What Is Arista Certification? Everything You Need to Know

 In today’s digital economy, the demand for fast, secure, and scalable networking infrastructure has never been higher. Enterprises are moving to cloud-native architectures, software-defined networking (SDN), and automation-driven environments—changing how networks are designed, deployed, and managed. Arista Networks has emerged as a key player in this shift, providing high-performance network switches and a programmable software platform that’s transforming enterprise and data center networking.

To support IT professionals in gaining the skills required to work with Arista’s cutting-edge technologies, the company offers the Arista Certified Engineering (ACE) program. But what exactly is arista certification? How is it structured, and is it worth pursuing? This guide breaks down everything you need to know.

What Is Arista Certification?

Arista Certification is a structured training and certification program created by Arista Networks, aimed at IT and networking professionals who want to demonstrate expertise in configuring, managing, and troubleshooting Arista solutions. The program focuses on Arista’s Extensible Operating System (EOS), CloudVision, and modern data center networking technologies such as EVPN, VXLAN, and automation tools.

Unlike some vendor certifications that focus on traditional hardware management, Arista certifications emphasize software-defined networking, programmability, and automation—critical skills for today’s cloud-centric infrastructure.

Why Arista Certification Matters

While Cisco and Juniper are still widely recognized in networking, Arista is quickly becoming the go-to solution for organizations building large-scale, high-performance, and automated networks. Companies in finance, cloud computing, and hyperscale data centers often choose Arista for its scalability, reliability, and open standards.

Getting Arista certified can:

• Boost your credibility in modern data center and cloud networking.

• Open doors to advanced roles in network engineering and architecture.

• Validate your skills in automation, SDN, and next-gen networking.

• Help future-proof your career in a fast-changing industry.

Structure of the Arista Certification Program

The Arista certification path is known as the Arista Cloud Engineer (ACE) program. It’s divided into multiple tiers to cater to professionals at different stages in their careers:

1. ACE: Associate

• Who It’s For: Beginners and entry-level engineers

• Focus Areas: Basic networking concepts, EOS fundamentals, Layer 2/3 networking, and CLI usage

• Goal: Provide a strong foundation in Arista’s core technologies and basic configuration skills

2. ACE: Professional

• Who It’s For: Experienced network engineers

• Focus Areas: Advanced network configurations, troubleshooting, automation with Ansible and Python, CloudVision usage

• Goal: Equip professionals to design, manage, and troubleshoot production-grade Arista environments

3. ACE: Expert

• Who It’s For: Senior engineers, architects, and consultants

• Focus Areas: High-level design, multi-site deployment, EVPN/VXLAN, network programmability

• Goal: Validate mastery in managing large-scale, cloud-first networking environments

Specialty Certifications

In addition to the core levels, Arista offers specialized tracks in:

• CloudVision: Focused on Arista’s network-wide automation and telemetry platform

• Network Automation: Covers scripting, APIs, and automation best practices

• EVPN/VXLAN: Specialization in advanced network virtualization and multi-tenant architecture

These certifications are ideal for professionals working on software-defined data centers or transitioning to DevNet or NetDevOps roles.

How to Get Certified

Arista provides:

• Official training courses (online and instructor-led)

• Hands-on labs using virtual EOS environments

• Study guides and whitepapers

• Practice exams

Exams are typically multiple-choice with practical scenarios. While not as widely available as Cisco exams, Arista’s certification exams are highly respected and more focused on real-world application than theoretical knowledge.

Career Opportunities with Arista Certification

With an Arista certification, you can pursue roles such as:

• Network Engineer

• Cloud Network Architect

• Data Center Engineer

• DevNet Engineer

• Automation Engineer

Companies increasingly seek engineers who can manage scalable, programmable networks. Arista-certified professionals are seen as specialists in next-gen infrastructure.

Final Thoughts

Arista Certification is more than just a badge—it’s a career accelerator for IT professionals focused on the future of networking. As enterprises continue adopting cloud-scale, automated, and software-defined networks, Arista’s relevance will only grow. Whether you’re starting in networking or aiming to specialize in high-performance data center environments, Arista certifications provide a clear, practical, and respected path forward.