Certification period
A certification period is the span for which a benefits agency has confirmed eligibility before requiring renewal — commonly 6 or 12 months in SNAP and WIC. A WIC certification survives an interstate move via the VOC card; SNAP and Medicaid certifications end with the old state's case.
Knowing your certification end date matters when moving with WIC: the VOC carries you only to that date, after which the new state re-certifies you under the same federal income rules.
Federal source: 7 CFR 246.7 — WIC certification ↗
Related terms: Verification of Certification (VOC)