Important updates coming to the Service Routing Certification (SRC) Program in 2026/27
September 8, 2026
The Nokia Service Routing Certification program is evolving. Over the coming months, we're modernizing our Routing Specialist I (NRS I) and Routing Specialist II (NRS II) certifications to reflect the technologies that power today's networks by replacing legacy protocols and services with Segment Routing and EVPN, and streamlining the path to NRS II certification. We're also streamlining the requirements to become a Certified Routing Architect (SRA).
Why the program is changing
Service provider and enterprise networks are moving toward Segment Routing and EVPN. To keep our certifications aligned with the skills the industry expects, we’re beginning to retire older tunnelling technologies and legacy services, and building these modern technologies into the core of the program.
We’re also gradually introducing SR Linux into the SRC program. SR Linux is Nokia’s open NOS that makes enterprise, service provider and webscale network infrastructures more scalable, more flexible and simpler to operate.
At the same time, we've reduced the number of exams required at the NRS II and SRA levels, so the path to certification is more focused.
At a glance
Certification |
What's changing |
New version available |
Deadline to complete the current version |
|---|---|---|---|
NRS I |
We’re adding a new SR Linux track, giving you a choice between SR OS and SR Linux. The SR OS version will get an ~25% content refresh: OSPF replaced with IS-IS, plus a new introduction to Segment Routing and EVPN. |
March 9th, 2027 |
February 8th, 2027 |
NRS II |
Full overhaul: Segment Routing and EVPN replace legacy tunneling and traditional services. Required exams reduced from four written + one lab to two written + one new lab. |
March 9th, 2027 |
March 8th, 2027 |
SRA |
Required written exams reduced from eight to six. Multicast exam is retired. Lab exam unchanged. |
Effective immediately |
Effective immediately |
Certified Network Routing Specialist I (NRS I)
Two things are happening to the NRS I
- A minor (~25%) refresh of the course and exam content
- The addition of a new SR Linux track, giving you a choice of platforms.
Update to the existing content:
- OSPF is being replaced with IS-IS.
- A new introduction to Segment Routing and EVPN services is being added.
- It remains a single written exam.
The new SR Linx track gives you a choice of platform. Alongside the SR OS exam, we're introducing an SR Linux track, so you can certify with IP Networks and Services Fundamentals with SR OS or IP Networks and Services Fundamentals with SR Linux. Either exam earns the same NRS I certification, so you can certify on the platform you work with.
Here's how the transition works:
- Through February 8, 2027 — The current OSPF-based exam (4A0-100) remains available. February 8th will be the last day to certify on the current NRS I exam.
- February 9 – March 8, 2027 (exam blackout) — The NRS I exam is unavailable while we transition to the new versions. During this window, the new SR OS and SR Linux courses and self-study materials are released, so you can choose your platform and begin preparing before the new exams open.
- March 9, 2027 — The new exams open, fully aligned with the new content: IP Networks and Services Fundamentals with SR OS (4A0-100) and IP Networks and Services Fundamentals with SR Linux (4A0-101). Pass either to become NRS I certified.
Recertifying? You can recertify by retaking the NRS I exam (either platform) or by passing any other active SRC exam. During the blackout, the NRS I exam is unavailable, but you can still recertify using any other active SRC exam.
Certified Network Routing Specialist II (NRS II)
The NRS II is the most significant of the three changes, with the certification content is being fully modernized:
- Segment Routing replaces LDP and RSVP tunnelling.
- EVPN services replace traditional services.
- The required exams have been reduced from four written exams plus one lab exam to two written exams (Segment Routing and EVPN) plus one new lab exam.
