Fortinet is overhauling its NSE certification program, and the changes take effect July 15, 2026. If you are an IT professional planning your training path, or a business that relies on Fortinet-certified expertise, here is what is changing and what it means for choosing a partner.
The updated program moves from 5 certification levels to 8 and adds industry certifications that sit outside the 8-level structure. Fortinet is maintaining four training tracks across several levels: Secure Networking, Security Operations, Cloud Security, and SASE. The expanded structure gives a clearer progression from foundational knowledge to expert-level validation, and broadens the eligible products you can certify on.
Under the new program, all certifications will be valid for two years, with new requirements and recertification rules to keep credentials current. Notably, Fortinet is reintroducing on-site practical exams at the NSE 8 level, restoring hands-on validation at the top of the certification ladder. For employers, two-year validity and practical exams mean a Fortinet certification is a stronger signal that skills are current and real, not just historical.
Fortinet hardware is only as good as the configuration behind it. A misconfigured firewall, a poorly scoped ZTNA policy, or skipped security profiles leave gaps that the appliance itself cannot fix. That is why buying from a certified partner matters: you get the product and the expertise to deploy it correctly. DataCenter360.ca is a Fortinet Select Partner and FCP-certified, and we keep our knowledge current with the program as it evolves.
Whether you are deploying your first firewall or standardizing a fleet, we can help you choose and configure the right gear. Explore the Fortinet product range, compare FortiGate firewalls, or hand the whole thing to us through managed security services, where certified engineers handle deployment, tuning, and monitoring.
The updates are effective July 15, 2026.
The program moves from 5 to 8 certification levels, plus additional industry certifications outside the 8-level structure.
All certifications under the updated program are valid for two years, with new recertification requirements to keep them current.
Buy from a Fortinet Select Partner and get certified expertise with your hardware. Tell us what you need and we will quote, usually same day.