- CCNP Enterprise requires two exams: ENCOR ($400, 120 min) plus one concentration exam ($300, 90 min).
- Infrastructure is the heaviest domain at 30%, covering OSPF, EIGRP, eBGP, HSRP/VRRP, and multicast.
- Security jumped to 20% under blueprint v1.2, effective March 19, 2026.
- Passing ENCOR alone earns the Cisco Certified Specialist - Enterprise Core credential.
Exam Snapshot: The Numbers You Must Know
Before you touch a single practice question, memorize the mechanics of the exam itself. CCNP Enterprise is issued by Cisco Systems and delivered through Pearson VUE, either at a physical test center or via online proctoring. The certification requires passing two separate exams rather than one combined test.
- Core exam: 350-401 ENCOR (Implementing Cisco Enterprise Network Core Technologies) - $400 USD, 120 minutes
- Concentration exam: one exam chosen from six options - $300 USD, 90 minutes
- Languages: English and Japanese
- Format: multiple-choice plus performance-based lab items; Cisco does not publish a fixed item count, but forms commonly deliver 90 to 110 items
- Cut score: not officially published; scaled cut is widely reported near 825 out of 1000
For a deeper dive into how that scoring threshold actually works, see the CCNP Enterprise Passing Score guide, and for a line-item breakdown of every fee, check the CCNP Enterprise Certification Cost breakdown.
Domain Breakdown at a Glance
ENCOR is built from six official domains under Cisco's blueprint version v1.2, effective March 19, 2026. Weighting determines how much study time each domain deserves - not how "important" it sounds in a job title.
| Domain | Weight | Core Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | 15% | Enterprise network design principles |
| Virtualization | 10% | Device and network virtualization concepts |
| Infrastructure | 30% | Routing, switching, redundancy protocols |
| Network Assurance | 10% | Monitoring, telemetry, Catalyst Center AI workflows |
| Security | 20% | Network security controls and access |
| Automation and Artificial Intelligence | 15% | Programmability, APIs, AI-assisted operations |
Notice that Infrastructure and Security together make up half the exam. If your study plan spends equal time on all six domains, you are misallocating effort. For the full domain-by-domain breakdown with subtopics, see the CCNP Enterprise Exam Domains Guide.
The Six Concentration Exams
After ENCOR, candidates pick one concentration exam that matches their career direction. All are 90 minutes and $300 USD:
Concentration Options
- 300-410 ENARSI - Advanced Routing and Services
- 300-415 ENSDWI - SD-WAN Implementation
- 300-420 ENSLD - Enterprise Network Design
- 300-435 ENAUTO - Automation
- 300-440 ENCC - Cloud Connectivity
- 300-445 ENNA - Network Assurance
There is no single "correct" concentration - pick the one that lines up with your target role. ENARSI is the traditional choice for routing/switching-heavy engineers, while ENAUTO suits candidates leaning into network programmability. See CCNP Enterprise Requirements for how the concentration choice interacts with eligibility for CCIE lab tracks.
Key Takeaway
Passing ENCOR by itself already earns the Cisco Certified Specialist - Enterprise Core certification and satisfies the qualifying exam requirement for both the CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure and CCIE Enterprise Wireless lab attempts - even before you sit the concentration exam.
Infrastructure: The 30% Domain You Cannot Skip
Infrastructure is the single heaviest domain on ENCOR, and it is also the most technically dense. Cheat-sheet review only works here if you already understand the underlying mechanics - this domain rewards muscle memory built from labbing, not memorization.
Infrastructure Must-Know Topics
Candidates must be fluent in both configuration and troubleshooting for each of these:
- 802.1Q trunking and EtherChannel troubleshooting
- RSTP and MST spanning-tree behavior
- OSPFv2 and OSPFv3 operation and verification
- EIGRP comparison against other IGPs
- eBGP between directly connected neighbors
- NAT/PAT translation behavior
- HSRP and VRRP first-hop redundancy
- NTP and PTP time synchronization
- Multicast fundamentals
If any of these terms feel unfamiliar, stop and go build a lab before advancing to the concentration exam. The CCNP Enterprise Study Guide walks through a week-by-week plan that front-loads Infrastructure precisely because of its 30% weight.
