Do you have a Cisco certification that’s about to expire?
Don’t risk losing your active certification status! In this session, we discuss your different options for renewing your Cisco certification. We will cover the requirements (exam vs. continuing education) and the recertification cycle for the different levels. After attending this session, you will understand your different options for renewing.
ReCertification Requirements
To recertify certification holders have the following options:
- Pass the appropriate Cisco recertification exam(s)
- Obtain the required number of Continuing Education Credits within the three year period.
Continuing education credits can be gained by:
- Completing an ILT Training Course
- Completing an online Training Course
- Attending Cisco Live Training Sessions
- Authoring Exam Items
Log in here to find out more continuing education credits.
| 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 separate professional concentration exams Pass any one expert-level written exam Pass any one expert-level Lab/Practical exam | Earn 80 CE credits OR Pass any one professional concentration exam and earn 40 CE credits |
| CCIE - 3 Years | Pass the CCDE written exam Pass any one expert-level Lab/Practical exam Pass any three separate 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.) | Earn 120 EC credits OR Pass one technology core exam and earn 40 CE credits Pass any two separate professional concentration exams and earn 40 CE credits Pass any one professional concentration exam and earn 80 CE credits |
| CCDE - 3 Years | Pass the CCDE written exam Pass any one expert-level Lab/Pratical exam Pass any three separate professional concentration exams Pass one technology core exam and pass any one professional concentration exam. | Earn 120 CE credits OR Pass one technology core exam and earn 40 CE credits Pass any two separate professional concentration exams and earn 40 CE credits Pass any one professional concentration exam and earn 80 CE credits |
ReCertification Cycle
Associate, Professional and Expert-level certifications will be active for three years from the date certification is achieved. Each time recertification requirements are met the certification active status will be extended for an additional three years.
For reference, here’s an example of how the recertification cycle works:
- Certified: Feb 1, 2019, expiration: Feb 1, 2022
- Recertify: Nov 1, 2019, expiration: Nov 1, 2022
- Recertify: Aug 1, 2020, expiration: Aug 1, 2023
Expert level certifications are now valid for three years. The suspend status no longer exists. All other recertifications requirements apply.
The Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) entry-level certifications are valid for a lifetime and does not have an expiration date, therefore will not require recertification.