Fortinet · Professional Certification · Professional
Fortinet Certified Professional (FCP) – Network Security
Crydd Score 58
Demand Growing
Career Value Strong
Recognition Strong
FCP Network Security at a glance
- Provider
- Fortinet
- Credential type
- Professional Certification
- Exam required
- Yes
- Category
- Networking
- Level
- Professional
- Cost
- About $400 per exam (two exams required)
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Time to earn
- 3–6 months
- Validity
- 2 years
- Format
- Two exams (a core plus an elective), proctored via Pearson VUE
- Prerequisites
- Fundamentals-level knowledge (FCF/FCA) recommended
What is FCP Network Security?
Fortinet's professional-level network-security credential, earned by passing two exams within the FortiGate-centred track. It is the current successor to the mid-tier NSE 4/5 certifications after Fortinet's 2024 program restructure into FCF/FCA/FCP/FCSS/FCX.
Skills it covers
- FortiGate administration
- Firewall policy
- VPN and SD-WAN
- Network security operations
Is FCP Network Security worth it? The Crydd Verdict
CS 58Choose it if
You administer or want to administer FortiGate firewalls — Fortinet holds a large share of the firewall market, so the credential maps directly to a common, well-paid security-operations role.
Consider alternatives if
Your organisation runs Cisco or Palo Alto security stacks — the vendor-matching credential (CCNP Security, PCNSE) will speak more directly to those roles.
Why we say so
Network-security demand keeps rising and Fortinet is one of the most deployed firewall vendors, so hands-on FortiGate proficiency backed by the professional credential is genuinely marketable.
Market demand
FortiGate is among the most widely deployed firewall platforms, and network-security roles in Fortinet shops list the certification directly; demand tracks the broader rise in security hiring.
Where FCP Network Security takes you
- Network Security Engineer
- Network Engineer
- Cybersecurity Analyst
Career roadmaps show where this certification fits in each path. See the roadmaps.
Related certifications
Curated connections from the catalog — each labelled with how it relates to FCP Network Security, so you know why it’s here.
Careers FCP Network Security leads to
The professional paths this certification genuinely serves — browse every relevant credential for each.
A sensible order
Where FCP Network Security sits on the path — build up, then step on.
