A method and a system for periodic ranging in a sleep mode of a broadband wireless access communication system having an awake mode in which data to be transmitted between a mobile subscriber station (MSS) and a base station (BS) exists and the sleep mode in which data to be transmitted between the MS and the BS does not exist, the sleep mode having a sleep interval and a listening interval, the MSS being capable and incapable of receiving data in the listening interval and in the sleep interval, respectively. The BS reports to the MSS in a listening interval before the sleep interval that the MSS must perform the periodic ranging in the sleep interval when the BS detects that it is necessary for the MSS in the sleep mode to perform the periodic ranging at a particular time point in the sleep interval.