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Cisco certification levels progress through Entry, Associate, Professional, and Expert categories; Architect has also existed as an advanced level.
Cisco certification levels are organized into a progression from Entry and Associate to Professional and Expert, with Architect historically representing the highest level. The current structure described in the content, effective October 1, 2023, includes the entry-level CCST, associate-level certifications such as CCNA, Cisco Certified DevNet Associate, and Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate, professional-level certifications such as CCNP Enterprise and DevNet Professional, and expert-level certifications including CCIE, CCDE, and DevNet Expert. Cisco also offers certifications across technical paths such as enterprise infrastructure, wireless, collaboration, data center, security, service provider, design, DevNet, and cybersecurity operations. Cisco has revised its certification framework several times. Many specialized certifications, including CCNA Security, CCNA Wireless, CCNP Routing and Switching, and CCIE Routing and Switching, were retired or consolidated during the 2020 restructuring. The current pathways generally require one or more theoretical exams, while CCIE certifications additionally require a practical, hands-on laboratory examination. Specialist certifications and instructor credentials complement the primary certification levels.
Cisco certification levels progress through Entry, Associate, Professional, and Expert categories; Architect has also existed as an advanced level.
The October 2023 structure lists CCST as an entry-level certification, CCNA and related credentials at the associate level, CCNP and comparable credentials at the professional level, and CCIE, CCDE, and DevNet Expert at the expert level.
Cisco certifications cover multiple technology paths, including enterprise, wireless, collaboration, data center, security, service provider, design, DevNet, and cybersecurity operations.
Most certifications require written or theoretical exams, while CCIE certifications also require a specialized hands-on laboratory exam.
Cisco consolidated or retired many older specialized certifications, especially during the certification restructuring introduced in February 2020.
Cisco Certified Support Technician is an entry-level certification focused on foundational technical and networking support skills.
Cisco Certified Network Associate is an associate-level certification covering core networking knowledge and skills.
Cisco Certified Network Professional is a professional-level certification for implementing, managing, and troubleshooting advanced network technologies.
Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert is an expert-level certification that validates advanced theoretical knowledge and practical networking ability through written and laboratory exams.
Cisco Certified Design Expert is an expert-level credential focused on designing and architecting complex network infrastructures.
Cisco Certified Architect is an advanced Cisco credential associated with leading the creation and evolution of enterprise network architectures.
A certification path is a technology-focused progression through Cisco credentials for areas such as enterprise networking, security, collaboration, or data center operations.
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