Ultimate Guide to Arista Academy Certifications
Thinking about leveling up your networking career with Arista? This ultimate guide to Arista Academy certifications breaks down everything: learning tracks, hands‑on lab exams, open‑book rules, costs, prep strategies, and the latest program changes. If you’re a student or early‑career engineer, you’ll learn exactly where to start, how to study, and how to turn these credentials into real‑world skills that hiring managers recognize.
Why Arista Academy Certifications Matter
Arista’s certification program is built around how networks are designed and run today. Instead of memorizing factoids, you prove what you can actually configure, automate, and troubleshoot—on lab gear, under time pressure, and with the same workflows teams use in production.
Certifications are hands‑on, practical, and open‑book under online proctoring, so you’re rewarded for real skill, not test tricks. This format mirrors the way you’ll design, deploy, and operate Arista EOS and CloudVision in the field.
The program is organized into architecture‑based Learning Tracks—Data Center, Campus, WAN Routing, Automation, and Network Foundations—so what you learn maps directly to real jobs.
Actionable takeaway: If you’re choosing your first vendor certification, pick the track that matches the network you want to work on (data center, campus, WAN, or automation). Your study time will pay off faster.
What’s New: Program Structure and Timeline Changes
Arista evolved from the older “ACE Lx” system to modern Learning Tracks with role‑specific sub‑tracks.
Current credentials: ACE Level 1 (Associate), Level 3 (Specialist—two sub‑tracks per domain: Operations and Engineering), Level 5 (Professional—auto‑awarded when you earn both L3 sub‑tracks in a domain), and Level 7 (Expert).
Unified policy and retirements:
A 2‑year recertification policy applies (see the Recertification section below).
Legacy L1–L5 exams reached end‑of‑life on December 31, 2025.
Level 6 is retired; Level 7 Expert remains, with a dedicated L7 recert exam targeted for Q1 2026. Check your portal for current availability.
Migration guidance: Arista provides a one‑page migration overview to help legacy ACE holders map to the new track‑based structure.
Actionable takeaway: If you hold a legacy ACE (L1–L5), plan your next renewal or upgrade using the Learning Track exams to stay aligned with the unified policy.
The Arista Learning Tracks (and Where to Start)
Arista organizes skills around real architectures. Each domain has two sub‑tracks—Operations (Ops) and Engineering (Eng)—at the Specialist (L3) level.
Network Foundations: EOS basics, essential switching/routing, CLI confidence, and core constructs. Ideal for beginners.
Data Center: EVPN/VXLAN fabrics, BGP underlay/overlay, design and operations with CloudVision. If you want to build leaf‑spine fabrics and automate at scale, start here.
Campus: Wired and wireless campus operations, CloudVision for assurance/telemetry, onboarding, and security. Great for campus administrators and NOC analysts.
WAN Routing: DC/SP/edge designs, protocols, and operations across distributed environments.
Automation: Git, Jinja, Python, Ansible, Arista Validated Designs (AVD), and CloudVision automation workflows. Ideal for NetDevOps‑minded learners.
Actionable takeaway: If you’re brand new to Arista, complete Foundations first, then pick Data Center or Campus based on your target role. If you already deploy fabrics, jump straight to DC Specialist (L3).
Certification Levels Explained (L1 → L3 → L5 → L7)
Level 1 (Associate): A single 2‑hour hands‑on lab validates your EOS and networking fundamentals.
Level 3 (Specialist): Each architecture has two 4‑hour sub‑track exams: Operations and Engineering. Pass one or both.
Level 5 (Professional): Automatically granted when you hold both L3 sub‑tracks (Ops + Eng) within the same domain (for example, DC Ops + DC Eng).
Level 7 (Expert): Expert certification remains. Pre‑qualification applies (previously tied to L6, now retired); verify current L7 eligibility during registration.
Actionable takeaway: If “Professional” is your goal, target both L3 sub‑tracks in your chosen domain to auto‑earn L5.
Exam Mechanics: Hands‑On, Open‑Book, Online
Arista exams are performance‑based labs that simulate real work.
Format and proctoring:
Online, self‑service scheduling with Honorlock proctoring (webcam/mic required).
Open‑book: You may consult documentation and your prepared notes/scripts (review the official rules).
Duration:
L1: Approximately 2 hours.
L3 (per sub‑track): Approximately 4 hours.
Scoring and retakes:
Pass/fail results via email—typically ~3 business days (L7 may take up to 5).
Standard retake wait period is 14 days; higher‑tier attempts may have longer escalations.
Exam codes:
Training partners list typical patterns (for example, AN‑FN‑OP01 for Foundations Ops; AN‑DC‑OP01 / AN‑DC‑EN01 for DC). Treat these as guidance and confirm within the Arista portal.
Actionable takeaway: Simulate the exam environment ahead of time—Honorlock system check, dual‑monitor rules, and how you’ll navigate your “open‑book” references quickly under time pressure.
Preparation Roadmaps (Beginner, DC Engineer, NetDevOps)
Beginner (target L1 in 6–8 weeks):
Complete the Foundations Digital track modules.
Spend at least 20–30 hours in labs to build EOS fluency.
Sit the 2‑hour L1 exam, then start the DC or Campus Operations track.
Experienced DC engineer (target DC L3 Eng in 8–12 weeks):
Skim Foundations for EOS deltas if you’re brand‑new to Arista CLI.
Focus DC Engineering modules and all DC labs (EVPN/VXLAN, underlay/overlay BGP, MLAG/ECMP, CloudVision workflows).
Attempt DC Eng (4 hours), then DC Ops to auto‑earn L5.
