CCNP certification: cost, requirements and how it compares to CCNA
CCNP stands for Cisco Certified Network Professional. The CCNP Enterprise certification requires two exams: the 350-401 ENCOR core exam at $400, plus one concentration exam of your choice at $300 — $700 in exam fees in total. Cisco sets no prerequisites, and the certification is valid for three years.
- CCNP certification cost
- $700 in exam fees — $400 core plus $300 concentrationCisco CCNP Enterprise page and ENARSI exam page, checked 24 September 2026
- Core exam
- 350-401 ENCOR — $400, 120 minutesCisco CCNP Enterprise page, checked 24 September 2026
- Concentration exam
- One of six — $300, 90 minutes eachCisco ENARSI and ENAUTO exam pages, checked 24 September 2026
- CCNP prerequisites
- NoneCisco states “Prerequisites: None” for the core exam, checked 24 September 2026
- Languages
- English, JapaneseCisco exam pages, checked 24 September 2026
- Valid for
- 3 yearsCisco CCNP Enterprise page, checked 24 September 2026
- Grading
- Pass/fail, results online within 48 hoursCisco CCNP Enterprise page, checked 24 September 2026
- Passing score
- Not published by CiscoNeither the certification page nor the exam pages state a cut score or a question count, checked 24 September 2026
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Why you can trust these Cisco CCNP Enterprise questions
What is CCNP, and what does CCNP stand for?
CCNP stands for Cisco Certified Network Professional. It is Cisco’s professional-level tier, one step above CCNA and one below CCIE. CCNP Enterprise is the enterprise-networking track of it: enterprise infrastructure, virtualization, network assurance, network security, automation and quality of service.
In practice, a CCNP certification means two exams rather than one. Cisco’s wording is that you take a core exam and a concentration exam of your choice. What trips people up is that there is no single “CCNP exam” — the core exam alone earns you a Cisco Certified Specialist certification, not the CCNP.
As a label, CCNP marks the professional tier of Cisco’s track, sitting between the associate tier (CCNA) and the expert tier (CCIE), in whichever technology area you chose.
Source: Cisco — CCNP Enterprise certification. Checked 24 September 2026.
What is CCNP ENCOR?
ENCOR is the 350-401 core exam, Implementing Cisco Enterprise Network Core Technologies. It covers dual-stack IPv4 and IPv6 architecture, virtualization, infrastructure, network assurance, security and automation. Cisco states it as 120 minutes for $400, in English and Japanese, with no prerequisites.
Passing ENCOR by itself earns the Cisco Certified Specialist – Enterprise Core certification. It is also the qualifying core exam for CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure, so the same exam serves two certification paths.
Source: Cisco — CCNP Enterprise certification. Checked 24 September 2026.
How much does CCNP cost?
The CCNP certification cost is the sum of two exam fees. Cisco prices the 350-401 ENCOR core exam at $400 and the concentration exams at $300 — the ENARSI and ENAUTO pages both state $US300 — which puts the CCNP exam cost at $700 if you pass both on the first attempt. Cisco Learning Credits can be used instead of paying cash.
Those are the exam fees themselves — Cisco does not publish a retake fee schedule on these pages, and there is no student or member rate stated. Training is priced separately again: official Cisco training is sold apart from the exam.
What people actually pay is therefore higher once a retake, training or books are involved.
Whether CCNP is worth $700 depends on the work in front of you, and neither Cisco nor this page can answer that for you. Cisco publishes no salary data alongside the certification, so any CCNA or CCNP salary figure you find online comes from a third-party survey rather than from Cisco.
Source: Cisco — CCNP Enterprise certification. Checked 24 September 2026.
CCNA vs CCNP: what is the difference?
CCNA is one exam, 200-301, at $300 for 120 minutes. CCNP Enterprise is two exams, $700 together. That is the difference in cost and effort: one more exam, one tier up.
The deeper difference is scope. CCNA is the associate tier and covers network fundamentals, network access, IP connectivity, IP services, security fundamentals and automation. CCNP is the professional tier and goes into running those networks at enterprise scale, with a specialisation of your choosing on top.
Cisco sets no prerequisites for either, so CCNA is not formally required before CCNP — it is a recommendation, not a gate. Both certifications are valid for three years.
