If I don’t pass the exam, can I retake it?

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.”

How will I be notified about my certification expiration date?

Cisco sends recertification email reminders to the address in your certification profile at 90, 60, and 30 days before your certification expires.

How do I change the email address associated with earning and tracking my certifications?

If you have an active Associate, Professional, or Specialist certification, update your profile on the Cisco Certification Tracking System.If you have an active Expert certification, update your profile on the CCIE Tracker.

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

AssociateSpecialistProfessionalCCIE (Expert)CCDE (Expert)Entry (CCST)CCTAdditional certifications

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.”

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.

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Recertifying your Cisco certification

Keep your certification active

Watch how recertification works

How it works

Understand the certification timeline

Decide how you want to recertify

Meet the recertification requirements

Track your recertification status

Associate

Specialist

Professional

CCIE (Expert)

CCDE (Expert)

Entry (CCST)

CCT

Additional certifications

Recertification FAQs

Does Cisco give extensions for recertification?

If I don’t pass the exam, can I retake it?

How will I be notified about my certification expiration date?

How do I change the email address associated with earning and tracking my certifications?

Work toward recertification with Cisco U.

More recertification resources

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