CCNP Enterprise Exam Overview
What to Expect
The Cisco CCNP Enterprise ENCOR (350-401) exam costs $330 per exam. You need to pass two exams: the ENCOR core exam ($330) and one concentration exam ($330), totaling $660. The two-exam structure means CCNP is a significant financial investment. Make sure you're committed before starting. You'll face 90 questions in 120 minutes, giving you roughly 1 minute and 20 seconds per question. Pass/fail with variable cut scores per exam.
Prerequisites and Audience
No formal prerequisites, but CCNA-level knowledge is assumed. Cisco recommends three to five years of enterprise networking experience. Senior network engineers, network architects, and enterprise IT professionals who design, implement, and troubleshoot complex enterprise networks.
Staying Certified
Valid for three years. Renew by passing any current professional-level or expert-level exam, or earning CE credits.
CCNP Enterprise What the Exam Tests
ENCOR (350-401) covers dual stack, virtualization, infrastructure, network assurance, security, and automation. Concentration options include ENARSI (advanced routing), SD-WAN, SD-Access, wireless, and automation. Choose the concentration that aligns with your career focus.
Infrastructure
Infrastructure carries 30% of the exam weight, making it the single most impactful domain. Allocate your study time accordingly and make sure you can answer questions on this topic confidently before sitting the exam.
Security
Security at 20% is a substantial portion of the exam. You can't afford to be weak here. Focus on understanding the core concepts and common scenario patterns.
Architecture
Architecture accounts for 16% of questions. While not the heaviest domain, it can make the difference between passing and failing. Don't neglect it.
Automation
Automation accounts for 14% of questions. While not the heaviest domain, it can make the difference between passing and failing. Don't neglect it.
Question Format
Multiple-choice, multiple-response, and drag-and-drop. Some questions require interpreting complex show command output and identifying configuration issues.
CCNP Enterprise How to Prepare
Study Timeline
Four to six months for ENCOR alone. Add two to three months for the concentration exam. Total timeline is six to nine months for the complete CCNP Enterprise.
Top Resources
The official Cisco Press ENCOR study guide, Cisco Learning Network labs, and hands-on practice with real or virtual Cisco equipment. Kevin Wallace's ENCOR course and INE training are well-regarded.
Common Mistakes
Underestimating the breadth of ENCOR. It covers routing, switching, wireless, security, and automation all in one exam. Candidates who are strong in routing but weak in wireless or automation get caught off guard.
Hands-On Advice
Build a multi-site enterprise network in a lab. Configure OSPF and BGP routing, implement VRF for network segmentation, set up SD-Access with ISE, and automate configuration with Python and RESTCONF. The lab experience is what separates CCNP holders from paper-certified candidates.
CCNP Enterprise Why Practice Tests Matter
Practice tests are the single most effective study tool for the CCNP Enterprise exam. They reveal your weak domains before the real exam does, and getting questions wrong in practice is how you learn. Each practice test here mirrors the real exam format: 90 questions, timed at 120 minutes, with the same 6-domain distribution.
Don't just take practice tests and check your score. Review every wrong answer and understand why the correct option is better. For the CCNP Enterprise, pay special attention to Infrastructure (30%) and Security (20%) questions since they carry the most weight.
