Keep your certification active
Watch how recertification works
Keeping your Cisco certification active is the smart way to hone your technical skills, build networking knowledge, and accelerate your career dreams. And now with more ways than ever to recertify, you can start on your path toward recertification as early as today.
Understand the certification timeline
Most Cisco certifications are active for three years from the date you earn the certification. Your certification becomes active on the day you complete all required Continuing Education. It will be valid for another three years. The Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) entry-level certifications have a 5-year recertification cycle.
Decide how you want to recertify
You can recertify at any time during the active period by re-taking the exam for your existing certification, advancing to the next level of certifications, or earning the required Continuing Education credits.
Meet the recertification requirements
You must meet all recertification requirements by the certification expiration date. If you have an expired certification, you must complete the full exam process again to earn active status.
Track your recertification status
If you have an active certification, you are responsible for monitoring its certification status.
To recertify Practitioner-level certifications:
- Earn 15 Continuing Education (CE) credits
- View eligible options to earn CE credits
To recertify Associate-level certifications:
- Earn 30 Continuing Education (CE) credits
- View eligible options to earn CE credits
To recertify Specialist-level certifications:
- Earn 40 Continuing Education (CE) credits
- View eligible options to earn CE credits
To recertify Professional-level certifications:
- Earn 80 Continuing Education (CE) credits
- View eligible options to earn CE credits
To recertify CCIE certifications:
- Earn 120 Continuing Education (CE) credits
- View eligible options to earn CE credits
To recertify CCDE certification:
- Earn 120 Continuing Education (CE) credits
- View eligible options to earn CE credits
To recertify CCST certifications:
Candidates who have earned the CCST certification prior to July 15, 2025, their certification will remain valid for a lifetime.
Candidates who have earned the certification on July 15, 2025, and beyond will need to recertify using one of the following options:
- Pass the current CCST exam (Cybersecurity, Networking, or IT Support)
- Pass any current Associate-level exam
- Pass any current technology core or concentration exam
- Pass any current CCDE written exam, CCDE practical exam, or CCIE lab exam
CE credits are not applicable towards CCST recertification.
To recertify CCT certification, choose one option below:
- Pass the current CCT exam (FLDTEC)
- Pass any current Associate-level exam
- Pass any current technology core or concentration exam
- Pass any current CCDE written Exam, CCDE practical Exam, or CCIE lab exam
CE credits are not applicable towards CCT recertification.
Cisco Customer Success Manager
Your certification is valid for three years. To recertify, you must retake and pass the Cisco Customer Success Manager (820-605 CSM) exam before your certification expires. Continuing Education credits cannot be used to recertify.
Cisco AI Technical Practitioner
Your certification is valid for three years. To recertify, you must retake and pass the Cisco AI Technical Practitioner (820-605 CSM) exam before your certification expires. Continuing Education credits cannot be used to recertify.
Recertification FAQs
Visit Cisco Continuing Education (CE) to learn about various options to earn CE credits towards recertification.
No, Cisco does not provide extensions. If you have an active certification, it’s your responsibility to recertify on time.
You can retake the exam for the same cost, unless you purchased CCNA Exam Safeguard. However, there is a wait period between the original attempt and a retest:
- If you fail an Entry, Associate, Professional, Specialist or CCDE Written exam, you must wait five calendar days, beginning the day after the failed attempt, before you can retest for the same exam.
- If you fail an expert-level lab or practical exam, you must wait 30 calendar days, beginning the day after the failed attempt, before you can schedule for the same exam.
- If you fail an online, unproctored Cisco (700-xxx series) exam, you must wait 48 hours after the failed attempt before you can retest for the same exam.
- You must wait a minimum of 180 days before taking the same passed Associate, Professional, Specialist, CCDE Written, or online, unproctored Cisco (700-xxx series) exam with an identical exam number.
- Once you pass any expert-level lab or practical exam, you cannot retake it unless your status becomes “inactive.”
Cisco sends recertification email reminders to the address in your certification profile at 2 years, 1 year, 90, 60, and 30 days before your certification expires.
- Step 1: Create a new account at Cisco.com using your new email address, and ensure that you activate your new account by clicking the link in the activation email that will be sent to you.
- Step 2: After your new Cisco.com account has been activated, then create a new case with Cisco Support and request that your new Cisco.com ID for your new email be added to your CSCO account in Certification Tracking System (CTS / CertMetrics). Also inform our Support team whether you'd like your new Cisco.com ID to be made the default ID for your CSCO account.
