In the Arista Networks Campus Operations certification exam, candidates are evaluated on implementing reliable Layer 2 high-availability solutions and MLAG within campus designs—demonstrating proper split-brain protection, state synchronization, and fast convergence for access-layer resiliency. You’ll be tested on deploying Layer 3 leaf-spine (L3LS) fabrics using industry-standard underlays such as eBGP and OSPF, showing correct adjacency formation, route distribution, and policy behavior across the spine and leaf planes. The exam also covers EVPN/VXLAN overlays for scalable network virtualization—managing segment isolation, inter-VLAN routing across multiple pods, and verifying EVPN control-plane correctness. Practical tasks include using CloudVision for automated state monitoring, historical telemetry retention, and scheduled CLI auditing, plus validating services like distributed anycast gateways, control-plane adjacency health, and end-to-end host reachability to prove operational readiness and observability.
Arista Academy Certification Exams focus on testing knowledge & skills rather than basic information retention, emphasizing the importance of understanding and applying concepts in practical, hands-on situations, preparing candidates for the real-world challenges they will face in their careers.
Open Book
Arista Academy Certification exams are open-book, reflecting real-world troubleshooting scenarios where engineers utilize various resources. This approach encourages the use of available documentation and tools, with the sole exception of other people. While open-book, the exams are not easy; familiarity with the material, particularly the labs for your chosen track, is essential to successfully complete the evaluation within the allotted time.
Prerequisites
The Arista Academy Certification exams are open to anyone seeking to validate their networking and technology skills, regardless of prior Arista training. No official Arista training or previous certifications are required to take a standard exam. This accessibility welcomes a diverse range of individuals, especially those with significant networking expertise and practical experience.
While there are no mandatory prerequisites for taking an exam, active participation in relevant Arista Academy Learning Tracks, with a particular emphasis on completing hands-on labs, is crucial for success. Data shows a direct link between increased lab time and higher pass rates (25% for minimal lab time versus 65% for extensive lab time), indicating that skipping labs signifi cantly raises the risk of failure. Failing an exam results in a mandatory 14-day waiting period and additional fees for retakes, representing a considerable investment of time and resources.
Exams and recommended training
Arista Academy Certification exams assess specific skills directly aligned with the content of our Learning Track program syllabus. These practical exams feature tasks derived from the syllabus, requiring hands-on application in a virtual lab environment to configure devices and software to achieve desired outcomes.
Academy Certification exams are aligned with the Learning Track content.
It is important to note that exam tasks are exclusively derived from the individual sub-tracks and do not include the Supplemental Content. While the Supplemental Content offers additional assistive material, it is not tested.
Exam content
- Duration : 2 hours
- Topics covered :
- CloudVision Operations
- Monitoring and Troubleshooting
Required exam |
Recommended training |
AN-CA-OP01 |