Certification roadmaps
Your path from beginner to expert
CCNP Collaboration → CCIE Collaboration
From 3 February 2026, CCNP Collaboration requires the 350-801 CLCOR v2.0 core exam plus one concentration exam: 300-815 CLACC (on-premises) or 300-820 CLHCT (hybrid and cloud). CLCOR is also the qualifying exam for the 8-hour CCIE Collaboration practical exam.
At a glance
Step by step
- 1Est. 40–60 h
Foundation
Protocols and UC fundamentals
Build SIP, RTP, QoS and UC architecture knowledge. No exam, but essential for everything that follows.
- 2Est. 120–160 h
Professional (core)
Pass the core exam
350-801CLCOR v2.0: Implementing Cisco Collaboration Core TechnologiesCurrent (v2.0 since Feb 2026)Earns Cisco Certified Specialist – Collaboration Core and qualifies you for the CCIE lab.
- 3Est. 80–120 h
Professional (concentration)
Choose one concentration
300-815 / 300-820CLACC (Advanced Call Control On-Premises) or CLHCT (Hybrid and Cloud Technologies)Current (v2.0 since Feb 2026)CLACC suits engineers running large on-premises estates; CLHCT suits Expressway, Webex Calling and hybrid work. Passing either with CLCOR earns CCNP Collaboration.
- 4Est. 40–60 h
Specialist (optional)
Add contact centre
300-830CLCCE: Implementing Cisco Collaboration Cloud Customer ExperienceNew in 2026Validates Webex Contact Center skills. Valuable for partners and CX-focused engineers.
- 5Est. 400–600 h
Expert
CCIE Collaboration practical exam
CCIE LabCCIE Collaboration v3.1 practical exam (8 hours)CurrentDesign, deploy, operate and optimise complex collaboration solutions under exam conditions.
Teams Administrator Associate → Collaboration Communications Systems Engineer Associate
Microsoft retired MS-720 and the Teams Voice Engineer Expert certification. The current voice path is MS-700 for Teams administration, followed by MS-721 for Teams Phone, PSTN connectivity, meetings and devices.
At a glance
- 1Foundation
- 2Associate
- 3Voice engineer
- 4Specialist
- 5Hybrid expert
Step by step
- 1Est. 20–30 h
Foundation
Voice fundamentals
SIP, codecs, QoS and network readiness, the knowledge Teams administrators most often lack.
- 2Est. 50–70 h
Associate
Teams administration
MS-700Managing Microsoft TeamsCurrentEarns Microsoft 365 Certified: Teams Administrator Associate.
- 3Est. 80–110 h
Associate (voice)
Teams voice engineering
MS-721Collaboration Communications Systems EngineerCurrentEarns Microsoft 365 Certified: Collaboration Communications Systems Engineer Associate. Teams Phone is 40–45% of the exam.
- 4Est. 70–100 h
Specialist
SBC and hybrid voice
Become the engineer who connects Teams to carriers and to Cisco platforms.
Train Collab SBC specialist path
Session border controllers are where Cisco, Microsoft and carriers meet. This path builds the SIP and CUBE expertise that the hardest voice projects depend on.
At a glance
Step by step
- 1Est. 40–55 h
Foundation
SIP fluency and troubleshooting
Read any SIP trace with confidence, then isolate faults methodically.
- 2Est. 50–60 h
Professional
Cisco CUBE Professional
Dial peers, SIP profiles, security, media and high availability.
- 3Est. 50–60 h
Professional
Teams Direct Routing with CUBE
Connect Teams Phone to carriers and CUCM through CUBE.
- 4Est. 60–70 h
Expert
Carrier interconnects and hybrid voice
Multi-carrier interconnects, multi-site routing and shared SBC layers across platforms.
Exam information reflects public announcements from Cisco and Microsoft as of October 2026. Always confirm current exam topics on the Cisco certifications site and Microsoft Learn before booking.
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