CCIE Security certification: exams, cost and requirements
CCIE Security is Cisco’s expert-level security certification. You pass two exams: the 350-701 SCOR qualifying exam (US$400, 120 minutes, now in version 2.0 since 27 August 2026) and the 8-hour CCIE Security lab exam v6.1 (US$1,600). There are no formal prerequisites, the SCOR pass keeps you eligible for the lab for three years, and the certification is valid for three years. Cisco grades pass/fail and publishes no cut score.
- Certification
- Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Security, issued by CiscoCisco CCIE Security page, checked 10 October 2026
- Qualifying exam
- 350-701 SCOR, version 2.0 since 27 August 2026 — 120 minutes, English or JapaneseCisco CCIE Security page and Cisco Blogs, checked 10 October 2026
- Lab exam
- CCIE Security lab exam v6.1 — 8 hours, hands-onCisco CCIE Security page and v6.1 blueprint, checked 10 October 2026
- Exam fees
- US$400 for SCOR, US$1,600 for the lab, or Cisco Learning CreditsCisco CCIE Security page, checked 10 October 2026
- Passing score
- Not published by Cisco — grading is pass/failCisco CCIE Security page, checked 10 October 2026
- Prerequisites
- NoneCisco CCIE Security page, checked 10 October 2026
- Lab eligibility
- Three years from the SCOR pass dateCisco Blogs, 27 August 2026, checked 10 October 2026
- Lab retake wait
- 30 calendar days after a failed lab attemptCisco recertification policy, checked 10 October 2026
- Validity
- Three years; recertify with 120 Continuing Education creditsCisco CCIE Security page and recertification policy, checked 10 October 2026
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What is the CCIE Security certification?
CCIE stands for Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert, and CCIE Security is the expert-level credential in Cisco’s security track. Cisco describes it as demonstrating mastery of planning, designing, deploying, operating and optimizing solutions for complex enterprise security.
The route has two steps. Cisco puts it in one line: you take a core exam and a lab exam. The core exam is 350-701 SCOR, Implementing and Operating Cisco Security Core Technologies. The lab is an eight-hour, hands-on exam on a dual-stack IPv4 and IPv6 enterprise network. Pass both and you are CCIE Security certified.
SCOR is shared with the professional level: Cisco lists it as associated with both the CCNP and the CCIE Security certifications, and passing it on its own also earns you the Cisco Certified Specialist – Security Core credential. The lab is what makes the CCIE Security cert expert-level.
Source: Cisco — CCIE Security. Checked 10 October 2026.
How much does the CCIE Security certification cost?
Cisco lists two exam fees on the CCIE Security page: US$400 for the 350-701 SCOR qualifying exam and US$1,600 for the CCIE Security lab exam. Both can also be paid with Cisco Learning Credits.
For a first-time pass of each, that makes US$2,000 in exam fees. Every retake is charged again, so a failed lab attempt means another US$1,600 — plus a 30-day wait before you can book the same lab again.
Practice infrastructure is a separate cost if you use Cisco’s own: CCIE practice labs for Security are four-hour sessions at US$50 plus taxes each. Training is priced by whoever delivers it; Cisco does not publish a single figure for it.
- 350-701 SCOR qualifying exam: US$400
- CCIE Security lab exam v6.1: US$1,600
- Cisco CCIE practice lab, four-hour session: US$50 plus taxes
Source: Cisco — CCIE Security. Checked 10 October 2026.
CCIE Security exam format: the SCOR exam and the 8-hour lab
The qualifying exam, 350-701 SCOR, lasts 120 minutes and is offered in English and Japanese. Grading is pass/fail, and Cisco says results are available online within 48 hours. Since 27 August 2026 the version on offer is SCOR v2.0, which Cisco calls the first major revision of the blueprint; 26 August 2026 was the last day to test on the old version.
The CCIE Security lab exam v6.1 lasts eight hours and is entirely hands-on. Cisco’s blueprint says it requires you to plan, design, deploy, operate and optimize dual-stack solutions for complex enterprise networks, and that your skills are tested across the whole network lifecycle. Version 6.1 was a minor revision; Cisco’s release notes say the lab format itself did not change.
What comes next: Cisco states that SCOR v2.0 does not trigger a change to the lab, but that an AI-infused Design, Deploy, Operate and Optimize module is planned for the CCIE Security lab. Cisco gives no date and says decisions will be announced on the Cisco Learning Network. Check the exam topics again before you book.
Source: Cisco Blogs — Cisco Security certification updates (27 August 2026). Checked 10 October 2026.
CCIE Security syllabus: what is on the exams?
The CCIE Security lab syllabus is Cisco’s v6.1 exam topics document. It has five domains with fixed weights, listed below, and identity management carries the most at 25%. The lab is built on Cisco’s security portfolio, so the equipment and software list published with the blueprint matters as much as the topic list.
The SCOR v2.0 qualifying exam has its own six domains: Security Concepts 20%, Network Security 25%, Cloud Security 15%, Secure Service Edge 10%, Endpoint Protection and Detection 15%, and Network Access, Visibility, and Enforcement 15%. Cisco advises anyone who studied for version 1.1 to treat version 2.0 as new content rather than a refresh.
