CCNP
Offered by Cisco
Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Enterprise is Cisco's professional-level enterprise networking certification. You earn it by passing a core exam — Implementing Cisco Enterprise Network Core Technologies (350-401 ENCOR) — plus one concentration exam in a track such as routing, SD-WAN, or automation.
EXAM AT A GLANCE
Testing time
120
minutes
Sections
6
Delivery
Pearson VUE test center or online proctored
Cost
$400 USD for ENCOR, plus the concentration exam fee (typically another several hundred dollars)
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What the exam covers
Architecture
15%
Virtualization
10%
Infrastructure
30%
Network Assurance
10%
Security
20%
Automation and Artificial Intelligence
15%
About the CCNP certification
ENCOR v1.2 (effective March 19, 2026) is 120 minutes and also serves as the CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure qualifying written exam. There is no formal CCNA prerequisite, but CCNA-level skills are assumed.
Who it’s for
Network engineers designing and operating enterprise campus, WAN, and campus-fabric networks.
- Format
- Core exam 350-401 ENCOR: multiple choice, drag-and-drop, and performance-based labs, plus a separate concentration exam of your choice
- Passing score
- Cisco does not publish an official passing score
- Validity
- 3 years; renew by exam or continuing education
- Prerequisites
- None required; CCNA knowledge is strongly recommended
Official exam page· Details verified August 2026
Exam details can change. Always confirm current requirements, fees, and exam policies with the certification provider before registering.
How to prepare
01
Treat ENCOR as the core: dual-stack architecture, switching/routing, SD-WAN/SD-Access, security, and automation.
02
Lab Layer 2/3, OSPF/EIGRP/BGP, and overlay fabrics — infrastructure is 30% of ENCOR.
03
Pick a concentration exam that matches your job (for example enterprise advanced routing or SD-WAN).
04
Use Cisco's official exam topics for ENCOR v1.2 (wireless moved to a separate track in v1.2).
05
Practice performance-based configuration and verification, not only theory quizzes.
FAQ
Is CCNA required for CCNP?
Not formally. You can sit ENCOR without CCNA, but the core exam assumes that foundation. Most candidates take CCNA first.
Is ENCOR enough for CCNP?
No. ENCOR plus one concentration exam earns CCNP Enterprise. ENCOR alone earns the Cisco Certified Specialist – Enterprise Core designation.
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