The Fortinet Certified Professional (FCP) in Secure Networking is a role-based certification designed for security and network professionals who deploy, manage, and troubleshoot Fortinet solutions in enterprise environments. It validates hands-on skills across FortiOS, centralized management, switching, wireless, or network access control - making it an ideal credential for network administrators and security engineers.
Certification Requirements at a Glance
To become FCP in Secure Networking certified, you must:
●Pass the NSE 4 exam, and
●Pass ONE of the NSE 5 exams
●Both exams must be completed within two years
●The certification remains valid for two years from the date of your second exam
Required Exams
NSE4_FGT_AD-7.6 Fortinet NSE 4 – FortiOS 7.6 Administrator
Skills Measured
●Firewall policies and NAT
●Routing and SD-WAN
●VPNs (IPsec/SSL)
●User authentication and security profiles
●High availability (HA) and system operations
After earning NSE 4, select a focus area that matches your current or future job role. Any one of the following exams qualifies:
●FCP_FMG_AD-7.6 NSE 5 – FortiManager 7.6 Administrator: Centralized security management
●NSE6_FNC-7.2 NSE 5 – FortiNAC 7.2 Administrator: Network access control & zero trust
●NSE6_FSW-7.2 NSE 5 – FortiSwitch 7.2 Administrator: Secure campus switching
●FCP_FWF_AD-7.4 NSE 5 – Secure Wireless LAN 7.4 Administrator: FortiAP & wireless security
You only need one, but completing multiple helps expand your specialization.
Who Should Pursue This Certification?
●Network Security Engineers
●Fortinet Administrators
●SOC & NOC Support Roles
●IT Infrastructure Engineers
If you manage FortiGate in production and work with switching, NAC, or centralized management, this certification fits perfectly.
Preparation Tips for Success
Study Resources: Official Fortinet NSE Institute courses (free self-paced options available)
Hands-on Labs: FortiGate VM lab + FortiManager/FortiSwitch trial environments
Documentation: Fortinet Docs & Cookbooks for configuration scenarios
Practice Exams: Use real-scenario troubleshooting questions to prepare
Focus on simulations and GUI/CLI operations - the exams emphasize practical knowledge.
Certification Validity & Renewal
●Valid for two years
●Renewal requires retaking or upgrading relevant exams
●Fortinet may release updated versions tied to new OS releases, so stay current!
Achieving the FCP in Secure Networking certification demonstrates that you can secure, optimize, and manage Fortinet-driven networks - skills that are highly valued by employers worldwide. With a straightforward two-exam pathway and strong hands-on focus, this certification is one of the best stepping-stones toward advanced Fortinet credentials like FCP in Security Operations or FCX (Expert).
