FAQ For Datacom Certification and Routing & Switching certification

Q: What is Datacom certification?

A: Datacom, short for Data Communication, belongs to the ICT infrastructure certification category. (Huawei certification includes ICT infrastructure certification and cloud service & platform certification.) As the upgraded version of Routing & Switching certification, Datacom certification was officially released on April 18, 2020(refer to the official website for details of the release time of each certification level). After the parallel period of Routing & Switching certification and Datacom certification ends, Datacom certification will replace Routing & Switching certification as the standard for Huawei to build Datacom talents.

The Datacom certification structure is as below.

Q: What is the relationship between Datacom certification and Routing & Switching certification?

A: Datacom certification is the comprehensive upgraded version of Routing & Switching certification. To ensure smooth switching, the two certifications will be in parallel for a period of time. Routing & Switching certification vouchers will end selling on December 31, 2021, and the exam services will end on June 30, 2022. Therefore, Datacom certification will be in parallel with Routing & Switching certification till June 30, 2022.

From June 30, 2022 on, Datacom certification will replace Routing & Switching certification as the standard for Huawei to build Datacom talents.

EOX Announcement for Huawei Routing & Switching Certification Product

Q: What are the advantages of Datacom certification over Routing & Switching certification?

A: Routing & Switching certification focuses on traditional routing and switching technologies and focuses on building trainees’ understanding of routing and switching technologies. Datacom certification focuses on the application of datacom technologies in industry scenarios. It is a set of mature standards for cultivating talents in the datacom industry based on Huawei’s successful experience in global datacom projects.

Huawei believes that autonomous driving network (ADN) will be the future direction of the industry. Datacom certification has newly added the content of network automation development, to reserve the ability for students in the future-oriented career development. In addition, Datacom certification focuses more on the application of technologies in real-life work scenarios. It enables trainees to design, deploy, operate, maintain, and optimize a network throughout the network lifecycle, and cultivate capabilities applicable to positions in the datacom domain, such as account manager, marketing engineer, service engineer, network development engineer, and solution architect, giving trainees a broader career path in the future!

Q: How long will Datacom certification and Routing & Switching certification be in parallel? When will Routing & Switching certification go offline?

A: Routing & Switching certification vouchers will end selling on December 31, 2021, and the exam services will end on June 30, 2022. Therefore, Datacom certification will be parallel with Routing & Switching certification till June 30, 2022. All Routing & Switching exam vouchers must be used up before June 30, 2022. Voucher redemption and exam services for Routing & Switching will not be provided after June 30, 2022.

Q: How do I select the exam when Datacom certification and Routing & Switching certification are in parallel?

A: During the parallel period, Datacom and Routing & Switching certification policies are respectively independent. The results of the Routing & Switching certification exam will not be exchanged for Datacom certification results during the parallel period. Candidates who take the Routing & Switching certification exam must complete the exam before June 30, 2022. If they do not complete the Routing & Switching certification exam, their results will expire after June 30, 2022. From the perspective of capability development, you are advised to study and obtain the Datacom certification first.

Q: After Routing & Switching certification goes offline, what will happen to the Routing & Switching certification previously obtained?

A: After the Routing & Switching certification goes offline, the Routing & Switching certificates will be automatically updated to the certificate of the corresponding level for Datacom certification. The certificate validity period inherits the routing & switching certificate validity period. The mapping is as follows:

HCIA-Routing & Switching———-HCIA-Datacom

HCIP-Routing & Switching———-HCIP-Datacom-Advanced Routing & Switching Technology

HCIE-Routing & Switching———-HCIE-Datacom

Q: After Routing & Switching certification goes offline, what will happen to the HCSI Routing & Switching certification previously obtained?

A: After Routing & Switching certification goes offline, the routing & Switching HCSI certification certificate obtained by the instructor will be automatically updated to Datacom HSCI. The validity period inherits the Routing & Switching HCSI validity period. The mapping is as follows:

HCSI（HCIA-Routing & Switching）—>HCSI（HCIA-Datacom）
HCSI（HCIP-Routing & Switching）—>HCSI（HCIP-Datacom-Advanced Routing & Switching Technology）
HCSI（HCIE-Routing & Switching）—>HCSI（HCIE-Datacom）