- Perimeter Security and Intrusion Prevention — 20%
- Secure Connectivity and Segmentation — 20%
- Security Infrastructure — 15%
- Identity Management, Information Exchange, and Access Control — 25%
- Advanced Threat Protection and Content Security — 20%
Source: Cisco — CCIE Security v6.1 lab exam topics. Checked 10 October 2026.
CCIE Security requirements and prerequisites
There is no formal requirement to meet before you start: Cisco lists the prerequisites for the CCIE Security route as none. You do not need CCNP Security first, although SCOR is the same core exam.
The requirement that does exist is a time window. Cisco states that your written qualifying exam makes you eligible for the lab for three years from the pass date, and that recertifying a CCNP with Continuing Education credits does not extend it. A valid SCOR v1.1 pass still qualifies you for the lab while you are inside that window.
Retake rules apply to both exams. After a failed lab attempt you wait 30 calendar days before you can schedule the same lab again; after a failed written exam such as SCOR, the wait is five calendar days.
Source: Cisco — Recertification policy. Checked 10 October 2026.
How long is the CCIE Security certificate valid?
Cisco states that the certification is valid for three years. To keep your CCIE Security certificate active, Cisco’s recertification policy lists one requirement for CCIE: earn 120 Continuing Education credits before the certification expires.
A new exam version does not force a new exam on existing holders: Cisco’s update post confirms that you recertify by earning the required credits on or before your expiration date.
Source: Cisco — Recertification policy. Checked 10 October 2026.
CCIE Security training, study and boot camp options
Cisco says studying with Cisco is not required but recommended. Its own options are Cisco U. learning paths for SCOR, instructor-led training and e-learning in the Cisco training catalog, and CCIE practice labs: rented four-hour sessions on a real CCIE Security pod with a topic scenario, at US$50 each. Cisco notes that practice labs are not graded and include no solutions, so they are for hands-on repetition rather than scoring.
Cisco also announced a SCOR practice exam on Cisco U. by the end of 2026, alongside SCOR v2.0 training released in September 2026.
Cisco’s CCIE Security pages do not list a boot camp. If you look at a CCIE Security bootcamp or any other prep course from a training provider, check it against the v6.1 lab topics and the SCOR v2.0 topics above, and check which software versions it uses, because the lab is tested on the versions in Cisco’s equipment list.
Source: Cisco — CCIE practice labs. Checked 10 October 2026.
CCIE Security dumps and practice tests
A CCIE Security dump is a collection of what claim to be real exam questions. Cisco’s Certification and Confidentiality Agreement prohibits using compromised exam content to prepare for a Cisco exam and disseminating actual exam content by any means. Sanctions listed there include a temporary or permanent ban from Cisco exams and cancellation of certifications you already hold.
A dump also misses the point of the lab: eight hours of building and troubleshooting a live network cannot be memorised. A legitimate practice test for SCOR checks whether you understand each domain; for the lab, nothing replaces time on the devices.
Source: Cisco — Certification and Confidentiality Agreement. Checked 10 October 2026.
Is the CCIE Security certification worth it? Salary and value
Cisco does not publish a CCIE Security salary figure on its certification pages, and this page does not quote one from elsewhere. Whether it is worth it depends on cost and fit: US$2,000 in exam fees for one attempt at each exam, an eight-hour lab that tests hands-on skill across Cisco’s security portfolio, and a three-year renewal cycle.
It makes most sense if your work already involves Cisco firewalls, identity services, VPN and threat protection at enterprise scale. If you want a credential first, passing SCOR alone already earns the Cisco Certified Specialist – Security Core certification and counts towards CCNP Security.
Source: Cisco — CCIE Security. Checked 10 October 2026.
CCIE Security questions people ask
What is the CCIE Security certification?
Cisco’s expert-level security certification. You earn it by passing the 350-701 SCOR qualifying exam and the eight-hour CCIE Security lab exam. Source: Cisco, checked 10 October 2026.
How much does CCIE Security cost?
US$400 for the SCOR exam and US$1,600 for the lab exam, or Cisco Learning Credits. Retakes are charged again. Source: Cisco CCIE Security page, checked 10 October 2026.
How long is the CCIE Security lab exam?
Eight hours, hands-on. The SCOR qualifying exam takes 120 minutes. Source: Cisco CCIE Security page, checked 10 October 2026.
What is the CCIE Security passing score?
Cisco does not publish one. It states that grading is pass/fail. Source: Cisco CCIE Security page, checked 10 October 2026.
Are there prerequisites for CCIE Security?
No formal prerequisites. After passing SCOR you have three years to pass the lab. Source: Cisco, checked 10 October 2026.
Which SCOR version qualifies for the CCIE Security lab?
SCOR v2.0 is offered since 27 August 2026. A valid SCOR v1.1 pass still qualifies you while you are inside your three-year window. Source: Cisco Blogs, checked 10 October 2026.
How often can I retake the CCIE Security lab?
After a failed attempt you must wait 30 calendar days before scheduling the same lab again. Source: Cisco recertification policy, checked 10 October 2026.
How do I renew CCIE Security?
The certification is valid for three years; Cisco’s recertification policy for CCIE is 120 Continuing Education credits. Source: Cisco, checked 10 October 2026.
Does Cisco offer CCIE Security practice labs?
Yes. Four-hour CCIE Security practice lab sessions cost US$50 plus taxes; they are not graded. Source: Cisco CCIE practice labs page, checked 10 October 2026.
