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Cybersecurity Certification

NSE Certification Program Prepares Professionals for Critical Cybersecurity Careers

NSE Brochure 2024 Cybersecurity Skills Gap Report

The Fortinet NSE Certification Advantage

The Fortinet Network Security Expert (NSE) Certification program has been carefully crafted and researched over several years to address the rapidly evolving threat landscape as well as job-market needs. Our primary objective is to satisfy both current and future requirements, ensuring that the NSE Certification program remains at the forefront of network security expertise.

The certification program includes a wide range of self-paced (free) and instructor-led courses, as well as practical, hands-on exercises that demonstrate mastery of complex cybersecurity concepts. Each certification program assesses specific levels of cybersecurity expertise, from foundation to architect.

91%

of organizations prefer to hire candidates with certifications.

*Fortinet 2024 Global Skills Gap Report

58%

of IT decision-makers say that the top cause of security breaches is IT/security staff with a lack of cybersecurity skills and training.

*Fortinet 2024 Global Skills Gap Report

1,500,000+

certifications issued*.

*Last updated 1/2024

NSE Certification Levels

Below is a list of all the NSE certifications along with requirements to achieve your certification. Click on the Learn more links to access the self-paced courses and see detailed information on requirements, prerequisites, recertification, duration of courses and labs, class schedules, and more or download the Quick Reference Guide.

Fortinet Certified Expert
Learn More	The Fortinet Certified Expert (FCX) in Cybersecurity certification validates your comprehensive and expert knowledge of network security design, configuration, and troubleshooting for complex networks. To attempt both the written and practical exams, candidates must have related industry experience. It is recommended that candidates complete the appropriate Professional and Solution Specialist certification training and have extensive experience with Fortinet products in a production environment.	You must pass both the written exam and practical exam.	We recommend this course for networking and security experts who use Fortinet solutions. In addition to formal training, you should have experience with a variety of complex networks, and be able to solve complicated security problems.
Fortinet Certified Solution Specialist
Learn More	The FCSS in OT Security certification validates your ability to design, administer, monitor, and troubleshoot Fortinet OT security solutions. This curriculum covers OT security infrastructures using advanced Fortinet solutions.	You must pass the core exam.	We recommend this certification for those who require the expertise needed to design, manage, support, and analyze advanced Fortinet OT security solutions.
Learn More	The FCSS in Security Operations certification validates your ability to design, administer, monitor, and troubleshoot Fortinet security operations solutions. This curriculum covers security operations infrastructures using advanced Fortinet solutions.	You must pass one of the elective exams.	We recommend this certification for those who require the expertise needed to design, manage, support, and analyze advanced Fortinet security operations solutions.
Learn More	The FCSS in Network Security certification validates your ability to design, administer, monitor, and troubleshoot Fortinet network security solutions. This curriculum covers network security infrastructures using advanced Fortinet solutions.	You must pass the core exam and one elective exam.	We recommend this certification for those who require the expertise needed to design, manage, support, and analyze advanced Fortinet network security solutions.
Learn More	The FCSS in Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) certification validates your ability to design, administer, monitor, and troubleshoot Fortinet SASE solutions. This curriculum covers SASE infrastructures using advanced Fortinet solutions.	You must pass the two core exams.	We recommend this certification for those who require the expertise needed to design, manage, support, and analyze advanced Fortinet SASE security solutions.
Learn More	The FCSS in Public Cloud Security certification validates your ability to design, administer, monitor, and troubleshoot Fortinet public cloud solutions. This curriculum covers public cloud infrastructures using advanced Fortinet solutions	You must pass the core exam.	We recommend this certification for those who require the expertise needed to design, manage, support, and analyze advanced Fortinet public cloud security solutions.
Learn More	The FCSS in Zero Trust Access (ZTA) certification validates your ability to design, administer, monitor, and troubleshoot Fortinet ZTA solutions. This curriculum covers ZTA infrastructures using advanced Fortinet solutions.	You must pass the core exam.	We recommend this certification for those who require the expertise needed to design, manage, support, and analyze advanced Fortinet ZTA solutions.
Fortinet Certified Professional
Learn More	The FCP in Security Operations certification validates your ability to secure networks and applications by deploying, managing, and monitoring Fortinet security operations products. This curriculum will cover the day-to-day tasks related to Fortinet security operations devices.	You must pass two elective exams.	We recommend this certification for those who require the expertise to deploy, manage, and analyze Fortinet security operations devices.
Learn More	The FCP in Network Security certification validates your ability to secure networks and applications by deploying, managing, and monitoring Fortinet network security products. This curriculum will cover the day-to-day tasks related to Fortinet network security devices.	You must pass the core exam and one elective exam	We recommend this certification for those who require the expertise needed to deploy, manage, and analyze Fortinet network security devices.
Learn More	The FCP in Public Cloud Security certification validates your ability to secure cloud applications by deploying, managing, and monitoring Fortinet public cloud products. This curriculum will cover the day-to-day tasks related to Fortinet public cloud devices and VMs.	You must pass one core exam and one elective exam.	We recommend this certification for those who require the expertise needed to deploy, manage, and analyze Fortinet public cloud security devices and VMs.
Fortinet Certified Associate
Learn More	The Fortinet Certified Associate (FCA) in Cybersecurity certification validates your ability to execute high-level operations on a FortiGate device. This curriculum covers the fundamentals of operating the most common FortiGate features.	You must complete the FortiGate Operator course and pass the exam.	We recommend this certification for those who need to execute high-level configuration and monitoring tasks on FortiGate devices and for network security administrators of small and medium-sized companies.
Fortinet Certified Fundamentals
Learn More	The Fortinet Certified Fundamentals (FCF) in Cybersecurity certification validates that you have mastered the technical skills and knowledge that are required for any entry-level job role in cybersecurity. This curriculum will offer courses that cover today’s threat landscape and the fundamentals of cybersecurity.	You must complete one core and one elective course.	We recommend this certification to entry-level cybersecurity professionals and everyone who would like to pursue a career in cybersecurity.

