Borderless Networks Architecture

Express Foundation Specialization

Become a Express Foundation Specialized Partner

Prove your expertise in Cisco solutions for commercial customers with 100 to 1500 employees

Express Foundation Specializations

Entry Express Advanced Master
     
Related certifications: Express Foundation is required for Cisco Premier Certification.

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The Cisco Express Foundation Specialization helps your company to:

  • Develop sales, technical, and service capabilities for integrated, highly secure networking solutions
  • Increase technical competency within the company
  • Be recognized as a Cisco Specialized Partner in the Cisco Partner Locator

The specialization also entitles you to a range of additional benefits. You can:

Account Manager | Systems Engineer | Field Engineer

Specialization Requirements

Three roles are required for the Express Foundation Specialization:

  • Account Manager (AM)
  • Systems Engineer (SE)
  • Field Engineer (FE)

These roles provide a roadmap with training content and exams that are tailored to pertinent jobs within a company. Following is a summary of training format, cost, and duration specifically for each role, as well as additional general training requirements. All costs and duration are approximate and may vary by region.

Account Manager

Responsible for sales methodology and customer engagement.

Prerequisite: Format Cost (USD) Duration
Cisco Sales Expert (#646-206 CSE) Exam $80 60 min
Requirement(s): Format Cost (USD) Duration
Cisco Express Foundation Sales Specialist      
#646-365 CXFA Exam Details Exam $80 60 min
Recommended Training: Format Cost (USD) Duration
Cisco Sales Essentials (CSE) v6.0 E-learning $0 5 hrs
Express Foundation Sales v1.0 E-learning $0 4 hrs
Total:   $160 11 hrs

Role Sharing Guidelines:

Role sharing is not allowed within the Express Foundation Specialization. However, Express Foundation roles to not count towards the maximum role designations across other Cisco Specializations.

Systems Engineer

Presales engineer responsible for Express Foundation solution planning and design.

Prerequisite: Format Cost (USD) Duration
CCDA associate-level certification
or
CCDP or CCIE
Exam $150 75 min
Requirements:      
Cisco Express Foundation Design Specialist
#648-375 CXFS Exam Details Exam $200 75 min
Recommended Training: Format Cost (USD) Duration
Express Foundation Sales v1.0 E-learning $0 4 hrs
Express Foundation Technology v1.0 E-learning $0 7 hrs
Total:   $350 14 hrs

Role Sharing Guidelines:

Role sharing is not allowed within the Express Foundation Specialization. However, Express Foundation roles to not count towards the maximum role designations across other Cisco Specializations.

Field Engineer

Post-sales engineer responsible for Express Foundation solution implementation and operation.

Prerequisite: Format Cost (USD) Duration
CCNA associate-level certification
or
CCNP or CCIE
Exam $250 110 min
Requirement(s): Format Cost (USD) Duration
#648-385 CXFF Exam Details Exam
$200 75 min
Recommended Training: Format Cost (USD) Duration
Express Foundation Technology v1.0 E-learning $0 7 hrs
Total:   $450 10 hrs

Country Requirements:

Learn more about Country Groupings

Role Sharing Guidelines:

Role sharing is not allowed within the Express Foundation Specialization. However, Express Foundation roles to not count towards the maximum role designations across other Cisco Specializations.

Your company must be a Cisco Registered Partner before you apply for specialization or certification. Follow these steps to apply:

  1. Visit the "Become a Registered Partner" page if you are new to the Cisco Channel Partner Program and have not registered.
  2. Verify that the certified individuals fulfilling job roles are allocated to your company with their CSCO testing number. Partner Administrators and internal Cisco employees (associated through the CAM Assignment tool) are able to verify this information using the Partner Self Service tool . (It takes five to ten business days on average for Cisco to receive the exam results data from its respective testing agencies.)
  3. Complete and submit the Specialization application.
    If you encounter any issues in the application or renewal process, please open a case with the Partner Relationship Team.

To renew a specialization:

  1. Begin the recertification process 90 days before your anniversary date.
  2. Verify that you are in compliance with the current specialization requirements.
  3. Submit your application using the Certification and Specialization Application online web tool.

You must meet all requirements to submit your application. If you encounter any issues in the application or renewal process, open a case with the Cisco Partner Relationship Team.

If you fail to submit a recertification application within 10 days after your anniversary date, you will lose your specialization.

Note: If a partner does not remain in compliance with the applicable specialization or certification requirements, Cisco reserves the right to revoke the specialization or certification at any time. Partners must notify Cisco of its non-compliance promptly, but in no event more than thirty (30) days after partner fi rst becomes aware of its non-compliance. Upon receipt of such notice, partner may qualify for an extension of time in which to renew its compliance with the applicable specialization or certification requirements. Partner's failure to provide such notice may disqualify partner from receiving such an extension. If no extension is granted or if partner fails to comply with the certification or specialization requirements by the end of the extension period, Cisco reserves the right to revoke the applicable specialization or certification immediately. Additional information regarding non-compliance may be found in the Audit and Policies Document.