Network and security pros can benefit from adding vendor-neutral or vendor-specific wireless networking certifications to their resumes.
Wireless networking is a hot area for professionals looking to bolster their skills and expand their certifications. Whether you’re just beginning a career in IT, working in the field since before Wi-Fi existed, or even coming from a non-IT role, there are certifications available to validate wireless know-how.
Popular options come from Certified Wireless Network Professionals (CWNP), which offers a vendor-neutral program. These certifications are especially valuable for those not tied to a specific networking brand. Even for individuals already working with a preferred vendor, CWNP credentials provide deeper insight into 802.11 standards and radio frequency (RF) technology, without focusing on proprietary features. Vendor-neutral wireless certifications are also valuable for security professionals, particularly those interested in extending ethical hacking or penetration testing from wired to wireless environments.
In addition, several companies that manufacture Wi-Fi equipment and platforms offer vendor-specific certifications. One is Cisco, which recently launched a new wireless certification track within its learning program and debuted two new wireless certifications: CCNP Wireless and CCIE Wireless. (Testing is set to begin in March 2026 for these two new Cisco certs, so our list of certifications includes Cisco’s currently available wireless certification tracks.)
Read on to learn more about how these seven Wi-Fi certifications can enhance technical expertise and help take networking careers to the next level.
Top Wi-Fi certifications
- Certified Wireless Sales Specialist (CWSS)
- Certified Wireless Technology Specialist (CWTS)
- Certified Wireless Network Administrator (CWNA)
- GIAC Assessing and Auditing Wireless Networks (GAWN)
- Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Enterprise Wireless
- HPE Aruba Networking Certified Associate-Campus Access (ACA-CA)
- Extreme Certified Professional (ECP) in ExtremeWireless Cloud
1. Certified Wireless Sales Specialist (CWSS)
The Certified Wireless Sales Specialist (CWSS), previously offered as the Certified Wireless Specialist (CWS), is a vendor-neutral certification that validates the knowledge of wireless sales, marketing, entry-level support, and decision-making professionals related to 802.11 wireless networks. The certification exam covers four knowledge domains including: defining basic RF characteristics (15%), describing wireless networking features and functions (30%), identifying wireless hardware and software (30%), and understanding organizational goals (25%). The exam requires a passing score of 70% with a total of 60 questions to be answered within a 90-minute timeframe.
- Organization: Certified Wireless Network Professionals (CWNP)
- Price: $174.99 for the CWSS-102 exam
- How to prepare: CWNP offers several resources to prepare including: a live training class, a self-paced training kit, a study and reference guide, an electronic practice test, eLearning modules, an eLearning bundle, and a test and go bundle.
2. Certified Wireless Technology Specialist (CWTS)
The Certified Wireless Technology Specialist (CWTS), formerly the Certified Wireless Technician (CWT), is a entry-level, vendor-neutral WLAN certification for those in IT who want to prove they can do the basic install and configuration of wireless access points (AP). Professionals should be able to gather information from a design specification document to properly configure an AP and troubleshoot individual connection issues. The certification exam focuses on basic RF characteristics (15%), wireless client features and capabilities (25%), wireless AP features and capabilities (25%), configuration of 802.11 security parameters (15%), and troubleshooting common WLAN connection issues (20%). Candidates must pass the CWTS exam offered through the CWNP learning management system, and it requires a passing score of 70% with 60 total questions to be completed in 90 minutes.
- Organization: Certified Wireless Network Professionals (CWNP)
- Price: $149.99 for the CWTS-102 exam
- How to prepare: CWNP offers several resources to prepare including: a live training class, a self-paced training kit, a study and reference guide, an electronic practice test, an eLearning module, an eLearning bundle, and a test and go bundle.
3. Certified Wireless Network Administrator (CWNA)
The Certified Wireless Network Administrator (CWNA) vendor-neutral certification is more in-depth than the CWST, although there is no prerequisite for this certification beyond the recommendation to have basic knowledge of networking (routers, switches, TCP/IP, etc.) and one year of work experience with wireless LAN technologies. It covers the design and configuration of WLANs as well as RF technologies, antenna concepts, WLAN hardware and software, network design, installation, and management. It also covers wireless standards and organizations, 802.11 network architecture, WLAN security, troubleshooting, and site survey instructions. To earn a CWNA certification, professionals must take the 60-question CWNA exam within 90 minutes at a Prometric Testing Center and pass with a 70% or higher.
- Organization: Certified Wireless Network Professionals (CWNP)
- Price: $274.99 for the CWNA-109 exam
- How to prepare: CWNP provides a CWNA certification self-study kit, which includes a study guide, practice test, and exam voucher, as well as a live training wireless network certification class.
