NSE 8 certification: practical exams, cost and requirements
NSE 8 is the top level of Fortinet’s NSE program, now called NSE 8 Cybersecurity Expert. Since the program moved to eight levels on July 15, 2026, you earn it with two hands-on practical exams — a Core exam on-site at Fortinet, then one elective within a year — at $800 each. You first need active NSE 4, NSE 5 or 6, and NSE 7 certifications. The old written exam is discontinued.
- Certification
- NSE 8 Cybersecurity Expert, issued by Fortinet (the earlier exams were named Network Security Expert 8)Fortinet Training Institute NSE 8 page, checked 10 October 2026
- Status
- Restructured on July 15, 2026; the NSE8_812 written exam is discontinuedFortinet NSE training update and Training Helpdesk, checked 10 October 2026
- NSE 8 exam cost
- $800 per practical exam (USD, tax not included)Fortinet Training Helpdesk exam prices, checked 10 October 2026
- Exams
- NSE 8 Core Practical Exam, then one elective practical exam within one yearFortinet Training Helpdesk, checked 10 October 2026
- Format
- Hands-on configuration and troubleshooting, multiple choice, drag and drop; partial credit for selected tasksFortinet Training Institute NSE 8 page, checked 10 October 2026
- Delivery
- Core on-site at selected Fortinet offices and events; electives on-site or online via ProctorUFortinet Training Institute NSE 8 page, checked 10 October 2026
- Duration and passing score
- Not published by Fortinet on the NSE 8 pagesFortinet Training Institute, checked 10 October 2026
- Prerequisites
- Active NSE 4, NSE 5 or NSE 6, and NSE 7 in the same track as the NSE 5 or 6Fortinet Training Helpdesk, checked 10 October 2026
- Validity
- 2 years from the date of the second examFortinet Training Institute NSE 8 page, checked 10 October 2026
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What is the NSE 8 certification?
NSE 8 is the expert level of Fortinet’s NSE certification program. Fortinet says it recognises comprehensive knowledge of network security design, configuration and troubleshooting in complex networks, and it recommends that candidates bring industry experience.
The name has changed over time. The exams were long called “Network Security Expert 8”, the level was later offered as the Fortinet Certified Expert (FCX) in Cybersecurity, and since July 15, 2026 the certification is called NSE 8 Cybersecurity Expert. Fortinet states that FCX holders were awarded the NSE 8 certification in the transition.
Source: Fortinet Training Institute — NSE 8 Cybersecurity Expert. Checked 10 October 2026.
What changed in the NSE 8 certification in 2026?
Effective July 15, 2026, Fortinet moved its certification program from five levels to eight. NSE 8 now sits on top of NSE 4, NSE 5 or 6, and NSE 7, which become hard prerequisites.
The written exam is gone. Fortinet states that the last delivery date for NSE8_812 was December 31, 2025, and that NSE8_812 is discontinued as a prerequisite for initial certification and recertification. As of 2026 the certification consists of two practical exams: a Core exam and one elective.
Existing certifications remain valid until their expiration date, and only active certifications are renewed. If you held the old credential, check its expiry before planning anything else.
Source: Fortinet — NSE training update. Checked 10 October 2026.
NSE 8 exam structure: Core and elective practical exams
You start with the NSE 8 Core Practical Exam. Passing only the Core exam is not a certification: you must then pass one elective practical exam within one year of passing the Core.
Fortinet offers three electives: Secure Networking, Application Security and Security Operations. Pick the one that matches the track of your NSE 5/6 and NSE 7, because the prerequisites are tied to tracks.
Question types are hands-on configuration and troubleshooting, multiple choice and drag and drop. Partial credit is available for selected tasks, and there are no deductions for incorrect answers. Fortinet does not publish the duration, the number of tasks or a passing score on its NSE 8 pages, and the score report arrives within 30 days of the exam.
Source: Fortinet Training Helpdesk — NSE 8 requirements and prerequisites. Checked 10 October 2026.
Where you take the NSE 8 exam
The Core exam is on-site only, at selected Fortinet offices and Fortinet events. Electives can be taken on-site, proctored by Fortinet, or online, proctored through ProctorU.
You must buy the practical exam voucher before you schedule. For on-site sessions you enrol on Fortinet’s schedule page; for an online elective you open a helpdesk ticket, and ProctorU then sends booking emails. You can only take the exams once all prerequisites are complete.
Source: Fortinet Training Helpdesk — Scheduling NSE 8 practical exams. Checked 10 October 2026.
How much does the NSE 8 certification cost?
Fortinet lists NSE 8 practical exams at $800 each, in US dollars and excluding tax. Since the certification needs two practical exams, Core plus one elective, you pay that price twice — and again for any retake.