The following exams will be retired on February 8th, 2027. The associated courses will remain available for learning, but will no longer be linked to the certifications:
- Nokia IS-IS Routing Protocol (4A0-112)
- Nokia OSPF Routing Protocol (4A0-113)
- Nokia Border Gateway Protocol Fundamentals for Services (4A0-114)
- Nokia Multiprotocol Label Switching (4A0-103)
- Services Architecture (4A0-104)
- Nokia NRS II Composite Exam: IS-IS version (4A-C03)
- Nokia NRS II Composite Exam: OSPF version (4A0-C04)
The following workshops will be retired on February 8th, 2027:
- Nokia NRS II Lab Workshop - Version A | TER36090
- Nokia NRS II Lab Workshop - Version B | TER36091
The NRS II lab exam is the critical deadline. If you are working toward NRS II, you must pass the current NRS II lab exam on or before March 8th, 2027. The lab exam is the final step in the current certification, and it is not carried over. If you have not completed it by the deadline, you will need to start over and certify under the new NRS II, which is built on entirely new courses, two new written exams, and a new lab exam.
If you're currently in progress or close to eligibility: complete your full certification under the current path, including the lab exam, by the March 8th, 2027 deadline, so the work you've already invested isn't lost. Avoid delays by booking your lab exam as soon as you are eligible.
Looking ahead: an SR Linux track is planned for the NRS II as well, giving you a choice of platform across the written and lab exams. We'll share more information when it becomes available.
Certified Nokia Service Routing Architect (SRA)
The first step in the SRA's evolution streamlines the path to certification. The content is unchanged, but the number of required exams is being reduced, and this takes effect immediately:
- Required written exams drop from eight to five.
- The following mandatory exams are no longer required: IS-IS or OSPF, MPLS, Services Architecture
- The elective exam is no longer required and will be replaced by the EVPN Services exam (4A0-115)
- Anyone who is already eligible for the SRA Lab Exam, will remain eligible.
- The Multicast exam (4A0-108) will be retired effective immediately
- The lab exam is unchanged.
Because this step only reduces what's required of you, there's no transition period; the streamlined requirements apply right away.
The SRA certification will continue to evolve alongside the rest of the program, and we'll share further updates as that work progresses.
Important dates
- September 8th, 2026 — The streamlined SRA certification requirements take effect immediately, and the Multicast exam (4A0-108) is retired.
- February 8th, 2027 — The last day to take the current OSPF-based NRS I exam (4A0-100). NRS I exam blackout begins, and the new NRS I courses (SR OS and SR Linux) and self-study materials are released.
- February 8th, 2027 — The last day to take the NRS II exams before they are retired: IS-IS (4A0-112), OSPF (4A0-113), BGP for Services (4A0-114), MPLS (4A0-103), Services Architecture (4A0-104), and composite (4A0-C03), 4A0-C04). The NRS II lab exam remains available until March 8th.
- February 9th, 2027 — The updated NRS I exam opens, including the new SR Linux track.
- March 8th, 2027 — The last day to pass the NRS II lab exam and complete the current NRS II certification.
- March 9th, 2027 — The new NRS II certification is available.
The blackout lets us cleanly retire the OSPF-based exam and bring up the new IS-IS / Segment Routing / EVPN version without overlap. It also serves as a preparation window: the new course and self-study materials are released when the blackout begins, giving you about a month with the new content before the updated exam opens on October 24, 2026.
You can complete your certification under the current path as long as you pass the current NRS II lab exam by December 31, 2026. Progress on the current path is not carried into the new NRS II. If you don't finish by Dec 31, 2026, you'll need to certify under the new version, which uses entirely new courses, two new written exams, and a new lab exam.
Yes. The existing versions of the Segment Routing (4A0-116) and EVPN (4A0-115) exams count towards the updated NRS II, as of January 1, 2027, when the updated certification is live.
No. They are two separate written exams.
No. At this time, the courses will remain available in the SRC Program through 2026. Beginning in 2027, they will only be available for private course deliveries and will not be available in our open class calendar.
No. The SRA content and lab exam are unchanged. The only change is a reduction in the number of required written exams, from eight to four, effective immediately.
The SRA will continue to evolve alongside the rest of the program. This first step streamlines the path to certification, and we'll share further updates as that work progresses.