Recertification Policy

Recertification is an important indicator to you and your employer that you have kept up with current technology trends and validated your skills at the rigorous level of the original certification exam.

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Recertification policy update

All certification levels will have a three-year recertification requirement. Certified individuals will be able to recertify by completing continuing education activities, taking exams, or a combination of both.

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Three-year recertification requirement

Certification cycle

All certifications will be active for three years from when you earn your certification. Each time you complete recertification requirements, your certification status will be extended for an additional three years from the date you recertify. For reference, here's an example of how the new recertification cycle will work:

Certified: Feb 1, 2019, expiration: Feb 1, 2022
Recertify: Nov 1, 2019, expiration: Nov 1, 2022
Recertify: Aug 1, 2020, expiration: Aug 1, 2023

This marks significant changes to CCIE certified individuals. Before Feb 24^th 2020, CCIE certifications were active for two years, and each recertification event extended your certification status for an additional two years, starting from the original certification date. As of Feb 24^th 2020 , two important changes were made to the CCIE recertification policy: (1) The one 1 year suspended state was removed (converted to active) to align with the 3 years recertification cycle. (2) The CCIE recertification cycle changed to use the recertification event date and is no longer based upon your original certification date, as shown in the example above. The recertification event date is the date on which you complete your recertification requirements.

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How to track your recertification status

Certification holders are responsible for monitoring their (re)-certification status.

Visit the Cisco Career Certifications Tracking System to check the status of your certification(s).

To check the status of your CCIE/CCDE Certification(s), visit the CCIE Tracker.

Recertification requirements

Certification must be met prior to the certification expiration date. Individuals with expired certification(s) must repeat the entire certification exam process in order to regain their certification(s) status. As always, you can recertify by advancing to the next level of certifications, using continuing education credits or a combination of both.

Certification Level & Duration	Exam Only	Exam and Continuing Education Options
Associate – 3 years	Pass any one associate exam Pass any one professional concentration exam Pass one technology core exam Pass any one expert-level written exam Pass any one expert-level Lab/Practical exam	Earn 30 CE credits
Specialist – 3 years	Pass any one professional concentration exam Pass one technology core exam Pass any one expert-level written exam Pass any one expert-level Lab/Practical exam	Earn 40 CE credits
Professional – 3 years	Pass one technology core exam Pass any two professional concentration exams Pass any one expert-level written exam Pass any one expert-level Lab/Practical exam	Pass any one professional concentration exam and earn 40 CE credits or; Earn 80 CE credits
CCIE – 3 years	Pass any one expert-level written exam Pass any one expert-level Lab/Practical exam Pass any three professional concentration exams Pass one technology core exam and pass any one professional concentration exam. (This is also a CCNP certification if done in the same track.)	Pass one technology core exam and earn 40 CE credits Pass any two professional concentration exams and earn 40 CE credits Pass any one professional concentration exam and earn 80 CE credits Earn 120 CE credits
CCDE – 3 years	Pass any one expert-level written exam Pass any one expert-level Lab/Practical exam Pass the Cisco Certified Architect (CCAr) interview AND the CCAr board review. Pass any three professional concentration exams Pass one technology core exam and pass any one professional concentration exam.	Pass one technology core exam and earn 40 CE credits Pass any two professional concentration exams and earn 40 CE credits Pass any one professional concentration exam and earn 80 CE credits Earn 120 CE credits
Architect – 5 years	Cisco Certified Architect (CCAr) certifications are valid for five years. CCAr will remain certified as long as they continue to contribute to maintaining the Cisco Certified Architect Certification program. Current recertification policies require Cisco Certified Architects to complete qualifying events within the 24 months preceding the expiration deadline. Qualifying events include: Contribution to the development lifecycle Significant participation in the creation of new exam content or Significant review/refinement of existing content or Involvement in future direction of the program Participation as a judge in a candidate evaluation Application review/interview for TWO (2) candidates (in the case where the candidate's application IS NOT approved to progress to the board review) or Application review/interview and in-person board review for ONE (1) candidate (in the case where the candidate's application IS approved to progress to the board review)	N/A

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Important reminders

Cisco does not provide extensions
It is your responsibility to recertify on time
We send renewal email reminders to the email address in your Certification Tracking System profile
It is your resposibility to keep your email address up to date
Always review the 5-day exam retake policy before scheduling any exam