Source: Cisco — 200-301 CCNA exam. Checked 24 September 2026.
CCIE vs CCNP, and where CISSP fits
CCIE is the expert tier above CCNP. For CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure, Cisco requires a core exam and a lab exam — and the core exam is the same 350-401 ENCOR you take for CCNP. So the CCNA vs CCNP vs CCIE ladder shares a rung: ENCOR counts towards both the professional and the expert certification.
The practical CCNP vs CCIE difference is the lab. CCNP is answered at a keyboard in a test centre; CCIE adds a hands-on lab exam that has to be booked separately.
CISSP and CCNP do not form a ladder at all. CISSP is ISC2’s security-management certification with a five-year experience requirement; CCNP is a Cisco networking certification with no experience requirement. They sit in different careers, and comparing their difficulty says little.
Source: Cisco — CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure. Checked 24 September 2026.
What are the CCNP requirements and prerequisites?
Cisco states the CCNP prerequisites as none. There is no degree requirement, no years-of-experience requirement, and no requirement to hold CCNA first — the only requirement for CCNP is passing the two exams. Cisco recommends three to five years of experience for the professional level, but recommends is the word it uses, not requires.
How long it takes to get CCNP depends entirely on your starting point, and Cisco publishes no study-hour figure, so there is no official answer. What Cisco does fix is the other end: the certification is valid for three years, after which it has to be renewed, and the exams you pass on the way can count towards that renewal.
Source: Cisco — CCNP Enterprise certification. Checked 24 September 2026.
Which CCNP concentration exam should you take?
Six concentrations sit on top of the ENCOR core: 300-410 ENARSI for advanced routing and services, 300-415 ENSDWI for SD-WAN, 300-420 ENSLD for network design, 300-435 ENAUTO for automation and programmability, 300-440 ENCC for cloud connectivity, and 300-445 ENNA for network assurance.
Each is 90 minutes at $300, and each one you pass earns its own Specialist certification alongside the CCNP. There is no “default” choice — pick the one closest to the work you do, because the Specialist certification is what shows on your record.
Source: Cisco — 300-410 ENARSI exam. Checked 24 September 2026.
CCNP study guide, books and courses
Most questions here are about material: study guides, books and online courses. Cisco itself publishes the exam topics for every exam, and those topic lists are the only authoritative scope — a CCNP ENCOR study guide follows them, not the other way round. Cisco also runs official training courses and a free learning network with study resources.
The same holds for study guides and books from every publisher, and it is the reason the best books are the ones that track Cisco’s topic list version by version rather than the ones with the newest cover.
One limit worth knowing before you buy CCNP study material: Cisco does not publish a passing score or a question count for these exams. No book and no practice percentage can tell you exactly where the line is, because Cisco has not stated where it is.
Source: Cisco — CCNP Enterprise certification. Checked 24 September 2026.
CCNP practice questions, exam questions and dumps
Certsqill’s CCNP practice questions for CCNP Enterprise, including ENCOR, are expert-developed and come with an explanation for every option, so that each of the CCNP questions teaches the topic rather than the answer key — a different thing from a thin set of CCNP sample questions sold as practice exams or a practice test.
What we will not do is publish CCNP dumps. Exam dumps, for ENCOR or any other CCNP exam, are copied live exam questions. Using them breaks Cisco’s exam agreement and can void your certification. They also teach you the answer to one question rather than the topic behind it, which is the opposite of what a pass/fail professional exam rewards.
Alongside practice questions, Cisco’s own exam topics for 350-401 and your chosen concentration are the most reliable free guide to what CCNP exam questions actually cover.
Source: Cisco — CCNP Enterprise certification. Checked 24 September 2026.
CCNP Enterprise questions people ask
How much does CCNP cost?
$700 in exam fees: $400 for the 350-401 ENCOR core exam plus $300 for one concentration exam. Source: Cisco, checked 24 September 2026.
What does CCNP stand for?
Cisco Certified Network Professional.
What are the CCNP prerequisites?
None. Cisco states “Prerequisites: None” for the core exam; CCNA is recommended but not required. Checked 24 September 2026.
