What You Need to Know and What’s Next
What You Need to Know and What’s Next
In a significant shift for the Palo Alto Networks certification landscape, the PCNSE (Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Engineer) certification exam is officially scheduled for retirement on July 31, 2025. While this may come as a surprise to many security professionals, it signals an evolution in how Palo Alto Networks aligns certification programs with today’s cybersecurity challenges.
What’s Happening?
- PCNSE, PCCSE, and PCSAE exams is retired on July 31, 2025.
- Existing certifications will remain valid for two years from the date of achievement, even after the exam is retired.
- The legacy certification model was heavily product-focused. The new direction? Role-based, job-ready skill validation.
What’s Replacing PCNSE?
There is no direct replacement for the PCNSE. The new certification framework is designed around validating real-world, role-based competencies instead of product-specific knowledge.
Here’s what you should consider pursuing instead:
- Network Security Generalist
- Network Security Analyst
- Next-Generation Firewall Engineer
These new certifications focus on practical skills aligned with evolving job roles in network security. Whether you're managing firewalls, analyzing threats, or architecting secure environments, these credentials are designed to better reflect the realities of modern cybersecurity careers.
What About PCCSE and PCSAE?
The PCCSE (Prisma Certified Cloud Security Engineer) and PCSAE (Palo Alto Networks Certified Security Automation Engineer) certifications are also being phased out on the same timeline.
- These certifications will remain active and valid until their expiration (2 years from your achievement date).
- Expect new Cortex XSOAR and cloud security-focused certifications to be announced soon.
Stay tuned to Palo Alto Networks for updates tailored to automation, cloud, and extended detection and response (XDR) capabilities.
Partners: What Should You Know?
If you’re part of the NextWave Partner Program, certification changes may impact your compliance requirements. Make sure to refer directly to official partner guidelines for updates related to certification requirements.
Why This Matters
Cybersecurity is a constantly evolving field. As threats become more sophisticated and roles more specialized, Palo Alto Networks is pivoting to a more agile, relevant, and role-focused certification model. This shift ensures professionals are prepared not just to use the tools—but to solve the problems that the tools are designed to address.
Whether you're a seasoned PCNSE holder or just starting your journey in network security, now is a great time to assess your certification goals, map out a plan, and adapt with confidence.
