Overview

In this post, my goal is to share my experience with the CWNE application process and outline what I used for my submission. I was fortunate to receive tremendous support from the wireless community, and I want to especially thank Matt Starling from Ekahau for his guidance and for endorsing my application.

I felt a lot of anxiety about my application, particularly around whether my knowledge and experience were strong enough to be considered an expert within the wireless industry. The publication and project requirements were very intimidating, but I was fortunate to have previously been featured on an Ekahau “Wi-Fi Day” webinar and chose to use that appearance to satisfy the publication requirement. I was very deliberate about which projects to highlight and how to present them in a way that demonstrated my technical abilities while maintaining a professional tone, and I leaned heavily on tools like ChatGPT to review my project write-ups for clarity and conciseness.

Looking back, it feels like a combination of preparation and timing worked in my favor for this application. Over the years, I had built up enough experience, certifications, and professional relationships to feel confident submitting my materials, and I am truly grateful and humbled by the outcome.

My hope is that this short post will help others feel more confident and less intimidated by the CWNE application process.

UPDATE:

Received: 09/22/2025

CWNE#600

Instructions

"""

What it takes to become a CWNE:

CWNP has put in place a rigorous application process that requires candidates pass four certification exams, complete commercial wireless LAN deployments, and have three recommendations as well as a peer review by the CWNE Board of Advisors.

"""

Requirements

Link to Requirements: CWNE Application Requirements

"""

The requirements for the CWNE certification are:

  1. CWNP Certifications: Candidate must pass the certification exams for CWNA, CWSP, CWAP, CWDP and CWISA.

  2. Other Certification: Candidate must possess one (1) current and valid professionally proctored networking, security, design, or network analysis certification from a non-CWNP certification provider in any of the topics below.

  • Network Technologies (VoIP, General Networking, etc.)
  • Routing/Switching
  • Security
  • Protocol Analysis
  • Radio Frequency (non-WLAN, for example, LTE, Zigbee, Ham Radio)
  • Network Design
  1. Experience: A minimum of three (3) years of verifiable, documented, full-time professional work experience related to enterprise Wi-Fi networks.
  • Enterprise Wi-Fi Administration
  • Enterprise Wi-Fi Security
  • Enterprise Wi-Fi Protocol Analysis
  • Enterprise Wi-Fi Quality of Service

  1. Endorsements: Three (3) endorsement forms from people familiar with your enterprise Wi-Fi work history are required.

  2. Publication Requirements: Publication of one of the following on an 802.11 topic

  • One published Wi-Fi whitepaper (10+ pages)
  • One published Wi-Fi book (with ISBN)
  • One recorded (video) instructional presentation
  • A published Wi-Fi article in excess of 1000 words Regularly updated blog (at least six 802.11-related posts)
  • Other writing projects must be pre-approved to be considered, CWNP often makes writing projects available to those seeking CWNE status to assist in meetingthis requirement
  1. Three technical essays explaining a problem you solved on a project in not less than 500 words and not more than 1000 words demonstrating:
  • Your valuable participation in, or leadership of, enterprise Wi-Fi implementation or reparation projects showing problem resolution capabilities
  • Proper use of 802.11 / WLAN vernacular
  • An in-depth understanding of complex WLAN topics
  • Accomplishments in design, installation, and confi guration of 802.11 networks
  1. Agreement with the CWNE Code of Ethics:
  1. Recertification: The CWNE certification is valid for a period of three (3) years.

"""

Thoughts and Suggestions:

  1. CWNP Certifications
  • Buy the books and apply the knowledge.
  • Buy the book and test voucher combo and reach out to Melissa from CWNP for coupons/discounts.
  1. Other Certifications:
  • I applied my Cisco CCNP and Ekahau training certifications
  • Buy the books and study hard, the Cisco exams are tricky and outdated.
  1. Experience:
  • I am fortunate to have been working in the network industry for over a decade with experience in route/switch and wireless.
  • Consume as much knowledge as you can and be persistent.
  • Reach out to those in the wireless community and/or in your organization to let them know you are interested/serious about learning more.
  • Fake it until you become it!
  1. Endorsements:
  1. Publication:
  • Start a blog. Consider markdown and cloudflare to get started but then again I am no expert.
  • Reach out to the wireless community via Slack and/or conferences
  • Post an instructional vido on social media.
  1. Technical Essays:
  • Write about a project you worked on, what you learned and how you applied your knowledge.
  • No more than 1000 words.
  • Do not plagiarise.
  1. Read to CWNE Code of Ethics
  1. Recertification

Endorsement

Here is an example of the endorsement form that others will see and need to complete on your behalf via the CWNP portal. Endorsement