says there is no provision to recertify for discontinued programmes, including CGAP |
| Hours: CGAP only | 20 a year if practising, 10 if non-practising, none if retired |
| Hours: CGAP and CIA | Follow the CIA figures: 40 practising, 20 non-practising |
| Ethics | Two CPE hours on ethics each year, counting toward the total |
| Renewal deadline | Renew through the IIA's system by 31 December each year |
| Records | Keep supporting documentation for at least three years |
| Grace period | Missing 31 December moves the status to Grace Period (Inactive); more than 24 months there leads to revocation |
| Audit | Failing to provide CPE audit documentation by the deadline results in revocation |
Is the CGAP still offered?
No. The IIA's annual certification renewal policy says there is no provision to recertify for discontinued certification programmes, and it lists the CCSA, CFSA, CGAP and QIAL. The IIA's transition notice from 2021, as we read it, says the programmes were not extended past 30 June 2021 and that existing holders keep a valid designation while they meet the CPE requirement. The current certifications page lists other IIA credentials and not the CGAP.
How many hours a holder needs
A CGAP holder who does not also hold the Certified Internal Auditor credential needs 20 CPE hours a year if practising and 10 if non-practising. Retired holders are exempt from the renewal requirement. A holder who also holds the CIA follows the CIA figures of 40 hours if practising and 20 if non-practising, and CGAP hours can count toward the CIA requirement.
The two ethics hours
The policy requires two CPE hours on the subject of ethics each year. They count toward the annual total rather than adding to it. The IIA's current CPE requirements page does not quantify the ethics hours, so the policy document is the only official source we found for the figure.
Reporting and the 31 December deadline
The policy runs the annual period from 1 January to 31 December and requires renewal through the IIA's online system by 31 December. A separate IIA page describes the renewal window as opening on 1 October, so the two pages differ on when you can start, though they agree on the deadline. File early in December rather than on the last day.
The grace period and revocation
If you miss 31 December, your status moves from Active to Grace Period (Inactive), and you may no longer claim the certification. The policy says a holder who stays in that status for more than 24 months is revoked. The IIA's CPE requirements page describes revocation after a three-year period without reported CPE. The two can be reconciled as roughly three years from the last reported year, but neither page says so.
Audits and records
Keep supporting documentation for at least three years. If the IIA audits your CPE and you do not provide documentation by the deadline, the policy says your certification is revoked. Keep certificates, attendance records and course details in one folder per year.
Exemptions
The policy allows a partial or full exemption for good cause, such as military service or hardship, requested through the IIA's support system before the renewal deadline. Do not assume an exemption applies; ask first.
Related government audit credentials
If you work in public-sector audit, the CIA is the IIA credential that new candidates now pursue, and our internal audit CPD guide explains the training that counts. Other bodies publish their own rules, and our CPA CPE requirements guide covers the licensed CPA route.
What we could not confirm
The renewal policy document carries no date or version, so we cannot confirm it is the latest edition. We found no verifiable or structured split. We did not confirm the carry-forward rule from the policy text, so do not rely on carrying surplus hours. Confirm the current rules with the IIA before you renew.
Planning your year
Log hours as you earn them and aim to finish the two ethics hours in the first half of the year. If you also hold the CIA, plan for the 40 hours that credential requires, since they cover both.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still earn the CGAP?
No. The IIA no longer accepts new CGAP candidates.
How many CPE hours does a CGAP holder need?
20 a year if practising and 10 if non-practising; holders who also have the CIA follow the CIA figures.
How many ethics hours are required?
Two hours a year, counting toward the total.
When is the renewal deadline?
31 December each year.
What happens if I miss the deadline?
Your status becomes Grace Period (Inactive), and more than 24 months there leads to revocation, according to the policy.
Finding courses that count
Learnsignal publishes accounting, tax, audit, ethics and finance courses in its CPD and CPE library. Before you pay for any course, check the awarding body's own rules on what it accepts, and keep the certificate and the course details. Confirm the current rules with the IIA before you renew.
Source: The IIA annual certification renewal policy (theiia.org), undated, and the IIA CGAP transition FAQ (2021), checked October 2026.
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