Welcome to the confusion, and contradiction that is the Electrician Certification program.
Start by going through all three pages of
this thread. Remembering that the DAS is in their own little world that they get to dream up wacky rules at will, and even in those - they get to change their mind about both the interpetation of them, and how to enforce them. The stupid part is they don't have to tell you - ANYTHING. No warnings - just 'Sorry you have no right to work for a living because we say so...' And - they are all known LIARS.... Or they really do have NO CLUE as to what they are doing.
So in your reading of that thread - you will note that Dan and myself go back and forth about a few things.... Eventually, coming to the conclusion that 'you could let it expire and re-take the test'.... However - I will remind you that NO ONE can be trusted in the DAS! If you choose to do that - get it in writing to you from that - Luisa Martinez... If she is not responsive - E-mail ALL of her superiors.... If they decide to change their minds
again about this - you want to have re-course, and substantiation IMO.
That said I feel there is risk involved by not doing the continuing education. And there is even risk of taking the WRONG continuing education, as there are many products on the market. Many of the cheaper things out there are not accepted, most of the class-room "classes" are full, hard to schedule, and often many miles away.... Much of the online stuff can be piece-meal.... There is however a good Mike Holt course - but you can NOT BUY it from him!!!!
You have to buy the course from an approved school! Anyway, although I have not done it myself - I think it is one of the bigger bang for buck things out there at the moment.
Here: And do shop around - but make sure what you do will be accepted.