What is the difference between CCNA and CCNP?
CCNA is one exam at $300; CCNP Enterprise is two exams totalling $700, at the professional tier above CCNA. Source: Cisco, checked 24 September 2026.
How long is CCNP valid?
Three years. Source: Cisco, checked 24 September 2026.
What is the CCNP passing score?
Cisco does not publish one. Grading is stated as pass/fail with results online within 48 hours, checked 24 September 2026.
How many questions are on the CCNP exam?
Cisco does not publish a question count for the ENCOR or concentration exams, checked 24 September 2026.
What is a CCNP certification on the Cisco certification path?
On the Cisco CCNP certification path, the professional tier sits between the associate level (CCNA) and the expert level (CCIE). For enterprise networking, Cisco’s ENCOR exam is associated with three certifications at once: Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Enterprise, CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure, and Cisco Certified Specialist – Enterprise Core. Cisco adds that ENCOR can also meet the core requirement for CCIE Enterprise Wireless.
That makes the CCNP certification path less of a ladder and more of a hub. The same core exam that earns you the ENCOR certification at Specialist level counts towards CCNP Enterprise once you add a concentration, and towards CCIE if you later add the lab exam.
Source: Cisco — 350-401 ENCOR exam. Checked 9 October 2026.
The CCNP core exam and the concentration exams
There is no single Cisco CCNP exam. The CCNP certification exams are a pair: the ENCOR core exam, 350-401, and one of six CCNP concentration exams — 300-410 ENARSI, 300-415 ENSDWI, 300-420 ENSLD, 300-435 ENAUTO, 300-440 ENCC or 300-445 ENNA. Cisco states that you earn a Specialist certification for every exam you pass.
In practice, the CCNP core exam is the broader test, at 120 minutes, and a concentration is the narrower, deeper one, at 90 minutes. Treat each CCNP certification exam as its own project with its own topic list rather than as two halves of one test. Both Cisco CCNP exams are graded pass/fail, with results online within 48 hours.
Source: Cisco — CCNP Enterprise certification. Checked 9 October 2026.
CCNP ENCOR exam topics
Cisco publishes the CCNP exam topics for each exam as a downloadable document, and those documents are the CCNP syllabus in all but name. The Cisco ENCOR exam topics weight six domains: architecture 15%, virtualization 10%, infrastructure 30%, network assurance 10%, security 20%, and automation 15% — named “Automation and Artificial Intelligence” in the v1.2 document.
Check the version before you study. Cisco’s ENCOR exam page currently shows v1.1, while its ENCOR course page and newest topic document refer to v1.2; the weights are the same in both, but some subtopics changed, for example Catalyst Center and SD-WAN Manager in v1.2. Cisco calls the topics general guidelines and says other related topics may also appear.
Source: Cisco — 350-401 ENCOR exam topics v1.2. Checked 9 October 2026.
CCNP ENARSI exam topics
For the most common concentration, the CCNP ENARSI exam topics in v1.1 cover implementing and troubleshooting advanced routing technologies and services, in four domains: Layer 3 technologies 35%, VPN technologies 20%, infrastructure security 20% and infrastructure services 25%.
The CCNP objectives for each of the other concentrations are published the same way. Read the document for the concentration you choose before you buy any material, because a good ENCOR preparation covers only half of the CCNP exam objectives you need.
Source: Cisco — 300-410 ENARSI exam topics v1.1. Checked 9 October 2026.
Requirements for CCNP certification, step by step
The CCNP certification requirements are short: pass the ENCOR core exam and one concentration exam. Cisco lists the CCNP certification prerequisites as none — no prior certification, no degree, no mandatory course.
In order, that usually means choosing your concentration first, studying ENCOR against its topic list, sitting the core exam, and then sitting the concentration. If you stop after ENCOR, you still hold the Enterprise Core Specialist certification.
Source: Cisco — CCNP Enterprise certification. Checked 9 October 2026.
CCNA and CCNP: holding both
A Cisco CCNA and CCNP certification pairing is common, but Cisco does not require one before the other. CCNA covers networking at associate level; CCNP Enterprise builds on that knowledge at professional level. Cisco also lists advancing to the next level of certification as one of its general recertification routes, alongside retaking your exam or earning Continuing Education credits.
