Recertifying your Cisco Certification
Recertifying your Cisco certification 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.
Recertifying your Cisco Certification
Recertifying your Cisco certification 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.
Recertifying your Cisco Certification
Recertifying your Cisco certification 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.
Ways to recertify
Take and pass Certification Exam
Use Continuing Education Credits
Combine Exam and Continuing Education
Continuing Education activities are a great way to earn credits toward recertification.
Cisco Certifications are valid for three years*
Cisco Associate, Professional, and Expert-level certifications are active beginning three years from the date certification is achieved. Each time recertification requirements are met, your “active” status will be extended for an additional three years. For example, here’s how it works:
Your Cisco certification and recertification is valid and active, three years from the date of issue.
You achieve and receive acknowledgement for recertification from the last date you complete all required Continuing Education and recertification activities.
CE credits are recognized from the date you complete a specific activity, or course. This means once you complete all required Continuing Education or recertification activities, your recertification will become active on that day.
* The Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) entry-level certifications are valid for a lifetime and do not have an expiration date. They do not require and cannot be used towards recertification.
Recertification requirements
All requirements for recertification must be met by the certification expiration date. Individuals with expired certification(s) must complete the full examination process again to earn active status.
Recertification can occur at any time during the active period by advancing to the next level of certifications, earning continuing education credits, or a combination of both.
Certification Level & Duration |
Exam only |
Combine Exam & Continuing Education |
| Entry-level Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) certifications are valid for lifetime and will not have an expiration date. Therefore these certifications will not require recertification.
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| Cisco Certified Technician (CCT) Collaboration, Data Center, and Routing and Switching – 3 years |
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Associate |
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| Specialist |
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| Professional |
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Or
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| CCIE |
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Or
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| CCDE |
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Or
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Questions about recertification?
Ask your recertification questions in the CLN community and receive expert advice regarding Continuing Education.
How to track your recertification status
Certification holders are responsible for monitoring their certification status.
Visit the Certification Tracking System to check the status of your Entry, Associate, Specialist, and Professional certifications.
To check the status of your Expert certifications, visit the CCIE/CCDE Tracker.
Recertification FAQs
Does Cisco give extensions for recertification?
No, Cisco does not provide extensions. It is the individual’s responsibility to recertify on time.
Can I retake the exam if I don’t pass?
Yes, 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:
- Candidates who fail an Entry, Associate, Professional, Specialist or CCDE Written exam must wait a period of five (5) calendar days, beginning the day after the failed attempt, before they may retest for the same exam.
- Candidates who fail an Expert-level lab or practical exam must wait a period of thirty (30) calendar days, beginning the day after the failed attempt, before they may schedule for the same exam.
- Candidates who fail an Online/Un-proctored Cisco (700-xxx series) exam must wait a period of forty-eight hours (48 hours) after the failed attempt before they may retest for the same exam.
- A candidate must wait a minimum of 180 days before taking the same passed Associate, Professional, Specialist, CCDE Written, or Online/Un-proctored Cisco (700-xxx series) exam with an identical exam number.
- Once passed, candidates cannot retake any Expert-level lab or practical exam unless their status becomes Inactive.
How will I be notified about my certification expiration?
Recertification email reminders are sent at 90, 60 and 30 days. Emails are sent to the address on record in the individual’s profile.
How do I change the email associated with tracking my certifications?
- For Associate, Professional and Specialist certifications: Update your profile on Cisco Certification Tracking System.
- For Expert certifications: Update your profile on CCIE Tracker.