diff --git a/.github/workflows/main.yml b/.github/workflows/main.yml
index 936d29e..10f911a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/main.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/main.yml
@@ -26,8 +26,8 @@ jobs:
             os: ubuntu-latest
             test_config: "SPEC0"
           # Operational compliance settings
-          - python-version: "3.6.8"
-            numpy_ver: "1.19.5"
+          - python-version: "3.9"
+            numpy_ver: "1.23.5"
             os: "ubuntu-20.04"
             test_config: "Ops"
 
@@ -44,9 +44,7 @@ jobs:
       if: ${{ matrix.test_config == 'Ops'}}
       run: |
         pip install numpy==${{ matrix.numpy_ver }}
-        pip install -r requirements.txt
-        pip install -r test_requirements.txt
-        pip install .
+        pip install --upgrade-strategy only-if-needed .[test]
 
     - name: Install NEP29 dependencies
       if: ${{ matrix.test_config == 'SPEC0'}}
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index c1e0c22..d69a27c 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ This project adheres to Semantic Versioning.
 * Updated coveralls integration
 * Cycled supported Python versions in workflows
 * Adopted SPEC0 testing (replaces NEP29)
+* Cycled Operational testing requirements
 * Update GitHub Actions versions
 
 [0.1.1] - 2024-02-29
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 3ecc106..bff436b 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ name = "PACKAGENAME"
 version = "0.0.1"
 description = 'pysat support for DATA OR ANALYSIS'
 readme = "README.md"
-requires-python = ">=3.6"
+requires-python = ">=3.9"
 license = {file = "LICENSE"}
 authors = [
     {name = "AUTHOR", email = "pysat.developers@gmail.com"}
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ classifiers = [
   "License :: OSI Approved :: BSD License",
   "Natural Language :: English",
   "Programming Language :: Python :: 3",
-  "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.6",
+  "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9",
   "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10",
   "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11",
   "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12",