Ask anyone who's attended Cisco Live,and you're sure to hear it's a great place to learn about the latest technologies,best practices,and industry trends. Cisco Live is the premier event for IT networking professionals,tech learners,and Cisco certification holders looking to stay current,enhance their skills,and advance their careers.

"What's the Latest With Cisco Certifications?" by Yusuf Bhaiji,Director of Certifications,in the Cisco U. Theater at Cisco Live Amsterdam. Watch now

The opportunities to learn, network, andreunite at Cisco Live are unparalleled. But if you want to make the most of the week, that depends on you: what you plan and how early you begin. So, if you're heading to Cisco Live in Las Vegas, June 4-8, 2023, here's a quick rundown of what to keep in mind as you plan for the big week.

Learning opportunities at Cisco Live

Keynote speeches, technical sessions, hands-on labs, workshops, and more. There are countless ways to boost your knowledge and skills. Literally: There aremore than a thousandsessions across business and tech. Believe me, there's something for everyone at Cisco Live.

Tech sessions span 11 tracks:Applications, Certifications, Cloud, Collaboration, Data Center, DevNet, Emerging Technologies, Internet of Things, Networking, Security, and Service Provider. You can filter by technology, technical level (general, introductory, intermediate, and advanced), session type, and more in the session catalog.

Planning your sessions for Cisco Live can feel overwhelming. (Especially if it's your first time attending Cisco Live.) Take your time. But remember, those search filters are your best friend.

Earn CE credits as you learn

If you're an active Cisco certification holder, you may have heard you can earn Continuing Education (CE) credits at Cisco Live. Earning CE credits is a convenient and efficient way to maintain your certifications. In addition, you'll find a slew of technical sessions eligible for CE credits you can use toward recertification.

As you plan your week at Cisco Live, you can bookmark our Continuing Education page and keep it handy to reference anything you need to know about the Cisco CE program. For example, you'll find the CE program guidelines, how many CE credits are required to recertify at each certification level, a section that can help you decode which Cisco Live sessions are eligible for CE credit redemption, the number of CE credits you can earn per session, and more.

Earning CE credits at Cisco Live is just one of many ways to re-up on your 3-year active certification status, though...

Celebrating our Cisco Designated VIPs at Cisco Live Amsterdam. (From left: Daniel Kuhl, VIP 2022-2023; Matt Saunders, Community Manager; Quinn Snyder, Sr. Technical Advocate; Par Merat, VP Learning & Certifications; David Pe?aloza, VIP 2017-2023.)

You can test onsite, certify (and recertify) for free

Picking up CE credits while learning at Cisco Live is an easy win. It saves you the time and expense of training elsewhere. However, if you're looking to recertify as quickly as possible, consider combining CE credits with taking a certification exam onsite. If you have a Full Conference and IT Leadership pass, you can test on-site for free (as long as you schedule your exam by June 3, 2023).

If you want more ideas on maintaining your active Cisco certification status, read 6 Tips for Maintenance During Your Certification Journey. We also have an active community discussion around recertification on the Cisco Learning Network. Stop by to read personal stories from the Cisco learning community, ask questions, and browse the latest offers. If you still need to become a member of the Cisco Learning Network, consider this your invitation to sign up for free and join the conversation!

Grow your network at Cisco Live

Cisco Live is where you can completely immerse yourself in the ecosystem of Cisco solutions. It's also the best place to connect with Cisco partners and vendors and learn about new products and services that benefit your organization. In addition, you'll have a chance to test-drive their features and capabilities, discover how they can solve your most pressing business challenges, and get your questions answered firsthand.

Not only is Cisco Live packed with educational opportunities at every turn, but it's a prime networking spot. It isn't every day that you are surrounded by industry experts, peers, and like-minded individuals worldwide. So, don't be shy. Ask your questions, share your experiences, andvoila! You're networking like a seasoned Cisco Live NetVet.

Reunite with the learning and certifications community

When I asked our community what makes them take the journey to attend every year, here's what one Cisco Designated VIP said:

"So many reasons. Meeting colleagues that I (sometimes) don't get to meet here in Germany.
The excitement when waiting for the keynote to begin, getting molded in by the music.
Meeting the other VIPs that I don't see often, like Peter Paluch, Rasika Nayanajith, David Pe?aloza.
When I'm at Cisco Live, I typically walk with a big smile on my face through the facility. I feel at home."

-Karsten Iwen, Cisco Designated VIP

Granted, I may have atinybit of a bias toward our community of learners (since I manage the Cisco Learning Network community), but networking with friends and peers is one of the key reasons to attend Cisco Live. Since we all work from home these days, I always look forward to connecting with the Cisco Learning & Certifications community in person.

You can always find the Cisco learning and certification community hanging out in... you guessed it: Learning and Certifications, Booth 230 in the World of Solutions. Make sure you stop by-grab some swag, catch one of our Cisco U. Theater sessions (check out the Cisco U. Theater sessions from Cisco Live Amsterdam), and meet the faces behind the names you've seen online.

Stay in the know, plan your week in advance, and  I'm confident you'll have an excellent time at Cisco Live. I hope this overview helped you with your planning. If you're heading to Las Vegas in June, leave me a comment below and tell me what you look most forward to at Cisco Live 2023!

Learn about the latest technologies, best practices, industry trends, and more.

View Cisco U. Theater sessions.

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