How to Verify a Cisco CCNA or CCNP Certification

Quick answer

Verify any Cisco certification at cisco.com/go/certifications/verify (the Cisco Certification Verification Tool). You need the candidate's name and Cisco ID (CSCO number) or certification number. The tool is free and does not require a Cisco account.

The Cisco certification ladder

Cisco certifications follow a tiered structure. Understanding the hierarchy helps evaluate whether a candidate's claimed credential matches the role requirement:

Tier	Cert	Focus area example	Validity
Entry	CCT	Cisco Certified Technician	No expiration
Associate	CCNA	Networking fundamentals	3 years
Professional	CCNP	Enterprise, Security, Data Center, SP, Collaboration	3 years
Expert	CCIE	Enterprise, Security, Data Center, SP, Collaboration	3 years
Architect	CCAr	Cisco Certified Architect	Lifetime (once earned)

Note: Cisco retired the track-specific CCNA variants (CCNA Security, CCNA Wireless, etc.) in 2020. Since February 2020, there is only one CCNA — covering networking fundamentals, IP services, security fundamentals, automation, and programmability.

How to use the Cisco Certification Verification Tool

1 Navigate to cisco.com/go/certifications/verify.
2 Enter the candidate's Cisco ID (formatted as CSCO########) or their certification number. The Cisco ID appears on their digital badge, certificate, or Cisco profile. Ask the candidate to provide it directly.
3 Enter the candidate's name as it appears on the certification.
4 The tool returns all active Cisco certifications held by that individual — credential name, current level, and expiration date.

The candidate must consent

Cisco's verification tool requires the certified individual to authorize disclosure — typically by sharing their Cisco ID with you. A candidate who refuses to provide their Cisco ID or certification number cannot be verified and should be treated as unverified.

Cisco digital badges as verification

Cisco issues digital badges through Credly (formerly Acclaim) for its certifications. Candidates with a public Credly profile can share a badge link that verifies the certification independently. To verify a Credly badge:

› Open the shared badge URL — it should link to credly.com/badges/...
› Confirm the issuing organization is "Cisco" (not a third-party or training provider)
› Confirm the credential name matches the claimed certification (CCNA vs. CCNP vs. CCIE)
› Check the expiration date — all CCNA and CCNP badges expire after 3 years unless recertified

A Credly badge from a training provider (not Cisco directly) confirms course completion, not certification. These are different.

Common fraud patterns for Cisco certs

› Course completion != certification: Many training providers issue completion certificates for Cisco prep courses. These are not Cisco certifications. Confirm the issuing organization is Cisco, not a training partner.
› Retired track names: A candidate claiming "CCNA Security" or "CCNA Wireless" earned under the pre-2020 structure holds a credential that may have since expired. The new CCNA (post-2020) is a single unified exam.
› Inability to provide Cisco ID: Legitimate Cisco-certified professionals have a Cisco ID and can locate it within minutes. Inability to provide it is a strong indicator of a fraudulent claim.
› Expired certifications: A CCNP that expired three years ago is not a current CCNP. Always confirm the expiration date, not just that the certification was ever earned.

CCNP specializations (post-2020)

Since February 2020, the CCNP is a concentration-based credential. Each CCNP track requires one core exam plus one concentration exam. The tracks are:

› CCNP Enterprise
› CCNP Security
› CCNP Data Center
› CCNP Service Provider
› CCNP Collaboration

When a candidate claims "CCNP," confirm which track — a CCNP Security and CCNP Enterprise represent different skill sets relevant to different roles.

Verify the candidate's degree

Technical certifications supplement but do not replace degree credentials. Use VerifyED to confirm that the university or college listed on a networking engineer's resume is legitimately accredited — and to catch institutions that are not what they claim.

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