Why get Cisco certified?
12 reasons for seeking training and certification.
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Certification paths
Our updated training and certification program offers a direct route to your technology career aspirations. Explore our new catalog to learn about associate, professional, expert, and supplemental exams that earn you specialist certifications — plus credit toward recertification on all paths.
New and popular certifications
You asked for them, we listened: DevNet certifications arriving February 24, 2020
Career Certifications
Training and certification program updates
On February 24, 2020, Cisco will release a new certification and training program. The last day to test under the current certification program is February 23, 2020.
If you have started working toward an additional certification — keep going! If you earn the certification before February 24, you’ll receive the new certification and associated training badges.
Associate
The Associate level of Cisco Certifications can begin directly with CCNA for network installation, operations and troubleshooting or CCDA for network design. Think of the Associate Level as the foundation level of networking certification.
Professional
The Professional level is an advanced level of certification that shows more expertise with networking skills. Each certification covers a different technology to meet the needs of varying job roles.
Expert
The Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) certification is accepted worldwide as the most prestigious networking certification in the industry.
Architect Certification
Cisco Certified Architect is the highest level of accreditation achievable and recognizes the architectural expertise of network designers who can support the increasingly complex networks of global organizations and effectively translate business strategies into evolutionary technical strategies.
How to certify
Start your journey
Take and pass exam
Have questions? Our certification community has answers!
Explore the power of the Cisco Learning Network's vibrant community to jump-start your certifications and lifelong learning goals.
Technical specialist certifications
The Specialist designation certifies the specific expertise of technical professionals, including those with Cisco Career Certifications at the associate, professional or expert levels. By earning specialist certifications, network professionals can enhance their core networking knowledge in technologies such as security, data center or video.
Many Specialist certifications align with the requirements of the Cisco Partner Specialization program.
Collaboration
The Collaboration Specialist certifications focus on Cisco Collaboration technology skills building and validation. These certifications and related training align closely with the on-the-job performance needs of Collaboration engineers, Unified Contact Center Enterprise engineers and networking professionals seeking to specialize in the planning, designing, implementation, and management of deployments.
Data Center
The Cisco Certified Data Center Specialist certification programs are practical, relevant, job-ready certifications aligned closely with the specific tasks expected of Data Center network professionals.
Internet of Things
The Cisco Internet of Things (IoT) certifications and training are job role based programs designed to help meet the growing need for specialized talent. This education portfolio provides Internet Protocol (IP) networking expertise, with a focus in automation, manufacturing and energy and future expansion to include equally transformative industries.
Network Programmability
The Cisco Network Programmability Specialist certifications enhance your networking skills through foundational networking knowledge and allow you to use your software skills to develop network applications in programmable environments.
Operating System Software
The Cisco Operating System Software Specialist certifications validate proficiency in Cisco internetwork operating systems.
Digital transformation specialists
Business Architecture Specialists
The Cisco Business Architect Specialist certifications help prepare individuals for the journey to building strong business skills, acumen, and providing enabling tools.
- Cisco Business Architecture Analyst
- Cisco Business Architecture Specialist
- Cisco Business Architecture Practitioner
Customer Experience training and examinations
Cisco Customer Experience training and examinations validate the skills and knowledge of key customer experience roles that ensure customers achieve their goals and realize the value of their investment.
- Cisco Customer Success Manager
- Cisco Renewals Manager
- Cisco Customer Success Specialist - coming soon
I need to recertify
On February 24, 2020, the recertification policy will be changing.
For specific details about your recertification requirements, visit the Recertification policy page.
To keep certifications current, you can recertify by advancing to the next level of certification or by completing the recertification requirements.
For details about your recertification requirements, visit your certification page in the Career Certifications section above.
And remember:
- Cisco does not provide extensions. It is your responsibility to recertify on time.
- We do send renewal email reminders to the email address in your Certification Tracking System profile, so make sure to keep your email address up to date.
- Always review the 5-day Exam Retake Policy before scheduling any exam.
Renewal requires certification holders to register for and pass the appropriate Cisco recertification exam(s). In addition to passing the designated recertification exam(s), Cisco Continuing Education Program offers expert-level certification holders an alternative option to recertify by earning credits.
In order to recertify, certification holders must complete the recertification requirements prior to the certification expiration date. If an individual allows their certification(s) to expire, then the individual must repeat the entire certification process to regain their certification(s).
Visit the Cisco Career Certifications Tracking System to check the status of your certification(s).
Featured content
Evolving Technologies Domain Updates
Senior-level IT professionals need to keep pace with the rapidly changing technology landscape that help drive business outcomes.
Continuing Education Program
Expert-level certification holders can choose an alternative way to recertify by earning credits.
Get Cisco UCCE Training
Bring cloud and mobility features and APIs to your contact center.
Certification agreements
Candidates are required to acknowledge several agreements as part of their participation in the Cisco Certifications program, and to obtain and use marks and logos associated with the program.
Agreements
- Cisco Certification and Confidentiality Agreement (NDA) (PDF - 749 KB)
- Cisco Certifications Trademark/Logo Agreement (PDF - 449 KB)
- Pearson VUE Candidate Rules Agreement (PDF - 33 KB)
Policies
Retired certifications
Upon the retirement of any certification, no new certifications will be issued nor will it be available for recertification. The certification will remain active until its unique expiration date held by the candidate.
Questions?
Visit the Learning@Cisco Centralized Support tool to search FAQs or open a case about your certifications.
Search FAQs
At the Learning@Cisco Centralized Support tool, search for FAQs by keyword, or browse popular questions and answers.
Open a case
Go to the Learning@Cisco Centralized Support tool, login with your username and password, then click Open Case.
Your Learning support account is separate from your cisco.com account. If you don’t have a Learning support account yet, register here.
Update a case
Login to the Learning@Cisco Centralized Support tool, then click Update Case.
You can also open or update a case by calling us at (US) 1-800-553-6387 Option 4, Option 1.