4. GIAC Assessing and Auditing Wireless Networks (GAWN)
The GIAC Assessing and Auditing Wireless Networks (GAWN) vendor-neutral certification is for technologists who need to assess the security of wireless networks. This certification covers attacking weak encruption, 802.11 fuzzing attacks, and bluetooth attacks. It also focuses on bridging the air gaps, denial of service on wireless networks, high-frequency RFID attacks, and RFID applications. The certification also validates knowledge of hotspots, low-frequency RFID attacks, sniffing wireless, wireless basics, and wireless client attacks. GIAC offers in-person live training as well as online live courses, plus on-demand classes. There are no hard prerequisites for this certification, but related work experience and some college-level courses are recommended. The 75-question exam has a 2-hour limit and is proctored remotely via ProctorU or in-person via Pearson VUE. Professionals must receive a passing score of 70%.
- Organization: Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC)
- Price: $999 for the GAWN Exam
- How to prepare: Attend live classes in-person or online, or utilize on-demand online classes. Practice exam also provide a simulation of the real exam and can help professionals determine if they are fully prepared.
5. Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Enterprise Wireless
The Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Enterprise Wireless vendor-specific certification would prove your enterprise wireless knowledge and skills, particularly within a Cisco environment. (The CCIE Wireless certification is an evolution of this certification, with new testing starting in March 2026.) Though there’s no formal prerequisite for this certification, it’s recommended to have five to seven years of experience designing, deploying, operating and optimizing enterprise Wi-Fi networks. This certification requires passage of two exams. First a qualifying 120-minute exam that covers core enterprise technologies, which is also the base exam for three other certifications as well. Then, there’s a hands-on 8-hour lab exam that covers enterprise wireless networks through entire network lifecycle, from designing and deploying to operating and optimizing. Exams can be taken online or in-person, proctored via Pearson VUE.
- Organization: Cisco Systems
- Price: $400 for ENCOR 350-401 and $1,600 for CCIE Enterprise Wireless v1.0
- How to prepare: Attend live classes in-person or online, utilize on-demand online classes, or practice labs.
6. HPE Aruba Networking Certified Associate-Campus Access (ACA-CA)
The HPE Aruba Networking Certified Associate-Campus Access (ACA-CA) vendor-specific certification verifies that candidates have the fundamental knowledge, skills, and practical experience required to configure and manage modern, open standards-based networking solutions using HPE Aruba Networking wired, wireless, security, and management technologies. This certification and exam validate the candidate’s basic wired and wireless network knowledge, including routing/switching, basic RF concepts, basic security, connectivity, monitoring, and reporting.There is no formal prerequisite, but individuals need an HPE Learner ID, which is available to HPE customers or through partners. The 60-question exam has a 90-minute time limit is proctored via Pearson VUE, taken either online or in-person.
- Organization: HPE Aruba
- Price: $260 for the HPE6-A85 exam
- How to prepare: The HPE Aruba Networking Certified Associate-Campus Access (HPE6-A85) official certification study guide is available as hardcover ($60) or eBook ($50) to enable professionals to learn at their own pace.
7. Extreme Certified Professional (ECP) in ExtremeWireless Cloud
The Extreme Certified Professional (ECP) in ExtremeWireless Cloud vendor-specific certification validates IT professionals’ comprehensive theoretical and hands-on knowledge of ExtremeCloud IQ wireless deployments. The certification validates an individual’s ability to design, configure, manage, and troubleshoot ExtremeCloud IQ wireless deployments at a professional level. The exam includes a multiple-choice theoretical test followed by a hands-on lab assessment day, where candidates complete practical configuration tasks in a supervised environment. The certification exam is proctored by Extreme Networks Authorized Training Partners (ATPs).
- Organization: Extreme Networks
- Price: $485, depending on the training provider.
- How to prepare: Attend Extreme Academy self-paced courses and virtual or in-person instructor-led sessions with hands-on exercises.
More on certifications:
- 10 network observability certifications to boost IT operations skills: These certifications can validate IT experience with telemetry, traffic analysis, performance monitoring, and anomaly detection in hybrid network environments.
- AIOps certifications to elevate your IT career: Cisco, IBM, Microsoft, AWS, and others are offering training and certifications that can help IT pros demonstrate expertise in using artificial intelligence for IT operations, or AIOps.
- Cisco doubles down on AI with new, updated certifications: Cisco announced new and updated certifications to support the AI-enabled workforce.
- Top data storage certifications to sharpen your skills: “As organizations grapple with exponential data growth and complex hybrid cloud environments, IT leaders and professionals who can effectively manage, optimize and secure data storage are indispensable,” says Gina Smith, research director at IDC.
This article is an updated version of our original feature, published Aug. 18, 2023. The new version includes additional certification options and removes some that are no longer available.
