What is CCNP and how is it structured?
CCNP is the Cisco Certified Network Professional, the professional tier of Cisco Systems' certification programme. Since Cisco redesigned the programme it works on a core-plus-concentration model: you pass one core technology exam for your chosen track — Enterprise, Service Provider, Collaboration, Data Center, Security or the other tracks Cisco maintains — and then one concentration exam from that track's list, and the professional certification is awarded. There are no formal prerequisites, so a candidate is not required to hold the associate certification first, though Cisco positions the professional tier at roughly three to five years of relevant experience. The core exam does double duty: it is also the qualification exam for the expert-level laboratory in the same track, which is why engineers targeting the expert tier start here. Concentration exams let a candidate specialise in the area they actually work in — advanced routing, SD-WAN, wireless design, service provider transport, call control — rather than covering a fixed syllabus. The certification is valid for three years.
- CCNP is earned by passing one core technology exam plus one concentration exam in the same track.
- There are no formal prerequisites, but Cisco positions the tier at roughly three to five years of experience.
- The core exam is also the qualification exam for the expert-level laboratory in that track.
- Certification is valid for three years and renewed by exam or by Cisco Continuing Education credits.
CCNP at a glance
| Cost | Cisco sets exam pricing per exam and it varies by country and currency; two exams are required, and vouchers are common through employers and partners — check Cisco's current pricing |
| Duration | Two proctored exams: a core exam of roughly two hours and a shorter concentration exam |
| Issued by | Cisco Systems |
| Format | Core technology exam plus one concentration exam in the same track, both proctored |
| Expiry | Three years, reset by passing qualifying exams or by earning Cisco Continuing Education credits |
| Who needs it | Network and telecom engineers, voice and collaboration engineers, service provider transport staff and network operations leads |
| Prerequisites | None formally; Cisco positions the tier at roughly three to five years of relevant experience |
| Dual purpose | The core exam is also the qualification exam for the expert-level lab in that track |
Sources: Cisco, official site · Cisco certification programme. Reviewed August 2026 by the GlobalCybers team.
The Core-Plus-Concentration Model
One core exam, two purposes
The core technology exam for a track is both half of the professional certification and the qualification exam for the expert laboratory in that track. Engineers aiming at the expert tier therefore take it first regardless, and pick up the professional certification by adding a concentration exam they were likely to want anyway. It is the single most useful structural fact about the programme when planning a certification path.
Choosing a track
Does CCNP change a network engineer's position?
The professional tier is commonly written into senior network and telecom engineering job specifications and into managed service provider contracts, so it tends to govern which roles and which project work you are eligible for. BLS reports pay by occupation, not by credential.
GlobalCybers reimburses certification fees after a successful permanent placement through our network.
What CCNP Covers, Enterprise Track Example
BGP in Anger
Professional-level routing means understanding path selection, policy and convergence rather than just enabling a protocol — the point where enterprise and provider networks diverge.
SD-WAN
Overlay architectures now carry most branch connectivity, and the operational model differs enough from traditional WAN that it is a concentration in its own right.
Collaboration Track
Call control, dial plans, media resources and QoS for voice — the track that matters for unified communications and contact centre engineering.
Service Provider Track
MPLS, segment routing and carrier-scale transport, aimed at engineers working for telecom operators rather than enterprises.
Troubleshooting Depth
The professional exams weight diagnosis heavily, because the tier is about restoring service in networks that are already built.
Concentration Choice
The concentration exam is where you make the certification reflect your actual job, and it is the decision most worth thinking about before booking anything.
How do you get CCNP certified, step by step?
Choose the track that matches your work
Enterprise, Service Provider, Collaboration, Data Center and Security are different jobs, not difficulty levels. Choosing the track your employer's network actually uses is what makes the study time pay back.
Take the core exam first
It is half the certification and also the qualification exam for the expert-level lab in that track, so it is the right starting point whether or not you intend to go further.
Pick a concentration that reflects your specialisation
Each track offers several concentration exams — advanced routing, SD-WAN, wireless, call control and others. Pick the one describing what you do or want to do next.
Build a lab
Professional-level exams reward hands-on configuration and troubleshooting. Physical kit, virtual platforms or a lab service — the medium matters less than the hours.
Book both exams and manage the three-year clock
Cisco sets pricing per exam and it varies by country; two exams are required. Once certified, reset the three-year expiry by passing qualifying exams or by earning Continuing Education credits.
Where CCNP Is Required
There is no legal requirement. Demand comes from employers and from Cisco's partner ecosystem: senior network and telecom engineering postings routinely name the professional tier, managed service providers commit contractually to staffing accounts with certified engineers, and Cisco partner programmes count certified individuals toward the partner status that governs a firm's pricing, support access and eligibility to sell. That commercial dimension is why integrators and service providers so often fund the exams for their staff.
CCNP Certification, Frequently Asked Questions
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