Continue validating your knowledge and maintain a competitive edge in your IT career by keeping your certification active.

Recertifying your Cisco certification

Continue validating your knowledge and maintain a competitive edge in your IT career by keeping your certification active.

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.


How it works

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 or other recertification activities. It will be valid for another three years. The Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) entry-level certifications never expire.

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, earning Continuing Education credits, or a combination of both.

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.

Associate certification exams

Exam only (Choose one option):

  • Pass any one associate-level exam
  • Pass any one professional-level concentration exam
  • Pass one technology core exam
  • Pass any one expert-level written exam
  • Pass any one expert-level lab or practical exam

Combining exams with Continuing Education (CE) credits:

  • Earn 30 CE credits

Specialist recertification

Exam only (Choose one option):

  • Pass any one professional-level concentration exam
  • Pass one technology core exam
  • Pass any one expert-level written exam
  • Pass any one expert-level lab or practical exam

Combining exams with Continuing Education (CE) credits:

  • Earn 40 CE credits

Professional recertification

Exam only (Choose one option):

  • 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 or practical exam

Combining exams with Continuing Education (CE) credits (Choose one option):

  • Earn 80 CE credits
  • Earn 40 CE credits AND pass any one professional-level concentration exam

Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) recertification

Exam only (Choose one option):

  • Pass the current CCDE written exam
  • Pass any one expert-level lab or practical exam
  • Pass any three separate professional-level concentration exams
  • Pass one technology core exam and pass any one professional-level concentration exam
(This is also a CCNP certification if done in the same track.)
  • Pass any two technology core exams

Combining exams with Continuing Education (CE) credits (Choose one option):

  • Earn 120 CE credits
  • Earn 40 CE credits AND pass one technology core exam
  • Earn 40 CE credits AND pass any two separate professional-level concentration exams
  • Earn 80 CE credits AND pass any one professional-level concentration exam

Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE) recertification

Exam only (Choose one option):

  • Pass the current CCDE written exam
  • Pass any one expert-level lab or practical exam
  • Pass any three separate professional-level concentration exams
  • Pass one technology core exam and pass any one professional-level concentration exam
  • Pass any two technology core exams

Combining exams with Continuing Education (CE) credits (Choose one option):

  • Earn 120 CE credits
  • Earn 40 CE credits AND pass one technology core exam
  • Earn 40 CE credits AND pass any two separate professional-level concentration exams
  • Earn 80 CE credits AND pass any one professional-level concentration exam

CCST recertification does not apply

Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) certifications are valid for a lifetime and will not have an expiration date. They do not require and cannot be used towards recertification.

Cisco Certified Technician (CCT) recertification

Exam only (Choose one option):

  • Pass the exam that corresponds to your current certification (CLTECH, DCTECH, or RSTECH)
  • Pass the current CCNA Composite exam
  • Pass any current Cisco Specialist exam
  • Pass any current technology core or CCNP concentration exam
  • Pass the current CCDE Written Exam, CCDE Practical Exam, or CCIE Lab exam
  • Pass the Cisco Certified Architect (CCAr) interview AND the CCAr board review to extend lower certifications

Combining exams with Continuing Education (CE) credits:

  • CE credits are not applicable towards CCT recertification

Recertification FAQs

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 90, 60, and 30 days before your certification expires.

Work toward recertification with Cisco U.

When you complete certification paths on Cisco U., you’ll be awarderd CE credits, which you can apply toward recertification.


More recertification resources

Stay informed

Start your certification journey by signing up for our newsletter. We'll connect you to tools and insights to meet your learning goals.

Get answers to your questions about recertification

Ask your recertification questions in the CLN community and receive expert advice about Continuing Education.