Security's Move to 20% and What It Means
Under blueprint v1.2, Security rose to 20% of the exam - the second-largest domain after Infrastructure. Candidates who trained on older ENCOR material may underestimate how much weight this domain now carries. Expect coverage of network access control, device hardening, and security architecture concepts woven into enterprise routing and switching scenarios rather than tested in isolation.
This shift also affects how difficult the exam feels compared to prior versions. If you're weighing how tough ENCOR actually is under the current blueprint, read How Hard Is the CCNP Enterprise Exam? for a realistic difficulty assessment.
v1.2 Blueprint Changes Explained
Cisco's v1.2 revision to the ENCOR blueprint, effective March 19, 2026, made four notable changes that every 2026 candidate needs to internalize before choosing study materials:
- Automation renamed: The domain formerly called Automation is now Automation and Artificial Intelligence, reflecting AI-assisted network operations content.
- Security weight increased: Security moved up to 20% of the exam.
- Catalyst Center AI workflows added: AI-powered workflows in Cisco Catalyst Center were folded into the Network Assurance domain.
- Wireless removed: Wireless topics were pulled out of ENCOR entirely and moved to the dedicated wireless specialty track.
If you're studying from an older guide or a used practice bank, verify it reflects v1.2 - outdated wireless questions or missing AI-workflow content will waste your review time. For a domain-by-domain comparison of what changed, revisit the Exam Domains Guide.
Prerequisites, Validity, and Renewal
CCNP Enterprise has no formal prerequisites. CCNA is recommended but has not been required since 2020. Cisco suggests three to five years of experience implementing enterprise networking solutions before attempting ENCOR, though this is guidance rather than a gate.
Timing Rules to Track
- Each passed professional-level exam is valid for three years from the pass date.
- Both ENCOR and your concentration exam must be passed within that three-year window of each other.
- The certification itself is valid for three years once both exams are complete.
- Renewal requires earning 80 continuing education credits, passing qualifying exams, or a combination of both.
This timing detail trips up a surprising number of candidates who pass ENCOR early and then delay their concentration exam too long. Full eligibility mechanics are covered in CCNP Enterprise Requirements, and scheduling logistics are detailed in CCNP Enterprise Exam Dates 2026.
Final Review Week Plan
A cheat sheet is only useful in the last stretch before test day. Here's how to sequence a final review week so it maps to the actual domain weights instead of generic study advice.
Infrastructure Drill
- Re-lab OSPF/EIGRP redistribution scenarios
- Review HSRP/VRRP failover states and NAT/PAT translation tables
Security and Assurance Pass
- Review access control and hardening concepts tested at 20% weight
- Study Catalyst Center assurance dashboards and AI workflow outputs
Architecture, Virtualization, Automation & AI
- Cycle through the three lighter-weighted domains
- Practice API/programmability question formats
Full Timed Simulation
- Take a full-length practice exam under 120-minute conditions
- Flag weak domains for one last targeted review pass
Run your timed simulation on our practice test platform so the pacing under performance-based lab items feels familiar before exam day. For the broader multi-week version of this plan, see the full CCNP Enterprise Study Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Two exams: the required core exam 350-401 ENCOR, plus one concentration exam chosen from six options. Both must be passed to earn the full certification.
Infrastructure, since it carries 30% of the ENCOR blueprint - the largest single weight of any domain - followed by Security at 20%.
Yes. Passing ENCOR earns the Cisco Certified Specialist - Enterprise Core certification and satisfies the qualifying requirement for CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure and CCIE Enterprise Wireless lab attempts.
No. There are no formal prerequisites, and CCNA has not been required since 2020, though Cisco still recommends it as a knowledge baseline.
The automation domain was renamed Automation and Artificial Intelligence, Security rose to 20%, Catalyst Center AI workflows were added to Network Assurance, and wireless content was removed to the wireless specialty track.
Keep this page bookmarked as your quick-reference sheet, but pair it with real practice questions on the full CCNP Enterprise certification overview and hands-on drills at CCNP Enterprise Exam Prep before you schedule your Pearson VUE appointment.