Automation‑oriented learner (target Automation L3 → L5):
Work through Automation modules on Git/Jinja/Python/Ansible and CloudVision collections.
Build a cEOS‑lab or containerlab environment. Practice AVD/pyAVD and ANTA.
Pass one sub‑track, then the other, to achieve L5.
Actionable takeaway: Treat each 4‑hour Specialist exam like a marathon: time‑box each task, plan quick validations, and leave 10–15 minutes for final checks.
Your Open‑Book Strategy (The Smart Way)
Open‑book is a huge advantage—if you prepare.
Build a reference “kit”:
Official product pages for CloudVision/EOS for workflows and terminology.
AVD docs and your personal Jinja/Ansible snippets for Automation and DC.
Your own checklists for common tasks (e.g., EVPN/VXLAN bring‑up, MLAG sanity, BGP underlay/overlay checks).
Practice navigation:
Rehearse how you’ll search docs fast.
Memorize anchor sections you use often (e.g., AVD inventory structure, CVP change control steps).
Recreate stress:
Use a timer on lab tasks. Give yourself “no internet” sprints except official docs to mimic real‑exam focus.
Actionable takeaway: One weekend before test day, run a full 2–4 hour mock lab with your reference kit only. You’ll discover weak spots long before the clock is real.
Real‑World Skills You’ll Build
Data Center engineers:
Design and deploy EVPN/VXLAN leaf‑spine fabrics, validate underlay/overlay, and manage changes using CloudVision.
Campus operators:
Zero‑touch onboarding, endpoint analytics, assurance dashboards, and segmentation via CloudVision.
Automation pros:
GitOps workflows with AVD/pyAVD and CI validation using ANTA; API‑driven change control through CloudVision.
Actionable takeaway: Tie your certification study to a small “portfolio” project—e.g., an AVD demo repo or a CloudVision change‑control runbook—to show employers tangible outcomes.
Costs, Subscriptions, and Budgeting
All Access subscription:
Listed at US$4,995. It “includes content, one certification exam, and 40 hours of dedicated lab time per track.” This is the easiest way to pursue multiple tracks.
Standalone exams:
Arista doesn’t publish a single global price list. Verify fees at checkout in your portal. Community reports place a recent L3 attempt in the mid‑hundreds of dollars (directional only).
Time investment:
Expect 45–60+ hours per specialized track, plus the 4‑hour exam block.
Actionable takeaway: If your goal is multi‑track (e.g., DC + Automation), All Access is typically more cost‑effective than paying à la carte.
Recertification: How to Stay Current
Validity:
Certifications issued after the policy rolled out recertify every 2 years from their issue date.
Unified rule:
Renewing one certification at a given level extends other certs at the same or lower level. If you hold L7 Expert, it satisfies lower‑level recert requirements.
Legacy EOL:
Legacy L1–L5 exams ended December 31, 2025. Use Learning Track exams moving forward.
Actionable takeaway: Plan to renew one credential you’re strongest in; you’ll refresh your broader portfolio thanks to the unified recert policy.
Career Value and ROI (Why Employers Care)
Practical signal:
L3 Specialist is commonly viewed as Arista’s “working engineer” milestone—candidates can actually deploy and troubleshoot, not just recite theory.
Operational benefits to highlight:
EOS and CloudVision emphasize consistent automation, telemetry, and change control—efficiency levers you can demonstrate in interviews and on the job.
Actionable takeaway: In your resume and interviews, quantify time saved, change errors reduced, or validation steps automated using AVD/CloudVision—link your cert learning to impact.
Step‑By‑Step Plans (Pick Your Path)
New to networking/Arista (L1 in 6–8 weeks):
Finish Foundations Digital + labs.
Book the 2‑hour L1.
Begin DC Operations next.
DC engineer (L3 Eng in 8–12 weeks):
Review EOS deltas.
Complete DC Eng modules + labs (EVPN/VXLAN, BGP U/O, CVP).
Attempt DC Eng (4h), then DC Ops for auto L5.
Automation path (L3 → L5):
Work Automation modules and AVD/pyAVD lab.
Validate with ANTA.
Pass both sub‑tracks for L5.
Actionable takeaway: Time‑box learning (e.g., 6 hours/week) and schedule your first exam at the start of your plan—deadlines drive steady progress.
FAQs
Q1: Are Arista Academy exams multiple‑choice?
A1: No. They are hands‑on, open‑book, online lab exams with Honorlock proctoring.
Q2: Do I need to pass L1 before taking an L3 Specialist exam?
A2: Not required. You can enter the level that matches your skills, though completing the relevant Digital track and labs is strongly recommended.
Q3: How long are the exams, and how soon do I get results?
A3: L1 is about 2 hours; L3 sub‑tracks are about 4 hours. Results typically arrive by email in ~3 business days (L7 up to 5).
Q4: How do I earn L5 Professional?
A4: Hold both L3 sub‑track credentials (Ops and Eng) within the same domain (e.g., DC Ops + DC Eng). L5 is then auto‑awarded.
Q5: How much do exams cost?
A5: Arista does not publish a universal fee schedule; confirm pricing in your portal. The All Access subscription (US$4,995) includes content, one exam, and 40 lab hours per track. Community reports suggest an L3 attempt is in the mid‑hundreds of dollars—directional only.
Conclusion:
Arista Academy certifications are designed for doers. If you want credentials that prove you can deploy EVPN/VXLAN, automate with AVD, and run networks through CloudVision, this program is for you. Pick your track, plan your study blocks, rehearse your open‑book workflow, and book that first exam. Your future self—and your hiring manager—will thank you.