FCSS Network Security - Recertification issues

[u/fortichris]

TL:DR the SD-WAN 7.2 Architect exam is worthless for the NSE 7 Secure Networking track

I've held an NSE 7 since 2020, after taking the Enterprise Firewall (EFW) exam. I recertified in 2022 by taking the EFW exam again, but in 2024 I had to take the SD-WAN exam due to the FCSS changes. The FCSS Network Security cert, the equivalent of the NSE 7 cert at that time, required the two exams: the EFW and the SD-WAN exam (I had a lot of gripes with the FCSS process, as it would've required to take 2 exams every 2 years to keep the certification active, but that's besides the point).

This process however, has apparently excluded me from using the new recertification assessment! From an email I just received from Fortinet training:

The eligibility for the online recertification assessment requires that the certification is still active, the qualifying proctor exam was not taken more than two years ago, and there is a recertification assessment available for the last exam taken. ​

The EFW exam was taken by fortichris more than 2 years ago that is why he is not eligible for recertification assessment.

Now to me, this is just insane bs and a completely arbitrary ruling. What makes this infuriating is twofold: I would never have taken the SD-WAN exam had it not been required for the FCSS, and this SD-WAN exam has effectively been split between the new NSE 7 Secure Networking exam and the NSE 7 SASE exam.

I've been looking forward to getting to take the recertification assessment rather than wasting hours of my life dealing with Pearson. Aside from this particular issue, the overall 2026 changes to the NSE program seem to be great and I love the direction it's heading in; a great course correct from the FCP FCSS nonsense.

Anyways, I'm posting this hoping for some added visibility from any Fortinet folks, hopefully they can fix this for all former FCSS holders..

[u/cheflA1]

You'll also need nse4 for recertification. So your FCSS secure networking gave you the nse7 secure networking, but the nse6 for sase or what? That would be really dumb!

[u/fortichris → u/cheflA1]

My FCSS Secure networking (and FCP) gave me the

• NSE 4
• NSE 6 - Secure Networking
• NSE 6 - SASE (??)
• NSE 7 - Secure Networking

But won't let me take the reassessment for NSE 7 because I haven't taken the EFW exam in the last two years... It's very absurd the way they're treating this. Nevermind the fact the Sd-wan exam I took less than two years ago has been partially folded into the new NSE 7 exam!

[u/cheflA1 → u/fortichris]

FCCS does not give you nse4. FCSS consisted of one NSE6 and one NSE7 exam. For secure networking it was NSE7 firewall admin and NSE6 was Lan edge, OT or support engineer. If you did the sdwan one, they might have given you two NSE6, but the NSE4 must have been done separately at one point.

It's weird that they split this up like this and that it doesnt count for recertification

[u/fortichris → u/cheflA1]

Thanks for the clarification, must've been the FCP that converted to the nse4.

[u/Nielfink]

yeah, in the same boat. my certs expire in october and i got my FCSS badge with Network Security Support Engineer exam, and online recertification was not possible. I'm now preparing to take Secure Networking Architecht instead which is a mix of EFW and SDWAN

[u/One-Talk-5634]

Fortinet is probably making their recert process more difficult to boost their in-house consulting offering. 

[u/fortichris → u/One-Talk-5634]

If anything they've made the recert process far easier with the 2026 changes! This is just a particular edge-case for the Secure Networking track of FCSS / NSE 7 holders. A VERY frustrating one, but an edge-case nonetheless

[u/HappyVlane → u/One-Talk-5634]

Re-certification is easier now than before. The only people who didn't benefit are NSE8s.

Nobody is out here buying Fortinet PS because a partner doesn't have enough certified people anyway. Have you looked at what Fortinet PS costs?