CCNP ENCOR 350-401 costs $400, runs 120 minutes with roughly 100 to 105 questions across 6 domains, and moved to version 1.2 on March 19, 2026, when Cisco stripped all wireless content out and shifted it to the new standalone CCNP Wireless track.
The direct answer: The exam fee is $400 for ENCOR alone, plus roughly $300 for the required concentration exam that actually completes CCNP Enterprise, bringing the realistic certification total to $700 in exam fees before study materials. Cisco does not publish an exact passing score, current v1.2 content covers Architecture, Virtualization, Infrastructure, Network Assurance, Security, and Automation, and wireless topics no longer appear anywhere on this exam. Full official exam details are maintained on Cisco’s ENCOR exam page.
ENCOR 350-401 at a Glance
| Detail | Value |
| Current version | v1.2, effective March 19, 2026 |
| Exam cost | $400 |
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Question count | Approximately 100 to 105 |
| Question types | Multiple choice, drag and drop, simulations |
| Passing score | Not published by Cisco |
| Prerequisite | None formally required, CCNA knowledge strongly recommended |
| Also qualifies for | CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure and CCIE Enterprise Wireless written exam requirement |
Important: ENCOR alone does not earn you CCNP Enterprise. You need ENCOR plus 1 concentration exam of your choice within a 3-year window to complete the full certification. Candidates who budget only the $400 ENCOR fee and stop there are budgeting for half the certification.
The 6 ENCOR Domains, and How Much Each One Is Worth
| Domain | What It Covers | Approximate Weight |
| Architecture | Enterprise network design principles, 2-tier, 3-tier, fabric, and cloud designs | 15% |
| Virtualization | Network virtualization technologies, virtual switching, device virtualization | 10% |
| Infrastructure | Layer 2 and Layer 3 protocols, IP services, redundancy, multicast | 30% |
| Network Assurance | Monitoring, troubleshooting tools, Cisco Catalyst Center | 10% |
| Security | Network security fundamentals, device hardening, access control | 20% |
| Automation | Programmability, APIs, model-driven telemetry, automation tools | 15% |
Key point: Cisco does not guarantee these exact percentages hold on every exam delivery, and the company explicitly reserves the right to adjust weighting without notice. Treat this table as a study-priority guide, not a scoring contract. Infrastructure and Security together account for roughly half the exam by most candidate reports, which is why skipping deep routing and security review to focus purely on newer automation content is a common, costly mistake.
What Just Changed in v1.2, Effective March 19, 2026
This is the update most existing ENCOR guides have not caught up with yet.
| Change | Detail |
| Wireless content removed | All wireless infrastructure and wireless security topics moved to the new CCNP Wireless 350-101 WLCOR exam |
| Cisco DNA Center renamed | Now referred to as Catalyst Center throughout exam materials |
| AI-powered workflows added | New content on AI-driven network operations within the Network Assurance domain |
| Multicast coverage expanded | Deeper multicast protocol coverage within the Infrastructure domain |
If your study materials still list wireless topics as part of ENCOR, they were written for v1.1 and predate the March 19, 2026 update. The final day to sit the old v1.1 exam was March 18, 2026, so anyone testing today is automatically tested on v1.2. Existing CCNP Enterprise credentials earned under v1.1 remain fully valid and unaffected by this change. For the full picture of what replaced ENCOR’s wireless content, see our CCNP Wireless 350-101 WLCOR guide, and cross-check anything you read elsewhere against Cisco’s own current exam topics list before trusting it.
The Real Cost of CCNP Enterprise: What the $400 Number Doesn’t Tell You
Most guides quote the $400 ENCOR fee and stop. That is roughly half the real cost.
