Frequently Asked
Questions

What are the main changes of the October 2025 revamp from Fortinet?

The October 2025 revamp of Fortinet training focuses mainly on updates and renaming of certification exams, including bringing back NSE numbering in the exams. This change will also be applied to PearsonVUE as well. This is due to better alignment within the Fortinet universe. There are also some adjustments to class offerings and certification titles.

Will certifications have the same name changes applied?

While some certifications will have minor name changes, they will not have NSE numbering added back and will remain with the existing classifications (Fundamental, Associate, Professional, Solutions Specialist, and Expert). Adjustments will also include the update of exam names and in some cases, courses required.

How do I know which courses are required and/or optional for a specific certification?

While previously certification requirements were split into Core and Elective exams, these October 2025 changes will revert to certain “levels” of exams being needed for each. For example, for a certification where you may have needed 1 Core exam and 1 Elective exam, you may now need 1 NSE 4 exam and 1 NSE 5 exam.

Please refer to our certification page here for additional information on individual certifications. Outside of these title changes, the recertification process will remain the same.

The course I have taken/am planning to take no longer has an exam – what does this mean?

With the revamp, some exams were retired to better align with current requirements based on Fortinet systems. In some cases, both an exam and corresponding course have been retired but, in some cases, a corresponding course may still be available. In these cases, an individual is still able to take the course to further their knowledge base on a specific topic, but these courses will longer directly contribute to a certification as there is no exam.

What happens to my existing credentials and associated badges?

Your existing certifications will remain active until their expiry date and Credly badges will be automatically updated. In cases where a certification is being retired, holders will retain their status until expiry and in some cases, may have easier paths to obtaining a replacement. For example, holders of OT Security will simply need to pass the NSE 7 Enterprise Firewall exam after the changes on October 15, to but before expiry of their current certification, to gain FCSS in Secure Networking.

Are additional changes expected?

The Fortinet program is constantly being evaluated for any necessary adjustments based on changes in environments, industry trends, etc. This may include adjustments to courses, exams, or certifications themselves. At this time, there are no additional major programmatic changes planned.