CCIE Automation replaces DevNet Expert
Andreas BaekdahlCisco's automation-focused certifications are being rebranded and updated in 2026.
On February 3rd 2026 the Cisco DevNet certifications will get new names and all current certifications will be migrated to CCNA, CCNP and CCIE.
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 DevNet Associate becomes CCNA Automation |
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DevNet Professional becomes CCNP Automation |
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DevNet Expert becomes CCIE Automation |
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In my opinion this rebranding has been long awaited. Since the beginning of the DevNet track I have asked and been asked the same question over and over again: "Why did Cisco not build their automation track on the strong brands that CCNA, CCNP and CCIE have in the industry?"
Frankly, the answers were never great, and I have tried to voice my opinion about the current DevNet certification brands as often as possible. So I'm very thankful that Cisco has finally made this decision 👍
Network Automation Engineers now have a better chance of displaying their skillset on a resume.
Having a well-known certification brand will be a powerful and valuable asset in your resume. This also makes it much more likely that job postings in the future will search for certified individuals in the Automation track. Clever move, Cisco 🫡
- 78% of technology executives say certifications are critical
- 99% of organizations use cetifications to make hirring decisions
- 60% of IT jobs that mention certifications request a Cisco certification
But it is not only the brands that will change
The entire exam suite of the DevNet track has been carefully evaluated by Cisco, and the following changes will take effect on February 3rd:
200-901 DEVASC: No changes to the blueprint!
350-901 DEVCOR: Will be rebranded to 350-901 AUTOCOR. New upcoming blueprint to be released in July and takes effect on Feb 3.
300-435 ENAUTO New blueprint 2.0 to be released in July and takes effect on Feb 3.
300-635 DCAUTO: New blueprint 2.0 to be released in July and takes effect on Feb 3.
300-835 CLAUTO: End-of-Life. No replacement.
300-535 SPAUTO: End-of-Life. No replacement.
300-735 SAUTO: End-of-Life. No replacement.
300-910 DEVOPS: End-of-Life. No replacement.
DevNet Expert Lab: Will be rebranded to CCIE Automation Lab. No changes to the blueprint!
This means that going forward, the only way to become CCNP Automation is by combining the core exam with data center or enterprise networking exams. The dedicated exams for Collaboration, Security, Service Provider and DevOps will retire.
Does this mean automation is not important for collaboration, security and service provider technologies, and that we as network engineers can ignore software development practices going forward?
Not at all! The CCIE Automation has a major focus on these technologies (especially Service Provider and DevOps), and they are more relevant than ever. Cisco's decision to migrate the DevNet Expert blueprint version 1.1 without any changes indicates that CCIE Automation is defining exactly the core skills that are expected by an Automation Expert.
Initially I was a bit disappointed to see the DEVOPS exam retire, but here on second thought I can understand the decision. There is a significant overlap between DevOps and DevNet Expert. So if you - like me - can see the potential and value of combining software development with network operations, then CCIE Automation is the way to go.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: What will happen to my current DevNet certification?
A: It will be migrated on February 3, 2026 and Cisco will issue new digital certificates.
Q: What will happen to my current DevNet Expert number?
A: This is still being sorted out, and no public info is available yet.
Q: Will I get a new physical certificate / plaque?
A: After February 3 you can order new and updated physical items, at a cost.
Q: What will happen to DevNet Expert Training?
A: I will continue to deliver world-class training for CCIE Automation, but when you visit my website you may notice the new domain name :-)
