Heads up, cybersecurity pros! Palo Alto Networks is shaking things up big time with their certifications. They're moving away from "product-specific" exams and diving into a role-based framework. This is awesome because it means your certs will align with the real-world job you do every day!
For those interested in understanding these shifts, Fuel User Group recently held workshop sessions, specifically addressing Palo Alto Networks certifications and their evolution. These sessions covered the move from product-centric to role-based certifications, detailing the new structure encompassing Foundation, Professional, Specialist, and Architect levels, and provided insights into available training resources. You can catch the recording to get up to speed on these vital changes: Fuel Workshop: Palo Alto Networks Certifications.
The Big Picture: Why This Matters to YOU
First off, yes, some older exams are taking a bow. PCNSA (for Network Security Administrator) already waved goodbye on August 31, 2024. PCNSE (the Network Security Engineer one) is next, retiring on July 31, 2025. If you've got either, good news: they're still valid for two years from when you passed.
It's all about making certifications role-relevant now. Palo Alto Networks is deep into this transition, with a lot of certs already updated and the rest arriving soon.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the new levels:
1. Foundational Level
- Perfect for: Anyone new to cybersecurity, whether you’re a fresh grad or making a career jump (like, say, from web dev to security).
- What you learn: The absolute basics of cybersecurity.
- The Certs:
- Cybersecurity Apprentice: This one's broad – it's about general cybersecurity, no specific Palo Alto products.
- Cybersecurity Practitioner: Here, you'll see how Palo Alto Networks solutions fit into those foundational concepts.
- How you learn: This is digital learning only, and it's completely FREE! You can learn at your own pace.
2. Professional Level:
- Great for: Folks who need a solid, high-level understanding of Palo Alto Networks products – maybe you're doing basic operations or getting familiar with the interfaces.
- The Certs:
- Network Security Professional: (Used to be called "Generalist," but "Professional" is the new, more accurate name as of May 30, 2025). This covers Firewall, Prisma Access, and Prisma SD-WAN.
- Security Operations Professional: Covers Cortex XDR, XSOAR, and XSIAM.
- Cloud Security Professional: This is a brand-new cert (also launched May 30, 2025), focusing on Cortex Cloud security.
- How you learn: Like the Foundational level, this is digital learning only.
3. Specialist Level:
- Your Go-To if: You're hands-on! You deploy, design, configure, manage, or troubleshoot security solutions daily.
- Two flavors:
- Engineer Level (Day One Operations): Focuses on setting things up, installation, and initial configuration.
- Analyst Level (Day Two Operations): Dives into daily operations, deep analysis, management, and troubleshooting.
- How you learn: You get the best of both worlds: live, instructor-led training (ILT) and digital learning.
- No Mandatory Prerequisites: Feel ready for Specialist? Go for it! You don't have to take the lower-level exams first, though a quick review of the basics is always a smart move.
4. Architect Level:
- The Top Tier: For the ultimate security architects designing complex solutions.
- Status: Still in the works, aiming for full launch by the end of 2026. Expect digital learning to come first for these.
Diving Deeper: What's Changing for Specific Products?
Here’s a closer look at the Specialist certifications by product area:
Network Security
- Firewall:
- Old vs. New: The Next-Gen Firewall Engineer exam is the new hotness, replacing PCNSE. There's also the Next-Gen Firewall Analyst exam, which leans heavily into operational analysis, especially with Strata Cloud Manager (SCM).
- Training: Your classic EDU-210, EDU-220 (Panorama), and EDU-330 (Troubleshooting) courses are still good for the Engineer exam, but expect new, snappier names for these soon!
- Heads Up for Engineer Exam: A good chunk (24%) of the exam covers Integration and Automation (think cloud NGFW, CN-Series, AI runtime security, and APIs). You'll need to hit digital learning hard for these topics, as they're not fully covered in live classes.
- Analyst Training: Live training for the Analyst level is "to be determined" as SCM evolves.
- Prisma Access (Secure Service Edge - SSE):
- The Main Cert: The Security Service Edge (SSE) Engineer exam. No analyst cert planned here yet.
- Training: New live classes focus on managing Prisma Access with Strata Cloud Manager (SCM), replacing the old EDU-318.
