The Service Routing Certification Program
The Nokia Service Routing Certification (SRC) program is the vendor's primary training and testing track. It targets professionals who build and maintain carrier-grade IP and Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) networks.
Nokia divides the SRC program into progressive tiers: Network Routing Specialist I (NRS I), Network Routing Specialist II (NRS II), and Service Routing Architect (SRA). Candidates progress by passing written exams to validate theoretical knowledge, followed by hands-on lab exams at the SRA level to prove practical configuration skills.
Foundational and Composite Exams
Most candidates begin with the Nokia 4A0-100: Nokia Scalable IP Networks exam. This test covers routing principles, TCP/IP fundamentals, and basic Ethernet services. Passing it proves you understand how to navigate the Nokia Service Router Operating System (SR OS) command-line interface, configure static routes, and implement basic interior gateway protocols.
For engineers with existing industry experience, Nokia offers composite exams that combine multiple subject areas into a single testing session. The 4A0-C03: Nokia NRS II Composite: IS-IS version combines several individual exam requirements into a single 120-minute test. It covers intermediate routing, MPLS, and Layer 2/Layer 3 Virtual Private Network (VPN) services, with a specific focus on the IS-IS routing protocol.
Large telecom operators frequently favor IS-IS over OSPF for its scalability and layer-2 transport mechanics. Testing specifically on IS-IS ensures that candidates are prepared for the design patterns used in massive service provider backbones.
Automation and Modern Traffic Engineering
Modern service provider networks require advanced traffic engineering to manage massive data loads without manual intervention. The 4A0-116: Nokia Segment Routing exam tests a candidate's ability to implement segment routing over an IP/MPLS backbone.
Segment routing simplifies the network by removing the need to maintain complex state information in transit routers. Instead, it relies on source routing, where the ingress router dictates the path the packet will take. The exam validates your ability to configure these paths using Nokia SR OS, ensuring traffic flows efficiently across a carrier network.
To address the industry-wide shift toward software-defined infrastructure, Nokia also targets automation skills. The 4A0-AI1: Nokia NSP IP Network Automation Professional Composite Exam validates capabilities with the Nokia Network Services Platform (NSP). It tests your ability to automate network management tasks, provision services programmatically, and manage telemetry data. Passing this exam proves you can move beyond manual command-line configuration and manage infrastructure as code.
Bell Labs and the 5G Frontier
Through its research arm, Nokia Bell Labs, the company offers a distinct certification track focused on cellular technology. Bell Labs holds a deep legacy in telecommunications research, and Nokia uses this brand to deliver training on modern mobile networks.
The BL0-100: Nokia Bell Labs End-to-End 5G Foundation Exam serves as the entry point for this track. Unlike the SRC program, which ties heavily to specific Nokia hardware and operating systems, this exam takes a vendor-agnostic approach.
It covers the architecture of a 5G network, the mechanics of radio access networks (RAN), and the concept of network slicing. Business strategists and technical architects take this exam to prove they understand how 5G cloud-native cores differ from previous 4G LTE architectures. It tests the underlying principles of mobile bandwidth allocation rather than the specific syntax used to configure a cell tower.
Where Nokia Credentials Fit Your Career
Nokia certifications carry specific, targeted weight in the job market. They do not hold the broad enterprise recognition of a Cisco CCNA, but they are not designed to.
Network engineers pursue these credentials when their employer or target employer operates a Nokia-centric network. Internet service providers, mobile network operators, and large utility companies rely on Nokia equipment for their core backbones. In these environments, an NRS II or SRA credential demonstrates you can configure an MPLS tunnel, provision a Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS), or troubleshoot a BGP peering session on a live carrier network.