Cisco Certification FAQ

How do I schedule my certification exam?

You can usually schedule an exam up to six weeks in advance and as late as the same day.

  • For Associate, Professional, and written CCIE certifications exams: schedule through the Certifications Tracking System. To register for an exam you’ll need to complete the following steps first:
  • For CCIE Lab Exams, visit the CCIE website.

Schedule an exam

Learn about online exam testing

How much do certifications exams cost?

Level Exam Price in $USD, plus tax
Entry level exams

Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST Cybersecurity)

 

Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST Networking)

$125
Associate level exams

Cisco Certified Network Associate (200-301)


CyberOps Associate (200-201)


DevNet Associate (200-901)

$300
Professional level exams CCNP Core exams (350-xxx) $400
CCNP Concentration exams (300-xxx) $300
Expert level exams CCDE Written exam (400-007) $450
CCIE Lab and CCDE Practical exams at testing facilities $1,600
CCIE Cisco Kit Mobile Lab exams $1,900
CCIE BYOD Mobile Lab exams $1,600
Specialist level exams Specialist Certification exams (500-xxx) $300
Business Specialist Written Level 2 exams (820-xxx) $250
Channel/Partner exams Sales Readiness exams (700-xxx) $80

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Visit Pearson VUE for an expanded list of countries, currency, and exams.

How can I get my certification training for free?

You can access free introductory IT courses through Cisco Networking Academy, at Skillsforall.com. These courses will prepare you for entry level networking certifications, and it’s a great way to determine whether a CCNA certification is right for you. You can also access free webinars, tutorials and more with Cisco U., our new learning platform.

How do I pay for an exam?

Cisco written exams

Pearson VUE administers all Cisco exams except CCIE lab exams. Pearson VUE offers two ways to pay for an exam:

CCIE lab exams

CCIE Lab exam payment, cost and registration information is found on our CCIE Book Your Exam resource page.

Exam vouchers - Learning Credits

Cisco customers and learning partners can redeem their Cisco Learning Credits for certification exam vouchers.

Is there a learning community I can join to prepare for my certification exam?

Join over 1.2 million learners at the Cisco Learning Network Community. Get advice from alumni, connect with your peers, and access IT training resources for all Cisco certifications: practice tests, webinars and training videos, just to name a few.

What happens after I pass the exam?

Within 24 hours of passing your certification exam, you’ll receive an email with details on next steps. You must complete the steps in the email to trigger the fulfillment process.

What do I get once I’m certified?

Once you are certified and you have completed the fulfillment process, you’ll receive a certification kit, including:

  • A PDF version of your certificate
  • A Certification logo available for download through your profile
  • The option for a printed certificate to be shipped to you (6-8 weeks for shipping)
  • A digital badge of the Certification logo (through Acclaim)

For information about the CCIE/CCDE certification kit, please visit the Cisco Expert Level Benefits page.

What happens if I don’t pass my certification exam?


For most exams, you’ll need to wait a period of 5 calendar days, beginning the day after you’ve taken the exam before retaking the same exam.

For CCIE or CCDE written exams, specifically, you’ll need to wait for a period of 15 calendar days, beginning the day after you’ve taken the exam before retaking the same exam.

How do I check my certification status?

The Cisco Certification Tracking System records your exam and certification status. Keep your contact information up to date to receive notifications about your certification.

How do I recertify to keep my certification current?

There are two pathways you can take to keep your certification active. You can:


  1. Take another certification exam to recertify
  2. Earn Continuing Education Credits to help you work toward recertification. Explore eligible training items through the Cisco Continuing Education Program.

How do I view retired certification exams?


You can view retired certifications here.