Required Costs
| Cost Item | Amount |
| ENCOR exam | $400 |
| Concentration exam | Approximately $300 |
| Total minimum required | $700 |
Strongly Recommended Supplementary Costs
| Cost Item | Amount | Notes |
| Self-paced study materials, books and video courses | $150 to $400 | Cisco Press’s official guide is the most commonly recommended single resource |
| Practice exam platform | $50 to $150 | Closest simulation to real exam question style |
| Hands-on lab environment, GNS3 or physical gear | $0 to $500 | GNS3 is free, physical lab gear varies widely |
| Total supplementary | $200 to $1,050 |
Possible Additional Costs
| Cost Item | Amount | Notes |
| ENCOR retake, if needed | $400 | Full fee again, no discount |
| Concentration exam retake, if needed | $300 | Full fee again, no discount |
| Boot camp or instructor-led training | $2,000 to $3,500 | Optional, often bundles vouchers and lab access |
Realistic Total Budget by Scenario
| Scenario | Total Cost |
| Self-study, pass both exams first attempt, minimal extras | $900 to $1,300 |
| Self-study, pass both exams first attempt, full prep stack | $1,200 to $1,750 |
| Self-study, one retake needed | $1,600 to $2,150 |
| Boot camp route, vouchers bundled | $3,000 to $4,500 |
Most candidates who prepare seriously land in the $900 to $1,750 range. That is the honest number to plan around, not the $400 sticker price on ENCOR alone.
ENCOR Cost Outside the United States
| Region | ENCOR Exam Fee (approximate) |
| United States | $400 USD |
| United Kingdom | £335 |
| India | ₹33,500 |
| European Union | €385 |
| Canada | $545 CAD |
| Australia | $615 AUD |
| United Arab Emirates | 1,470 AED |
Note: Cisco adjusts pricing by country rather than applying a flat currency conversion, and exam fees can shift during the year. Always confirm the exact figure at the Pearson VUE scheduling step before assuming these numbers are current.
ENCOR Plus Concentration: The Structure Most Guides Get Wrong
| Concentration Exam | Best For |
| ENARSI 300-410, Advanced Routing | Network engineers focused on complex routing environments |
| ENSDWI 300-415, SD-WAN | Engineers deploying and managing Cisco SD-WAN |
| ENAUTO 300-435, Automation | Engineers building network automation and programmability solutions |
| ENCCI or other tracks | Engineers specializing outside core enterprise routing and switching |
Note: Wireless is no longer a CCNP Enterprise concentration option following the March 2026 restructure. Candidates specifically targeting wireless architecture now pursue the separate CCNP Wireless certification instead, which has its own core exam entirely.
How Hard Is ENCOR, Honestly
ENCOR has a reputation as a genuinely difficult exam, and that reputation is earned rather than exaggerated. The exam leans heavily on Cisco’s characteristic describe, explain, and interpret phrasing, meaning it tests conceptual understanding and judgment rather than simple command memorization. Configuration-heavy topics like routing protocols, spanning tree, security, and network assurance appear throughout, while troubleshooting scope is narrower than candidates expect, focused mainly on trunking and EtherChannel interfaces rather than broad hands-on lab troubleshooting across the whole domain list.
| Study Timeline | Candidate Background |
| 2 to 3 months | Working network engineers with 2+ years of hands-on experience |
| 4 to 6 months | CCNA holders without extensive production experience |
| 6+ months | Career changers or candidates without a networking background |
Most successful candidates report 2 to 3 years of networking job experience as the practical baseline, even though Cisco does not formally require it.
Who Should Take ENCOR, and Who Should Wait
Working network engineers with 2 or more years of hands-on Cisco experience. If you already configure routing protocols, VLANs, and security policies in production, ENCOR is a direct validation of skills you already use, and the 2 to 3 month study timeline is realistic for you.
CCNA holders looking for the next professional-level step. ENCOR is the natural progression, though you should expect a genuine jump in depth and scope, not an incremental extension of CCNA content.
Candidates preparing for CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure or Enterprise Wireless. ENCOR is a mandatory qualifying step regardless of your ultimate CCIE goal, so there is no way to skip it on that path.
ENCOR is not the right next step for complete networking beginners with no CCNA-level foundation. Cisco does not block you from registering, but candidates without that base consistently report struggling with content the exam assumes you already know cold. If that describes you, build CCNA-level fundamentals first, even informally, before spending $400 on ENCOR.
ENCOR vs the Old CCNP Routing and Switching
| Factor | Old CCNP R&S | Current CCNP Enterprise, ENCOR |
| Structure | Multiple separate exams | 1 core exam plus 1 concentration exam |
| Scope | Routing and switching focused | Architecture, virtualization, security, and automation combined |
| Automation content | Minimal to none | Dedicated domain |
| CCIE pathway | Separate qualification process | ENCOR directly qualifies as the CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure and CCIE Enterprise Wireless written exam |
If you are researching CCNP based on older information, the program has consolidated significantly since the Routing and Switching era, and ENCOR now covers ground that used to be split across multiple separate exams.
