Intro #
If you read my story here, you know I always wanted to be CCIE-certified. I managed to pass DevNet Expert lab exam and become DevNet Expert certified. Even though I passed a CCIE-level exam, it wasn’t actually called CCIE - until now. Today Cisco announced great news that affects me significantly. Let’s dive in and see what they prepared for us.
Cisco Learning & Certifications Change #
Goodbye Cisco Learning & Certifications! This part of Cisco organization means a lot for us, engineers - thanks to you we moved our careers to the next level with certification tracks. For most of us, CCNA brings amazing memories of the early days being a network engineer. Luckily, nothing happens to this organization - it only gets a new name - Learn with Cisco. If you prepare for CCNA or other certs - keep going, the team is not going anywhere!
Learn with Cisco includes:
- Cisco Networking Academy
- Cisco Learning Network
- Cisco U.
- Cisco Certifications
DevNet Track Changes #
Rebranding #
The following certificates will get a new name:
| Old Name | New Name |
|---|---|
| DevNet Associate | CCNA Automation |
| DevNet Professional | CCNP Automation |
| DevNet Expert | CCIE Automation |
Blueprint Changes #
For CCNA Automation and CCIE Automation (lab exam) there will be no major content changes for now. For CCNP Automation things are a bit different, because DEVCOR, DCAUTO and ENAUTO exams will get a major update and the new blueprint will be published on July 2025. First day to take the updated exams is 3rd February 2026.
If you are DevNet certified, then your certificates will be migrated automatically to the new CCNA/CCNP/CCIE certificates. No extra action needed.
End of Life Notice #
The following exams will reach their EoL on 2nd February 2026:
- 300-835 CLAUTO
- 300-535 SPAUTO
- 300-735 SAUTO
- 300-910 DEVOPS
Cybersecurity Track Changes #
Rebranding #
The following certificates will get a new name:
| Old Name | New Name |
|---|---|
| Cisco Certified Cybersecurity Associate | CCNA Cybersecurity |
| Cisco Certified Cybersecurity Professional | CCNP Cybersecurity |
Collaboration Track Changes #
New Specialist Certificate #
A new specialist certificate has been announced: 300-830 Collaboration Cloud Customer Experience.
Collaboration Exams Major Updates #
350-801 CLCOR, 300-815 CLACC, 300-820 CLHCT exams will get major update and will be released as v.2.0 on 3rd February 2026. Last date to test for existing exams is: 2nd February 2026.
Practical Advice for the Community #
If you’re currently studying, then continue your preparations! You have a time until 2nd February 2026 - some of the exams will be updated or retired.
If you’re already certified, then automatic migration of existing certificates will take place on 3rd February 2026. New digital badges will be issued to you and no action is required on your end.
Why This Matters? #
Recognition Problem #
In my opinion this is good move. I remember a few discussions where I got asked ‘So what’s DevNet Expert compared to CCIE?’ I had to explain it’s the same difficulty level, same lab format, just focused on automation instead of traditional networking. You could see the confusion on their face. With CCIE Automation, that conversation becomes much simpler.
Cisco created a new DevNet brand in their certification portfolio and looks like it’s getting more and more interest, but there is a problem with recognition. It’s hard to compare DevNet Associate/Professional/Expert to the well-known CCNA/CCNP/CCIE brands, where one word says everything and no explanation is needed. From my point of view, explaining what DevNet is was a bit confusing. Thankfully we will get important updates soon so that won’t be a case.
The Power of the CCIE Brand #
CCIE launched in 1993. It’s been over 31 years of building this brand. Most engineers in this industry knows what it really means.
As mentioned - DevNet Expert brought some confusion in terms of recognition. In my opinion, CCIE Automation makes more sense. Some of you might argue with this change, because CCIE stands for Cisco Certified Internetworking Expert and “Internetworking” is something that could bring up discussion here. Most of the topics are automation and programmability-focused. Is there a spot to say that candidate is “Internetworking Expert” here? This is why Cisco originally decided to carve this track out of the existing one and created separated one under a new name which aligns with DevNet community, study content etc.
Personally, I’m 70% comfortable to call myself Internetworking Expert, because I have a strong background in networking and DevNet Expert exam requires you to have solid understanding about networks which make sense, because automating things you don’t understand is a great recipe for disaster.
To sum it up - this is a good move in my opinion. Let’s be honest - most network engineers know what “CCIE” mean. No more explaining what “DevNet Expert” is.
Early Signs Something Was Coming #
During the last Cisco Live 2025 in Amsterdam I got a “CCIE” badge. I was a bit disappointed because there was no “DevNet Expert” badge available, but now I understand why that was.
Same goes for Learning & Certification booth - all CCIE holders could go here and get a CCIE T-shirt, but not DevNet-Expert-branded.
In hindsight, my personal take is they knew what was coming and were getting us ready. That CCIE t-shirt now has so much more meaning - I’ll actually BE a CCIE!
The Bittersweet: Saying Goodbye to DevOps #
I passed DevOps exam a year ago. That was a nice exam and the news about it’s retirement was gloomy. I really liked what was prepared there, but it was far from network automation if you ask me. That exam was for individuals interested in all things DevOps, close to how different software development approaches look and advanced DevOps toolset to ensure code quality and testing.
Sorry to see that soon it will be no longer available, but in my opinion this is related to a lack of sufficient interest in this exam. I understand that, because I know how hard it is to get into programmability for network engineers, not to mention DevOps, which is another layer of abstraction for them.
Closing Thoughts #
I’m really looking forward to see how job market will react to those changes. I’d love to see CCNA/CCNP/CCIE Automation growing and be more recognized than it is now. It’s so important to advocate network automation and to prove it’s not that difficult to get started. CCNA/CCNP/CCIE Automation sounds better to Network Engineers knowing these acromyns, instead of “DevNet” that sounds like a big mental barrier.
I’m curious to see if more network engineers will consider automation certifications now that they carry the CCNA/CCNP/CCIE names. Sometimes a familiar label makes all the difference in getting people to take that first step into programmability.
Thanks for staying with me and I hope to see you in the next blog posts, cheers!