Training Delivery Options

Instructor-Led Training

Live sessions delivered either onsite (in-person), or online (over a virtual classroom application), include standard NSE training content in scheduled public or private classes. Classes are lead by Fortinet trainers or our Authorized Training Centers.

Private courses also include possibility of content customization depending on customer needs.
Class length and size will vary depending upon the course.
Instructor delivers the training content and provides access to interactive labs where students reinforce the knowledge gained with hands-on activities.

View Course Calendar

Self-Paced E-Learning Training

Access to NSE pre-recorded lessons, online videos, and digital resources through the Training Institute portal.

All self-paced courses are open free of charge. Free self-paced course access includes the theoretical lectures of NSE training content.
On-demand lab access with interactive hands-on activities is available to purchase to enrich the learning experience and reinforce the knowledge gained with pre-recorded, self-paced lessons.
If on-demand lab access is purchased, the self-paced course page will be enhanced with the lab link and lab guides, and it will be part of the requirements to complete the learning activities within the self-paced course.

View Self-Paced Courses

Customized Training

Contact the team for customized instructor-led training delivered on private premises, and/or for further information about how to purchase Fortinet Instructor-led Training and on-demand hands-on lab access within the self-paced courses.

Explore Cybersecurity Certifications by Role

Fortinet Education Pathways align NSE training and certification to NICE framework job roles.

Explore certifications for cybersecurity roles in the following:


Network Security	Zero Trust Access	Security Operations	Cloud Security	Operational Technology

NSE Certification Resources


Exams Exams for FCP and FCSS certifications are proctored, both online and in person, by Pearson VUE or ProctorU (FCX). Read More Schedule your FCX Practical Exam	Recertification All Fortinet certifications expire two years after being earned except FCX, which is valid for three years. View Recertification Policy	Join the Community Discuss courses, certifications, and more on Fuse. Start Connecting	Program Policies & FAQs Questions about certification? Review the Program Policy Guidelines or our FAQs.	Credly Certification Badges Learn more about all our new badges. View Here

Fortinet NSE Training Qualifies for ISC2 Credit

Fortinet is part of the ISC2 CPE Submitter Program, a Continuing Professional Education credit program. Learners can now earn one credit for every hour of training they do with Fortinet. The credits go towards maintaining the individual’s CISSP credentials.

Valid Fortinet training includes the above mentioned NSE free training and all other courses, fast tracks, webinars or other educational sessions.

Additional benefits are provided to Fortinet-certified individuals wanting to advance their cybersecurity skills.

Learn more

Fortinet Certifications Now Count Towards CompTIA Renewals

You can now use your Fortinet NSE certifications to get Continuing Education Units (CEUs) towards renewing the below CompTIA certifications:

Find out more

Awards & Recognitions


2024 SC Media Award for Best Professional Certification Program	2024 CyberSecurity Breakthrough Award Winner for Best Professional Certification Program	2024 Global InfoSec Award Winner for Best Cybersecurity Training and Security Awareness Training	2024 CyberSecurity Excellence Award Winner for Best Cybersecurity Training Program and Security Awareness Program	2024 Gold Winner for Cybersecurity Training & Education and Security Awareness & Training	2023 CyberSecurity Excellence Award Winner for Best Cybersecurity Training Program and Security Awareness Program

The Prestige of NSE 8 Certification

Luke Titmus talks about the challenges of finding people with the right technical skills as cyberattacks are continuing to get more complex.

"Every single level in the Fortinet NSE Certification program is essential, and it all culminates up to level 8, which is the highest level. It gave me a great leg up in my career and has allowed me to take on more advanced projects as I became qualified and experienced in those areas over time."

Rickard Sellstedt talks about the importance of certification and continuous learning of cybersecurity.

"When an individual is successful at achieving Level 8, it really shows that they know what they’re doing and that they have expert knowledge in network security design, configuration, and troubleshooting for complex networks. What NSE Level 8 also tests is an individual’s proficiency in networking and security in general. You have to bring all your accumulative knowledge to the table when testing for NSE 8."

Jeff Robbins Talks How to Cultivate the New Generation of Cyber Professionals

"I lead by example, and I wanted to set our engineers apart from others and show a career path. Having the Level 8 certification shows our customers that we have the strongest bench out there. The certification shows that we are all-in. Showing deep technology creds is important to customers when we are talking about such important technology as cybersecurity."

Sylvia Schlaphof Discusses the Hands-On NSE 8 Exam Environment

"Fortinet has done a great job setting up the exam. It’s really a hands-on exam with real devices, not a simulation. That’s what I loved about it. When I passed, it felt like a big achievement. And, of course, people are impressed. Especially because I was the first woman to accomplish it."

Mathew Watkinson Outlines the Breadth of Knowledge Required for NSE 8 Certification

"I know a lot of people who are really good at networking... on FortiGate, on the switches, on the wireless, on the authenticator, email, the web – everything comes together in that exam. So, you need to be good at all of it – not just really good at one thing – to be able to get you through an exam."

Mohammad Al-Zard Reviews the Process of Getting to NSE 8

"I strongly believe the saying “knowledge is power.” It gives me more confidence, and customers have more... At the end, the solution was delivered ahead of schedule and the client was very happy. I attribute this in part to the skills I learned studying for the certification."