HCIA-WLAN (H12-311) Is Ending: Upgrade Your Skills with H12-811 HCIA-Datacom
Huawei has officially announced that the HCIA-WLAN (H12-311) certification is approaching the end of its lifecycle. For IT professionals planning to earn or renew Huawei networking certifications, this update marks an important transition. With HCIA-WLAN being phased out, HCIA-Datacom (H12-811) is now the recommended path forward.
HCIA-WLAN (H12-311) Lifecycle Overview
Huawei has defined clear milestones for the retirement of the HCIA-WLAN certification:
End of Marketing (EOM): March 30, 2026
After this date, Huawei will no longer promote the H12-311 exam.
End of Service (EOS): September 30, 2026
Exam registration and related services will stop after this date.
Maximum Certificate Validity: September 30, 2029
Existing HCIA-WLAN certificates remain valid until the end of their official validity period.
This means current certificate holders are not immediately affected, but new candidates should plan carefully.
What Happens If You Already Hold HCIA-WLAN?
If you already have the HCIA-WLAN certification:
- Your certificate will remain valid during its validity period.
- After EOS, you can upgrade to HCIA-Datacom by taking and passing the H12-811 exam.
- Once upgraded, your certification will follow the HCIA-Datacom recertification policy.
Huawei also advises candidates whose HCIA-WLAN certification has reached EOS to directly pursue HCIA-Datacom.
Why Huawei Recommends H12-811 HCIA-Datacom
The H12-811 HCIA-Datacom certification is designed to provide a broader and more future-proof networking foundation. Unlike HCIA-WLAN, which focuses primarily on wireless LAN technologies, HCIA-Datacom covers comprehensive data communication concepts that are widely used across modern enterprise and carrier networks.
Key advantages of choosing H12-811 include:
- Broader networking knowledge beyond WLAN
- Alignment with current enterprise networking trends
- Strong foundation for advanced Huawei certifications
- Better long-term career value
Should You Still Take H12-311?
If you are already preparing for H12-311 and can complete the exam before September 30, 2026, you may still proceed. However, for new learners and professionals planning long-term certification growth, starting directly with H12-811 is the smarter choice.
The retirement of HCIA-WLAN (H12-311) reflects Huawei’s shift toward more comprehensive data communication skills. To stay aligned with Huawei’s certification roadmap and future networking demands, upgrading your skills with H12-811 HCIA-Datacom is the best move. Whether you are upgrading from HCIA-WLAN or starting fresh, HCIA-Datacom positions you for long-term success in today’s evolving networking landscape.
