The updated CCNA exam topics went live this month, with the refreshed exam scheduled to go into effect on February 3, 2027. The CCIE AI Deploy, Operate, and Optimize module will roll out in phases beginning with the CCIE Data Center track in 2027.
“There’s a growing need for engineers who can operate in increasingly dynamic and interconnected environments,” said Ryan Rose, director of skills and certifications product management at Cisco’s Learn with Cisco organization, in an interview with Network World. “The role is evolving from managing discrete network tasks to becoming orchestrators, bringing together various forms of automation and AI while understanding how different systems interact and applying critical thinking when problems don’t follow a set path.”
What’s changing and what’s not
There was no single catalyst for the overhaul, Rose said, explaining that it was more an accumulation of signals that the existing model had run its course. “Across the industry, we’re seeing network environments fundamentally change how infrastructure is designed and operated. At the same time, the expectations placed on entry-level engineers have shifted: Employers increasingly need professionals who can operate in real-world, AI-enabled environments from day one.”
The new CCNA blueprint is built on four pillars: network infrastructure, troubleshooting and problem-solving, a security-first mindset, and understanding how AI figures into network management and operations. The core networking foundation isn’t going away, according to Cisco; it’s being extended.
