|
Certifications at the Associate and Professional level (CCNA, CCDA, CCNP, CCDP) are valid for three years. CCIE and Specializations are valid for two years. Valid certifications may be renewed indefinitely. Without timely renewal, certifications expire.
To renew certifications, holders must register for - and pass - the appropriate Cisco re-certification exams. These exams will be offered on a regular basis at locations throughout the world.
- What is re-certification?
Re-certification is an exam-based verification that a certification holder's skills are up to date. When a certification holder passes the appropriate re-certification exam, a new certification is issued and the Cisco Career Certifications Tracking System is updated.
- For how long are certifications valid?
Certifications at the Associate and Professional level (CCNA, CCDA, CCNP, CCDP) are valid for three years. CCIE and Specializations are valid for two years. Certifications expire on the anniversary of the date they were awarded.
- How do I find out when my current certification will expire?
Check the Cisco Career Certifications Tracking System on the Certification site. The system has a candidate's active information within ten days after completing the first exam, and any time thereafter. ID and Registration numbers are provided on the Examination Score Report candidates receive after an exam.
- If I have a Professional certification, do I need to renew my Associate certification?
No. Your Associate certification stays current as long as you keep your Professional certification current.
- If I just received a Specialization certification, do I still need to update my Professional certification?
Yes. Your Specialization certification is only valid if you have a valid Professional certification.
- Do I lose my Specialization certification if my Professional certification expires?
Yes. Your Specialization certification is only valid if you have a valid Professional certification.
- Is re-certification different for people with Version 1.0 compared to Version 2.0?
Yes. For those people who earned a Version 2.0 CCNA, CCNP, or CCDP by July 31, 2000, the first certification is valid for three years and three months. Version 1.0 certifications, and all Associate and Professional re-certifications, are valid for three years.
- How can I tell which version I have?
Check the Cisco Career Certifications Tracking System on the Certification site. Select Certification Resources from the bar on the left, navigate to the login screen, and enter your login ID and password.
- Will Cisco remind me that my certification is about to expire?
Yes. You will receive several email notifications, beginning one year from the expiration date.
- What email address is Cisco using?
Cisco uses the address in your personal information file on the Cisco Career Certifications Tracking System.
- How can I make sure that Cisco has accurate contact information for me?
It is your responsibility to keep the information current. Check the Cisco Career Certifications Tracking System on the Certification site (www.cisco.com/go/certifications). Select Tracking System from the bar on the left, navigate to the login screen, and enter your login ID and password.
- What extensions will Cisco grant if I miss the deadline to re-certify?
Cisco will not extend the expiration date.
- What's the advantage of re-certifying?
Re-certification is a tangible indication to IT professionals and the organizations that employ them that the certification holder has kept up with the current trends in technology.
- Who needs to re-certify?
People re-certify if they want to continue to use a particular certification. They also re-certify if they need a valid certification at one level to attain one at a higher level. For example, a valid CCNA is required when someone registers for the CCNP exam.
- Do people need to renew every certification they hold?
No. Some re-certifications occurs automatically. For example, when someone re-certifies a CCNP, the related CCNA is automatically renewed. That's because re-certification at the Professional level automatically renews all related Associate level certifications.
- What happens to Specializations if a Professional certification expires?
Specializations require valid certification at the Professional level. So, if a Professional certification expires, the Specializations dependent on that certification also expire - even if they were only recently acquired.
- What is the impact on me when my certification expires?
You may no longer represent yourself as a holder of that certification or use the designation on your business card. And, once your certification expires, you will no longer be able to re-certify with a single exam. If you want the same certification, you will have to start over and complete all prerequisites and exams.
- What is the impact on my employer when my certification expires?
For some employers, such as Cisco Channel Partners, a minimum number of certified employees are required. If your certification expires, the minimum number may not be met. Current or potential employers to whom you have given written authorization can request certification verification directly from Cisco.
- Who knows if my certification expires?
You know. Cisco informs certification holders when their certification expires - and begins notifying them one year before expiration. (These notifications are sent to the address listed for you in the Career Certifications Tracking System database. See the FAQs in the Logistics section of this document for more information about this database). Current or potential employers to whom you have given written authorization can request certification verification directly from Cisco.
- I want to be sure I'm up to date. Would it help to re-certify more often than every three years?
Not necessarily. Check the Certification site for the current exam number. If you a pass a newer version of the exam, Cisco will re-certify you. If the number has not changed since you took the exam before, passing it again may reassure you, but it will not change the expiration date on your certification.
- When will the re-certification exams be available?
The CCNA, CCDA and Specialization re-certification exams are available now. Exams for Professional re-certifications will be available this fall.
- Where will I be able to take the re-certification exam?
The re-certification exams are offered worldwide. For exam information, look on the Certification web site.
- What will be on the re-certification exam?
Each certification has its own re-certification exam. For CCNA and CCDA, the re-certification exams are simply the current versions of the regular exams. AT the professional level, there is a special re-certification exam for CNNP and a different one for CCDP. Questions for each of these special exams are drawn from the several regular exams currently in use. For Specializations, the re-certification exam is simply the current version of the appropriate exam (For Network Management, there are two exams).
- How can I prepare for the exams?
Review the exam outlines on the Certification web site and, if necessary, enroll in the recommended courses.
- Do I have to sign another agreement?
Yes. The Cisco Career Certifications Agreement has been updated and you must agree to the new terms and conditions. You can find the updated version on the Certification site.
- When should I sign the new agreement?
When you register for the re-certification exam. The Cisco Career Certifications Tracking System contains a form of the agreement that you "accept" electronically. Go to the Certification site (www.cisco.com/go/certifications). Select Tracking System from the bar on the left, navigate to the login screen, and enter your login ID and password. You must pass the re-certification test along with accepting the certification agreement to renew your certificate.
- What will I receive when I re-certify?
You will receive a new certificate and wallet card indicating the updated certification and its expiration date.
- What happens if I don't pass the re-certification exam?
You can retake the exam, but you must pass before your current certification expires.
- Suppose I don't pass the re-certification exam in time?
Your certification will expire and you must start over with the regular program of courses and exams for that particular level.
- Why do Cisco certifications expire?
By using limited-term certifications and offering an exam-based re-certification process, Cisco assures that certification holders have not only met high standards, but also kept their skills up to date.
- Why is Cisco announcing the re-certification program now?
Re-certification has been part of the program since 1997, when CCIE re-certification was implemented. It is now being implement for the Professional and Associate levels and for Specializations. A re-certification policy with time limits on certifications and a way to renew them, keeps certification status relevant during a time of rapidly changing technology.
- Where can I find more information about re-certification?
If you have questions not answered here, visit the Cisco Career Certification website and click the re-certification button.
|
