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The CAPS credential is structured as three required courses (CAPS I, II, III) for initial certification, then continuing-education credits over a three-year renewal cycle to maintain. NAHB tracks renewal status; the credential is officially expired if renewal is not completed.
Why annual re-verification matters: it is easy for a contractor to advertise CAPS certification using a credential that lapsed two years ago. NAHB does not publicly police this. We require every network contractor to furnish current credential status annually, and we verify directly with NAHB rather than accepting a contractor's self-report.
The continuing-education requirement keeps the curriculum updated — building codes evolve, ADA interpretations refine, manufacturer products change. A contractor with current CAPS status has demonstrably engaged with that ongoing learning, where one with expired status has not.