People looking for a CCNP wireless certification should note that the six concentrations on Cisco’s CCNP Enterprise page include no dedicated wireless exam. Wireless topics appear within ENCOR, and Cisco names CCIE Enterprise Wireless as an expert-level certification for which ENCOR can meet the core requirement.
Source: Cisco — Recertification. Checked 9 October 2026.
Renewing CCNP: recertify with CE credits or exams
CCNP renewal runs on a three-year cycle: Cisco states the certification is valid for three years and that you can renew with Continuing Education credits or by retaking exams before they expire. Under Cisco’s rules for professional-level recertification, CCNP holders need 80 CE credits.
CE-eligible learning paths in Cisco U. award credits, and Cisco’s ENCOR course alone earns 64. If you plan your CCNP recert early, training you take for your work can count towards it instead of being a separate cost.
Source: Cisco — Recertification. Checked 9 October 2026.
CCNP vouchers and bootcamps
Cisco prices ENCOR at $US400 and concentration exams at $US300, and accepts Cisco Learning Credits instead of direct payment. If you are offered a voucher, check where it comes from: Cisco’s exam policies warn that vouchers which are fraudulent or obtained from an unauthorized source may lead to sanctions, and that Cisco will not compensate candidates for them.
A CCNP bootcamp — or boot camp, depending on who sells it — is an intensive version of a course. Cisco offers no separate bootcamp route; judge one by whether it tracks the current exam topics, includes hands-on labs and covers your concentration as well as ENCOR.
Source: Cisco — Exam policies. Checked 9 October 2026.
CCNP dumps and why they are a risk
CCNP exam dumps, also sold as CCNP test dumps, are files of questions presented as copied from the live exam. Cisco’s exam policies state that all exam content, specifically questions, answers and diagrams, is Cisco’s proprietary property and may not be copied, reproduced, modified, published, uploaded or posted. Candidates must take no action to compromise the integrity or confidentiality of the exam, and penalties can go up to a lifetime ban on all future exams.
A CCNP ENCOR dump has a second problem: with exam topics that Cisco says may change at any time, and a move from v1.1 to v1.2, nothing tells you which version a dump reflects or whether its answers are right. Even an accurate CCNP exam dump trains you to recognise one question rather than understand the topic behind it.
Source: Cisco — Exam policies. Checked 9 October 2026.
CCNP ENCOR practice questions on Certsqill
In Certsqill’s CCNP Enterprise question bank, including CCNP ENCOR practice questions, every CCNP question explains each answer option, so CCNP test questions teach the topic rather than an answer key, and your results show a readiness score per domain.
More CCNP Enterprise questions
What is the CCNP certification called in full?
Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP). The enterprise track is CCNP Enterprise, earned with the 350-401 ENCOR core exam plus one concentration exam. Source: Cisco, checked 9 October 2026.
Is the Cisco CCNP test one exam or two?
Two: the ENCOR core exam and one concentration exam of your choice. Each one also earns a Specialist certification.
Where are the CCNP exam topics published?
Cisco publishes an exam topics document for each exam, linked from its exam pages. For ENCOR the domains are architecture, virtualization, infrastructure, network assurance, security and automation.
How do I recertify CCNP?
Earn 80 Continuing Education credits, retake exams before the certification expires, or advance to the next level. Cisco states CCNP is valid for three years. Checked 9 October 2026.
Are CCNP ENCOR dumps allowed?
No. Cisco’s exam policies treat questions, answers and diagrams as Cisco’s proprietary property that may not be copied or published, with penalties up to a lifetime ban on future exams.
Is a CCNP test dump the same as practice questions?
No. A CCNP test dump claims to reproduce live exam content, which Cisco prohibits. Practice questions are written against the published exam topics and should explain why each answer is right or wrong.
Is the CCNP certification test hard to pass without experience?
Cisco sets no experience requirement, but both exams test implementation and troubleshooting. Cisco publishes no passing score, so plan on covering every domain in the exam topics hands-on.
Is CCNP worth it?
It depends on your work. The costs are published — $700 in exam fees, valid three years — and each exam earns a Specialist certification, with ENCOR also counting towards CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure.
