Fortinet NSE 1 to 8 Certification Levels: A Complete Guide to the 2025 Update

Fortinet has officially reintroduced the NSE 1–8 levels across all certification programs to better reflect the natural progression path from foundational to expert-level cybersecurity skills. This structured framework ensures learners and professionals can clearly understand their advancement through the Fortinet Certification Program. These updates, effective October 15, 2025, will not impact any badges previously earned—all existing and future digital badges will automatically update in both the Fortinet system and Credly.

Why Fortinet Is Bringing Back NSE 1 to 8 Certification Levels

The return of the NSE levels helps unify the certification naming and create a consistent, role-based learning journey across Fortinet’s global ecosystem. Each level aligns with a growing depth of technical expertise, from cybersecurity fundamentals to advanced architecture and troubleshooting.

The streamlined certification model enhances clarity for both candidates and employers by showing a clear skill progression:

● NSE 1–3: Foundational and Associate levels

● NSE 4–5: Professional level

● NSE 6–7: Solution Specialist level

● NSE 8: Expert level

A Step-by-Step Overview of the New Fortinet Certification Requirements

Upcoming Retirements – October 15, 2025

To streamline the certification tracks, Fortinet announced the retirement of certain exams and courses. While the courses will remain accessible, the corresponding exams will be retired after October 15, 2025.

Exams Retiring (Only Exam Retired, Course Remains Available)

● Professional – FortiAuthenticator Administrator

● Professional – FortiAnalyzer Administrator

Exams and Courses Retiring Completely

● Professional – AWS Cloud Security Administrator

● Professional – Azure Cloud Security Administrator

● Professional – Google Cloud Security Administrator

Candidates who hold these certifications will retain them until their expiration date.

New NSE Track Mapping: From Fundamentals to Expert Certification

Starting from October 15, 2025, NSE 1 to 8 will map to the following technology areas and roles:

Updated Certification Titles Effective October 15, 2025

Modernized Training Delivery Options for Every Learning Style

Fortinet continues to provide both Instructor-Led Training (ILT) and Self-Paced E-Learning options to support flexible and effective certification preparation.

Instructor-Led Training (ILT): Learn Directly from Certified Experts

● Conducted in-person or virtually by Fortinet Authorized Trainers

● Includes hands-on lab exercises and real-world use cases

● Ideal for team or corporate training environments

● Class size and duration vary depending on the course

Self-Paced E-Learning (SPE): Learn Anytime, Anywhere

● Free access to NSE pre-recorded lessons, videos, and resources

● On-demand options with interactive labs available for purchase

● Great for independent learners seeking flexibility and convenience

Aligning Fortinet Certifications with Cybersecurity Career Roles

The restructured NSE 1–8 model now aligns closely with the NICE cybersecurity workforce framework, helping learners identify the right certifications for their desired roles.

Key Career Pathways:

● Secure Networking: Focused on FortiGate, FortiSwitch, and FortiManager solutions

● Cloud Security: Covering AWS, Azure, and Fortinet public cloud deployments

● Security Operations: Emphasizing analytics, SIEM, and SOAR tools

● OT Security: Industrial and critical infrastructure network defense

● SASE (Secure Access Service Edge): Integrating networking and security in hybrid environments

● Data Center Security: Protecting enterprise infrastructure from evolving threats

Final Thoughts: Building a Smarter Path to Fortinet Expertise

The reintroduction of NSE 1–8 levels represents a major step forward in Fortinet’s mission to create a cohesive and transparent certification ecosystem. This new structure clearly illustrates how professionals can grow from cybersecurity fundamentals (NSE 1–3) to specialist expertise (NSE 6–7) and ultimately achieve Fortinet Expert status (NSE 8). By aligning certification levels with job roles, Fortinet empowers learners to pursue training that truly reflects their career goals and technical strengths.

If you’re preparing for Fortinet certification, now is the time to adapt your study plan and get ready for the October 15, 2025 update.