What defines a valid certificate?

A valid certificate is defined as one that is not expired or revoked. This means that for a certification to be considered legitimate and active, it must be in good standing, indicating that the holder of the certificate meets the necessary requirements and has not violated any rules that would lead to its revocation.

Certificates often have a lifespan and can become invalid once they expire. When a certificate is revoked, it is permanently taken away due to misconduct or failure to meet the standards required for maintenance. Therefore, the status of a certificate directly affects its validity, making it essential for practitioners to ensure their certification remains current and compliant with the applicable regulations.

While newly issued and provisional status certificates can indicate a person's connection to the certification process, they do not necessarily guarantee that the certificate is valid in terms of compliance and current standing. A modified certificate may indicate alterations that could affect its validity, depending on the context of those modifications. Thus, only a certificate that is not expired or revoked can truly be recognized as valid in the professional realm.