My name is Andrew Reynolds, and I recently passed my FCX lab exam and achieved the FCX certification. This is the first in a series of 4 posts from myself, and the beginning of a larger series by others, on the FCX certification and our experience. The goal is to provide some insight for potential FCX candidates into what is required to achieve the pinnacle of Fortinet certification and outline the benefits (both tangible and intangible) that each of us has gotten from the process.
Other posts in this series can be fond at:
Post 2 – Study Tracker
Post 3 – Andrew’s Journey to the Written
Post 4a- Lab Exam Part 1
Post 4b- Lab Exam Part 2

What is the FCX

To start off with, I thought I would provide a quick overview of what the FCX is.

As I previously stated the Fortinet Certified Expert (or FCX, previously known as the NSE8) is the highest level of certification offered by Fortinet and is designed to test a “candidate’s comprehensive and in-depth ability to design, configure, and troubleshoot network security using Fortinet products in complex networks”. In short it sits alongside other Expert tier certifications from other vendors within the IT Security industry such as:

•  Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert: Security (CCIE: Security)
• Aruba Certified Expert – Network Security (ACX)
• Juniper Security Expert (JNCIE-SEC)

To name just a few.

Like these exams, the FCX consists of a “written” exam (multiple choice) and a lab exam which the candidate must pass in order to achieve the certification. These exams aim to push a candidate to their limits, with candidates not only needing to have in-depth knowledge and understanding of IT Security theory, protocols, and practical application, but the ability to apply this knowledge quickly and accurately in a lab environment on real systems. Having to complete these tasks in the real world raises the bar – you can’t bluff your way through the lab, you need to know what you are doing.

For in-depth information on the FCX exams, you should read the FCX handbook available on the Fortinet certification website here, but to provide a brief overview (information current as of 30^th April 2024):

Written Exam:

• Exam code: NSE8_812
• Language: English only
• How to take it: Pearson VUE Test Centers and OnVUE worldwide (Online)
• Cost: USD 400.00
• Number of questions: 60 Multiple Choice
• Time allowed to complete: 120 minutes

To be blunt, the written exam can test you on anything the following products can do:

• FortiGate
• FortiAnalyzer
• FortiAuthenticator
• FortiManager
• FortiSandbox
• FortiADC
• FortiWeb
• FortiMail
• FortiClient & FortiClientEMS
• FortiSwitch
• FortiAP
• FortiDDoS
• FortiNAC
• FortiExtender
• FortiSIEM
• FortiEDR
• FortiSOAR

A more comprehensive view of the topics covered is available in the FCX handbook but suffice to say that in order to pass the written you need to know a fair bit about all of Fortinet’s main product lines.

Once you have passed the written exam, you are able to attempt the lab exam. You have 2 years from the day you pass the written exam to pass the Lab, otherwise you have to take the written exam again.

Lab (Practical) Exam

The FCX practical exam is a 9 hour long lab which is broken into two sessions – a 5 hour session, and a 4 hour session. Within each session you are also entitled to 2 x 10 minute toilet breaks, and a 1 hour lunch break between the sessions.
In reality, including breaks and setup time this turns the lab into approximately an 11 hour day.

• Exam code: NSE8_870
• Language: English only
• Where can you take it?: Online proctored
• Cost: USD 1600.00
• Number of tasks: 30 – 15 tasks per session.

In the lab exam you can be tested on anything the following products can do:

• FortiGate
  • FortiAnalyzer
  • FortiAuthenticator
  • FortiManager
  • FortiSandbox
  • FortiADC
  • FortiWeb
  • FortiMail
  • FortiClient & FortiClientEMS
  • FortiSwitch