The prerequisites have their own cost. Fortinet lists NSE 4 to 6 exams at $200; NSE 7 exams cost $200 until November 2, 2026 and $400 from that date. Travel to an on-site Core session is an extra item Fortinet does not price.
For current holders, Fortinet lists an NSE 8 recertification exam at $400.
Source: Fortinet Training Helpdesk — Exam prices. Checked 10 October 2026.
NSE 8 certification requirements and prerequisites
Before you can schedule the Core exam, you need three active certifications: NSE 4 (FortiOS Administrator), an NSE 5 or NSE 6 certification from any of the four tracks, and an NSE 7 certification in the same track as that NSE 5 or 6.
The four tracks are Secure Networking, Security Operations, Cloud Security and SASE. In practice the path is NSE 4, then a track-level NSE 5 or 6, then NSE 7 in the same track, and only then NSE 8.
Source: Fortinet Training Helpdesk — NSE 8 requirements and prerequisites. Checked 10 October 2026.
What is on the NSE 8 practical exams?
Fortinet does not list the topics on its public pages. The complete set of Core and elective topics is in the NSE 8 practical exam handbook, available in the NSE 8 Practical Examination section of the Fortinet training website.
Two rules from Fortinet shape preparation: the exams are based on the current firmware version, with candidates expected to know up to two major releases after the exam’s public launch, and they include break/fix troubleshooting tasks. Reading about features is not enough; you need to find and fix faults on live configurations under time pressure.
Source: Fortinet Training Helpdesk — Topics covered in the NSE 8 practical exams. Checked 10 October 2026.
NSE 8 retakes
If you fail an NSE 8 practical exam, you must wait 30 days before retaking it. With the Core exam on-site only, a retake also means finding the next session at a Fortinet office or event.
Because each attempt costs $800, it pays to be honest about readiness before the first booking rather than treating attempt one as a trial run.
Source: Fortinet Training Institute — NSE 8 Cybersecurity Expert. Checked 10 October 2026.
How long is NSE 8 valid? Recertification
NSE 8 is active for two years from the date of the second exam. To renew, you need to keep the prerequisites active (NSE 4, NSE 5 or 6, and NSE 7 in the same track) and collect 200 activity points; passing NSE 4 to 7 exams earns points, and maintaining an active NSE 7 adds to the points requirement.
There is also a transitional recertification exam for holders whose certification expires before July 31, 2027. Fortinet states it is available until January 31, 2027.
Source: Fortinet Training Institute — NSE 8 Cybersecurity Expert. Checked 10 October 2026.
NSE 8 salary and career value
Fortinet does not publish salary figures for NSE 8 holders, so no salary number appears here. What Fortinet does document is how demanding the level is: three lower certifications in a matching track, two hands-on exams, an on-site Core exam and renewal every two years.
That makes NSE 8 a credential for people whose work is already designing and troubleshooting Fortinet-based networks, not an entry point.
Source: Fortinet — NSE training update. Checked 10 October 2026.
NSE 8 practice questions
Certsqill’s NSE 8 practice questions come with an explanation for every answer option and a readiness score per topic area. Hands-on lab practice for the practical tasks remains essential alongside them.
NSE 8 questions people ask
What is the NSE 8 certification?
The expert level of Fortinet’s NSE program, since July 15, 2026 called NSE 8 Cybersecurity Expert. It requires two practical exams. Source: Fortinet, checked 10 October 2026.
Is NSE 8 still called Network Security Expert?
The earlier exams were named Network Security Expert 8. The current certification name is NSE 8 Cybersecurity Expert. Source: Fortinet Training Institute, checked 10 October 2026.
How much does the NSE 8 exam cost?
$800 per practical exam, USD, tax not included. You need two (Core plus one elective). Source: Fortinet Training Helpdesk, checked 10 October 2026.
Is there still an NSE 8 written exam?
No. NSE8_812 was last delivered on December 31, 2025 and is discontinued as a prerequisite. Source: Fortinet, checked 10 October 2026.
What are the NSE 8 prerequisites?
Active NSE 4, NSE 5 or NSE 6, and NSE 7 in the same track as the NSE 5 or 6. Source: Fortinet Training Helpdesk, checked 10 October 2026.
Can I take the NSE 8 exam online?
Only the electives. The Core exam is on-site at selected Fortinet offices and events; electives are on-site or online via ProctorU. Checked 10 October 2026.
How long is the NSE 8 exam, and what is the passing score?
Fortinet does not publish either on its NSE 8 pages. Partial credit is available for selected tasks. Checked 10 October 2026.
How long is the NSE 8 certification valid?
Two years from the date of the second exam; renewal needs 200 activity points and active prerequisites. Source: Fortinet, checked 10 October 2026.
What salary does an NSE 8 holder earn?
Fortinet does not publish salary data for NSE 8, so we do not quote a figure.