CCNP Enterprise Career Outcomes and Salary
| Percentile | Typical CCNP-Holder Salary |
| 25th percentile | Around $65,000 |
| Median range | $105,000 to $144,000 |
| 90th percentile | Up to $170,000 or more |
The ROI math: At a realistic total investment of $900 to $1,750, a CCNP holder moving from the 25th to the median salary percentile sees a $40,000 to $79,000 annual increase, meaning the certification pays for itself within the first 2 to 3 weeks of the resulting salary premium. CCNP Enterprise certification is commonly held by Network Engineers, Systems Engineers, Support Engineers, and Network Technicians, and it functions as one of the clearest signals of enterprise networking competence available to hiring managers evaluating candidates without a shared professional network. Passing ENCOR alone, even before completing the concentration exam, earns Cisco’s Specialist badge and demonstrates core competency to employers screening resumes.
Common Mistakes When Preparing for ENCOR
Studying wireless content that no longer appears on the exam. If your course or book predates March 2026, you may be spending study hours on material that moved entirely to CCNP Wireless.
Underestimating the automation domain. Candidates with strong traditional routing and switching backgrounds sometimes treat automation as a minor section and lose more points there than expected.
Assuming ENCOR alone completes CCNP Enterprise. It does not. You need a concentration exam within 3 years, and picking that concentration before you finish ENCOR study helps you budget both time and money realistically from the start.
Skipping CCNA-level review because “it’s not required.” ENCOR assumes CCNA-level foundational knowledge even though Cisco does not enforce it as a formal prerequisite, and candidates who skip this review often struggle with foundational questions they assumed were too basic to appear.
Treating the passing score like a fixed, known number. Cisco does not publish an exact passing score for ENCOR, and study plans built around hitting a specific percentage on practice exams can create false confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CCNP ENCOR hard?
Yes. It is widely considered a significant step up from CCNA, testing conceptual understanding through describe, explain, and interpret style questions rather than simple recall. Most candidates rate it as genuinely difficult, though manageable with 2 to 6 months of focused preparation depending on background.
Is CCNP still worth it in 2026?
Yes. CCNP-certified professionals earn a median salary of $105,000 to $144,000 in the US, and the certification remains one of the most requested credentials in enterprise networking job postings, especially for Network Engineer and Systems Engineer roles.
How long does it take to study for CCNP ENCOR?
2 to 3 months for working network engineers with 2 or more years of hands-on experience, 4 to 6 months for CCNA holders without extensive production experience, and 6 months or longer for career changers with no networking background.
What are the prerequisites for CCNP ENCOR?
None formally required by Cisco. CCNA-level knowledge is strongly recommended, since the exam assumes that foundational understanding even though it is not enforced as a registration requirement.
How many questions are on the CCNP ENCOR exam?
Approximately 100 to 105 questions, mixing multiple choice, drag and drop, and simulation formats, delivered over a 120-minute window.
What is the passing score for CCNP ENCOR?
Cisco does not publish an exact passing score. The exam uses a scaled scoring system that Cisco does not disclose publicly, so treat any specific number quoted elsewhere with caution.
Do I need CCNA before CCNP ENCOR?
No, it is not a formal requirement. In practice, ENCOR assumes CCNA-level knowledge as a baseline, and most candidates who skip CCNA-level review struggle with foundational questions.
How much does CCNP ENCOR cost in total?
$400 for the ENCOR exam plus approximately $300 for the required concentration exam, bringing the realistic minimum to $700 in exam fees, before study materials.
What’s the difference between CCNP ENCOR and CCIE?
ENCOR is a professional-level exam and the qualifying written exam for CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure and CCIE Enterprise Wireless. CCIE is the expert-level certification above CCNP, requiring an additional hands-on lab exam that costs significantly more and tests far deeper practical skill.
Does CCNP ENCOR still cover wireless?
No, as of March 19, 2026. All wireless infrastructure and wireless security content was removed from ENCOR and moved to the new standalone CCNP Wireless 350-101 WLCOR certification.