- Don't Skip Digital Learning: It's essential for topics like Cloud Identity Engine, Prisma Access Browser, IoT Security, SaaS Security, DLP, CASB, and Remote Browser Isolation, which the ILT doesn't fully cover.
- Prisma SD-WAN:
- Training: The Prisma SD-WAN Design and Operation training (formerly EDU-238) is ready to go.
- Exam Alert: An Engineer-level exam is coming soon, likely between August 2025 and January 2026.
Security Operations (SecOps)
- Cortex XSIAM:
- Exams: Choose between XSIAM Engineer (for setup and deployment) and XSIAM Analyst (for deep data investigation).
- Training: Both ILT and digital learning are available. The old EDU-270 training has been split into these two distinct role-based courses.
- Cortex XDR:
- New Exams: The XDR Engineer and XDR Analyst exams are out now! The old PCDR exam is officially retired.
- Training: Legacy EDU-260/262 trainings are getting updated. Keep an eye out for new digital learning for these exams, as it's due very soon.
- Cortex XSOAR:
- Current State: Still using older training (EDU-380, v6) and the PCSAE exam.
- What's Next: Updated training and new exams (aligned with product v8) are on the horizon, expected in the next few months.
- Cortex Cloud (formerly Prisma Cloud):
- Heads Up: This product was recently rebranded, and its interface is still evolving.
- Cert Status: While the Professional-level exam is available, Specialist-level exams aren't expected until late 2025. It's probably smart to wait for the new training and exams here, given the product's changes.
- Cortex Expander: No dedicated exam planned, as its content is covered within the XSIAM exam.
Your Exam Success Playbook: How to Prepare
Palo Alto Networks has packed a ton of resources to help you pass. Here’s your guide:
- Official Resources Are King: Always hit up the Tech Docs (admin guides) and LIVEcommunity (forums, videos). These are your authoritative sources.
- Digital Learning (learn.paloaltonetworks.com): The Learning Center, Palo Alto Networks new personalized and dynamic hub for education, has officially replaced Beacon as the company’s primary digital learning platform. This is HUGE for self-study:
- It's your main, most up-to-date resource.
- It offers FREE, bite-sized modules with built-in assessments (usually 5-15 questions per mini-topic).
- Super Tip: Do all the assessments! They add up to 200-500 questions per exam. This isn't about memorizing answers; it's about making sure you really get the concepts.
- Instructor-Led Training (ILT):
- These live classes offer priceless hands-on lab experience and cover core features.
- Heads up: ILT covers a subset of digital learning content due to time limits.
- No recordings of ILT sessions are available. You can take them virtually, in person, or even hybrid through authorized training partners.
- Exam Data Sheet and Blueprint: Always check this for your specific exam. It spells out:
Length: Most are 90 minutes.
- Format: Multiple-choice (some drag-and-drop). No simulation exams.
- Cost: Exams run about $110 to $200 USD, depending on the level (foundational ones are usually cheaper). (Factor in currency exchange!)
- Prerequisites: Remember, these are recommendations, not rules. Pick the exam that fits your role. Note that you do NOT need to obtain any foundational or lower-level certifications before directly attempting the more advanced certifications.
- The blueprint section is key – it breaks down exactly what topics are on the exam and how much they count.
- Ditch the "Brain Dumps"! Seriously, avoid these. They're often outdated, unreliable, and using them is an exam policy violation. Stick to the official, constantly updated digital learning materials.
- Passing Your Exam: You'll get a "provisional pass" right after. Then, Palo Alto Networks security team does a quick review (they might even watch a video of your exam!) to ensure everything was fair. You'll get your final result email within a day or two.
- Retakes: If you don't pass, you'll need to pay the full exam fee again. You'll get a detailed breakdown of your performance across each section of the test. This provides unprecedented clarity on areas where you need to improve. This detailed breakdown has never been offered before, and we're confident it will significantly enhance your learning journey.
This new, role-based approach from Palo Alto Networks is all about making your cybersecurity journey clearer and more effective. By tapping into the official resources, you'll be well on your way to boosting your skills and crushing your career goals. Good luck and stay secure!
