Use Continuing Education Program To Renew Cisco Certifications?

Introduction

Cisco certifications hold global recognition. Once you get certified, your certification remains valid for three years and needs to be renewed after that. Cisco has made it mandatory to recertify your current certificate to help you keep up with the changing trends in the IT industry. It also allows you to boost your career prospects by showing your dedication to your profession to your current and prospective employers. There are various ways to get recertified and update your skills and knowledge. You can take the higher level exams, earn continuing education credits, or both. Here I will discuss renewing your certificate by earning only continuing education credits.

Getting Recertification with Continuing Education Credits

It is an excellent initiative by Cisco to introduce the concept of renewing your present certificate by earning CE credits alone without the need to appear for the same exam again. However, you must note that you have to earn these credits within three years before the certification expiration date, and if you fail to do so, you have to sit for the exam again. You must enroll in Continuing Education program and accept all the terms and conditions if you wish to recertify with CE credits.

How to earn CE Credits?

You can earn credits by buying any of the qualifying products. • Enrolling in eligible courses and taking instructor-led or eLearning classes • Participating in live Cisco technical sessions • Participating in exam item writing Renewing your certificate allows you to be a part of the lifelong learning process and get an opportunity to enhance your existing skills. No matter how much expertise you hold, maintaining your certificate will keep you up-to-date with the trends leading to overall development. Another advantage of continuing education programs besides skills enhancement is that you get to discover other technology-related Cisco certifications. You can also opt to take an exam to acquire new certifications for career advancement. Starting early to earn CE credits will ease your path to recertification. You do not have to hurry to earn credits before the expiry date but can easily achieve them. So get started at the earliest to avoid any last-minute problems.

A few Helpful tips while Preparing for Recertification

• Use a certification tracking system to keep yourself updated about your certificate's current status and expiration date. • Have a clear understanding of the Cisco exam retake policy as you have to wait for a specific time before you can retake the exam if you failed in the first attempt. • Complete your recertification requirements within the active period as there are time extensions made available by Cisco for certification expiration dates. ## Final Words Here I have discussed using a continuing education program to recertify Cisco certifications. You must fulfill the recertification requirements before your certification expiry date. If you fail to do so, you have to follow the same examination process from the start to get certified. You can recertify any time during the active period by opting for any one method prescribed by Cisco. Also, do visit the official Cisco website to keep yourself updated about any changes in the recertification policy.