Recertification

If your certification is still active, use the information in the following table to learn about the recertification options:

Certification cycles

Each time a certification is recertified for two years, the expiration date is extended for an additional two years from the date the recertification requirement is met, for example:

• I achieve my FCP in Network Security certification on November 1, 2023. I receive my certification with an expiration date of November 1, 2025. After that, I take one of the FCSS in Network Security exams on February 1, 2025. The new expiration date of my FCP in Network Security certification is now February 1, 2027.
• I achieve my FCP in Security Operations certification on December 1, 2023. I receive my certification with an expiration date of December 1, 2025. After that I take two electives for the same certification, the first one on January 1, 2025, the second one on April 1, 2025. The new expiration date of my FCP in Security Operations is now April 1, 2027.

If your FCX certification is recertified, the expiration date is extended by another three years from the initial expiration date, not from the date you passed the recertification exam. Additionally, all your other Fortinet certifications that are still active are recertified with a new expiration date that will match the new expiration date of your FCX certification. 

Important notes to consider:

• Old certificates (NSE 1, NSE 2, NSE 3, NSE 4, NSE 5, NSE 6 and NSE 7) are no longer generated or renewed.
• All certifications (FCF, FCA, FCP, FCSS and FCX) have an expiration date.
• You must recertify your certifications before they expire to maintain them in active status. 
• Only Certifications dates will be renewed once you complete the recertification requirements.  
• The FCF, FCA, FCP, and FCSS certification levels are active for two years after you achieve them. The FCX certification level is active for three years. 
• You can recertify your FCX certification no earlier than 6 months before it expires. For the other certifications, you can recertify them any time before the expiration date.
• If your certification has expired (it is not active), you must complete all the initial certification requirements again to receive active status. For example:
  • If your FCP in Network Security has expired, you must pass one core exam and one elective exam within two years to receive the active status.
  • If your FCX has expired, you must pass the written exam and the practical exam within two years to receive the active status.
• Once an exam has been counted towards certification, it cannot be used again to renew the same certification.
• FortiGate Administrator exam is valid for the three (3) different FCP Certifications.
• SD-WAN exam is valid for FCSS Network Security and FCSS SASE Certifications.
• Fortinet does not provide extensions. Certification expiration dates cannot be extended. You are responsible to recertify on time. 
• Examinees should re-certify before the expiration date shown on the certificate.
• You are responsible for keeping track of your expiration dates. However, Fortinet will send recertification reminders 90, 45, and 5 days before the expiration date. The emails are sent to the address registered in your Fortinet Training Institute profile.

Review NSE recertification details for each certification level from our Fortinet Training Institute Cybersecurity Certification page.

Until October 1, 2023: 

Fortinet NSE 1 - 7 certifications have a validity period of two (2) years from the certification grant date. 

• NSE 1 - 3 certifications are renewed by successfully completing the current versions of the courses at the Fortinet Training Institute portal. Please note that any lesson or quiz completed more than 90 days before expiry will not count toward your recertification. 

• NSE 4 - 6 certifications can be renewed by taking a different exam, or later versions of the same exam passed for the initial certification, at Pearson VUE within six (6) months prior to expiration.

• NSE 7 certification is renewed by successfully passing one of the Fortinet NSE 7 certification exams at Pearson VUE, within six (6) months prior to expiration. Achieving NSE 7 certification automatically re-certifies NSE 4, 5, and 6 certifications, if these are not expired, not renew exam dates. New certificates are issued with the certification validity period of the NSE 7 Certificate.

• NSE 8 certification has a validity period of three (3) years from the date the certification requirements are fulfilled, as announced on January 31, 2022. The former NSE 8 certification validity was for two (2) years. NSE 8 certification is renewed by successfully passing the latest Fortinet NSE 8 written exam at Pearson VUE within six (6) months prior to expiration to be counted. NSE 8 recertification will automatically renew all your previously earned NSE certifications, even if are expired. New certificates are issued with the certification validity period of the NSE 8 Certificate.