What defines a certificate as "valid"?

A certificate is considered "valid" primarily based on its active status. A valid certificate must not be expired, surrendered, suspended, or revoked. This means that as long as the certificate is current and maintained in good standing, it is recognized as valid for the intended purpose.

The other choices, while related to the status or conditions surrounding a certificate, do not directly define its validity. For example, a certificate being under review for compliance (as mentioned in one option) does not impact its current validity; it may be in a state of reassessment but still could be valid until a determination is made otherwise. Similarly, a recent renewal indicates that the certificate has been maintained but does not in itself testify to its current active status unless it has been processed and activated accordingly. Meeting initial application requirements is a necessary step for obtaining a certificate, but post-issuance, the certificate’s validity hinges on its ongoing active status.