Cisco is revamping its flagship Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification for the first time in seven years, adding a new AI literacy pillar, more hands-on lab requirements, and a security-first mindset to a credential held by more than 1.8 million professionals worldwide. It’s also adding a new AI-focused module to the expert-level Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) practical exam.

The changes represent Cisco’s most significant recalibration of what it expects from certified network engineers since the shift to software-defined networking reshaped the field, and they are a direct response to how AI workloads are changing the demands placed on network infrastructure. (See related story: Cisco’s new certs are a wake-up call for AI-era network engineers)

The updated CCNA exam topics went live this month, with the refreshed exam scheduled to go into effect on February 3, 2027. The CCIE AI Deploy, Operate, and Optimize module will roll out in phases beginning with the CCIE Data Center track in 2027.

“There’s a growing need for engineers who can operate in increasingly dynamic and interconnected environments,” said Ryan Rose, director of skills and certifications product management at Cisco’s Learn with Cisco organization, in an interview with Network World. “The role is evolving from managing discrete network tasks to becoming orchestrators, bringing together various forms of automation and AI while understanding how different systems interact and applying critical thinking when problems don’t follow a set path.”

What’s changing and what’s not

There was no single catalyst for the overhaul, Rose said, explaining that it was more an accumulation of signals that the existing model had run its course. “Across the industry, we’re seeing network environments fundamentally change how infrastructure is designed and operated. At the same time, the expectations placed on entry-level engineers have shifted: Employers increasingly need professionals who can operate in real-world, AI-enabled environments from day one.”

The new CCNA blueprint is built on four pillars: network infrastructure, troubleshooting and problem-solving, a security-first mindset, and understanding how AI figures into network management and operations. The core networking foundation isn’t going away, according to Cisco; it’s being extended.

To accommodate the new material, Cisco conducted a broad portfolio review that redistributed some existing CCNA content to other certifications. Topics that previously lived in CCNA were relocated to CCNA Automation, CCNA Cybersecurity, or the foundational CCST level, Rose said, rather than being cut.

The bigger structural shift is how the exam validates knowledge. Cisco is moving away from recall-heavy testing toward what Rose calls blending “recall with results,” a combination of traditional questions and practical skills assessment. Candidates will configure, troubleshoot, and solve problems in realistic network scenarios rather than relying on memorization alone. “By moving beyond theoretical understanding and toward demonstrated competency, the certification process is further established as a stronger signal of authentic job-readiness and a candidate’s ability to contribute in real-world environments,” Rose said.

Message to the 1.8 million CCNAs

For the millions of engineers who already hold a CCNA, Rose’s message is clear: The credential is not being devalued.

“The value of a CCNA remains incredibly strong,” he said. “The need for professionals who understand how to configure, secure, and troubleshoot networks remains essential. What’s changing is the environment in which those skills are applied.”

Rose also offered his perspective on where Cisco expects the field to head. Rather than framing the question as which competencies will eventually become obsolete, he said, the more useful lens is how existing skills will be applied as AI becomes more embedded in daily operations. “Foundational networking capabilities remain critical, but the context in which those skills are used continues to change,” he said. “The goal is to ensure professionals are prepared for the technologies that exist today and tomorrow.”

For those currently mid-preparation for the existing exam, his advice is equally direct: Don’t change course. The current CCNA stays live until the new one takes effect in February 2027, and Cisco has been deliberate about building a long runway. Free foundational training and tutorials are already available through Cisco U., with additional content rolling out through February. Rose said he expects how most candidates approach certification prep to evolve.

“A common mistake is treating it as a content consumption exercise—focusing on watching videos or reading materials without applying what is being learned,” he said. Tools such as Cisco Modeling Labs, Packet Tracer, and Cisco Networking Academy exist to close that gap, but Rose said the real differentiator is understanding the reasoning behind configurations. “When a candidate understands the reasoning behind configurations and decisions, the technical steps become clearer and transferable. Explaining reasoning out loud or to a peer reflects the kind of communication and problem-solving required in real-world network operations.”

How the AI assistant works in the CCIE

The biggest change to the CCIE is the AI Deploy, Operate, and Optimize module added to the CCIE practical exam. The module introduces an embedded AI assistant for configuration, troubleshooting, and code creation, reflecting the reality that expert engineers in the field increasingly work alongside such tools. As analysis of the announcement notes, this evolution arguably strengthens the CCIE’s gold-standard status rather than diluting it. The one-hour module joins a two-hour Design module and the existing five-hour Design, Operate, and Optimize component, all governed by a single blueprint.

Rose distinguished between two modes of AI use that candidates will be expected to demonstrate. “Soft engineering” involves using a general-purpose LLM for early troubleshooting, for example, feeding network logs into an AI tool and asking natural-language questions to narrow down where a fault might be occurring, while still relying on the engineer to interpret outputs and determine next steps. “Augmented engineering” involves more specialized AIOps tools built into network management platforms.

“The intent of the module is to reflect how AI is used in modern network environments, where engineers are increasingly working alongside AI tools rather than operating without them,” Rose said. On the question of whether an AI assistant in the exam room creates an open-book shortcut, he added: “The focus of the exam remains on candidates’ engineering judgment and the ability to apply core networking knowledge in real-world scenarios. Candidates are still expected to demonstrate their ability to interpret outputs, validate results, and make appropriate technical decisions.”

Cisco chose the CCIE Data Center track as its pilot precisely because much of the company’s AI infrastructure work has originated there, making it a natural fit for the new format. Exam topics for CCIE DC will be available at Cisco Live Melbourne in November 2026, with practice labs following at Cisco Live London in February 2027 and the live exam arriving at Cisco Live U.S. in 2027.

The soft skills addition

Alongside the technical updates, Cisco is releasing four free “human skills” tutorials on Cisco U. covering critical thinking and business communication. The addition reflects that the need to connect network operations to business outcomes and communicate that value to stakeholders is becoming as important as technical know-how.

“This is something we have consistently heard about from across our ecosystem, including employers, Cisco Networking Academy partners, and the broader community,” he said, adding that the skills have previously been assessed indirectly through troubleshooting scenarios. Keeping those tutorials current is also part of a shift in how Cisco builds its training content. “We’ve shifted to a content-as-code methodology, where training content is built modularly, similar to software development,” Rose said.

Cisco’s updated CCNA exam topics are available now at the Cisco Learning Network. The refreshed exam launches February 3, 2027. Free training is available at Cisco U.