CCNP Enterprise: when to move past CCNA, and how to split two exams
You need two Cisco exams for CCNP Enterprise: the ENCOR core exam at $400 and one concentration, such as ENARSI at $300, so $700 in exam fees (November 2026). Preparing for ENCOR costs from $529 with self-study plus the exam to about $4,700 with a five-day class, and a class for the concentration costs roughly as much again. CCNP Enterprise suits network engineers who already work at CCNA level and run enterprise routing and switching. Most need 3 to 6 months for ENCOR alone alongside a job (our estimate).
Key facts
- ENCOR (350-401) costs $400 and lasts 120 minutes; ENARSI (300-410) costs $300 and lasts 90 minutes. (Cisco, checked November 5, 2026)
- CCNP Enterprise requires the ENCOR core exam plus one concentration exam, and Cisco sets no prerequisites for either. (Cisco, checked November 5, 2026)
- The certification is valid for three years; professional-level recertification takes 80 continuing education credits, or qualifying exams. (Cisco, checked November 5, 2026)
Who should go on to CCNP Enterprise
CCNP Enterprise is Cisco's professional-level enterprise networking certification. It shows you can run the core of a larger network (architecture, virtualization, infrastructure, assurance, security and automation) plus one specialty you pick. It is taken by network engineers who already work at CCNA level and want to show depth in enterprise routing and switching, or in one of the other concentration areas.
A good fit if
- You already work at CCNA level and configure routers and switches every day
- Your work centers on one concentration area, such as advanced routing, SD-WAN, design or automation
- You want a credential to show within months: passing ENCOR alone earns the Enterprise Core specialist certification
Think twice if
- You have not reached CCNA-level knowledge yet: the material assumes it, even though Cisco sets no prerequisite
- You no longer run on-premises routing and switching at all
- You need the full certification soon: we plan on 3 to 6 months for ENCOR alone alongside a job, then the concentration
Consider instead: CCNA first if you are not at associate level yet, or Microsoft's Azure Network Engineer Associate (exam AZ-700) if your network work has moved entirely into Azure.
Core plus one concentration
Cisco builds the certification from two passes. ENCOR (350-401) covers the shared enterprise ground: dual-stack architecture, virtualization, infrastructure, assurance, security and automation. You then choose one concentration. ENARSI (300-410, advanced routing and services) carries on from CCNA-style routing work; the others cover SD-WAN (300-415), design (300-420), automation (300-435), cloud connectivity (300-440) and network assurance (300-445).
| ENCOR 350-401 (core) | ENARSI 300-410 (concentration) | |
|---|---|---|
| Fee (US) | $400 | $300 |
| Length | 120 minutes | 90 minutes |
| Prerequisites | None | None |
| Earns on its own | Cisco Certified Specialist, Enterprise Core | Cisco Certified Specialist, Enterprise Advanced Infrastructure Implementation |
Each pass earns a specialist certification, so passing ENCOR first gives you something to show before you finish.
Self-study, evenings or a week in class
If you configure routers and switches every day, self-study with a text course, a practice exam and a home or virtual lab covers ENCOR for most people. If you study around a full-time job and want structure, a part-time class such as Boson's eight-week evening course spreads the material over two months. A five-day class (INE's live virtual week, or ONLC, Global Knowledge and Learning Tree) suits people who can take a week away from work, and pays off mainly when an employer covers it. Whichever you choose, plan the concentration as a second, separate block of study.
ENCOR preparation, priced
Each total adds the $400 ENCOR exam fee, because none of these listings says an exam voucher is included; ask before you book. Budget the concentration separately: ONLC lists its five-day ENARSI class at $4,295 for registrations before November 10, 2026 and $4,545 after, and Learning Tree lists its five-day ENARSI class at $4,295.
| Route | Provider and course | Published price | Exam fee | First attempt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self-study text course | Boson, Courseware for Cisco 350-401 ENCOR, one-year subscription; Boson sells its ExSim practice exam separately. Checked November 5, 2026. | $129 | + $400 ENCOR exam | $529 |
| Live online, 8 weeks part-time | Boson, 8 Weeks to ENCOR, two evening sessions a week; the February 9 to April 1, 2027 class is listed at $999 (the class that started October 19 was $799). Checked November 5, 2026. | $999 | + $400 ENCOR exam | $1,399 |
| Live virtual, 5 days | INE, CCNP ENCOR Exam Preparation, live virtual session November 16 to 20, 2026, with 30 days of INE Premium for materials and labs, no class recordings; $699 for current INE subscribers. Checked November 5, 2026. | $899 | + $400 ENCOR exam | $1,299 |
| Live class, 5 days | ONLC Training Centers, ENCOR 1.4, Implementing and Operating Cisco Enterprise Network Core Technologies (CSENCO). Checked November 5, 2026. | $4,295 | + $400 ENCOR exam | $4,695 |
| Live virtual, 5 days plus self-study | Global Knowledge, ENCOR, five instructor-led days and about three days of self-study; listed US dates are virtual. Checked November 5, 2026. | $4,295 | + $400 ENCOR exam | $4,695 |
| Live class, 5 days plus self-study | Learning Tree, CCNP ENCOR Training (course 2815), extended hours and three days of self-study, commercial price. Checked November 5, 2026. | $4,300 | + $400 ENCOR exam | $4,700 |
ONLC, Global Knowledge and Learning Tree price their five-day classes within $5 of each other, so the choice between them is schedule and format. INE's live virtual week costs about a fifth as much, and Boson's eight-week evening class about a quarter.
What the full certification costs
Two ONLC classes plus both exam fees come to $9,290 if you book ENARSI before November 10, 2026. Certification Camps packages both: its nine-day ENCOR and ENARSI bootcamp costs $5,995 with both exam vouchers and a retake voucher for each exam. Self-study for both exams costs the $700 in fees plus about $450 to $700 in study material and lab time (our estimate; Boson lists its ENCOR courseware at $129 and its practice exam at $99; similar ENARSI materials and a home lab make up the rest). The gap is large enough that we suggest self-funded candidates study alone and save a class for the exam they find harder.
Comparing ENCOR classes before you book
- Which ENCOR version it teaches. ONLC lists ENCOR 1.4. Cisco versions its exam topics, so compare the course outline with the current ENCOR topics.
- Whether exam vouchers are included. None of the ENCOR listings in the table says so. Certification Camps' nine-day bootcamp is the exception we found, with both vouchers and a retake voucher for each exam.
- Lab access and recordings. INE's week comes with 30 days of INE Premium for materials and labs but no class recordings; ask other providers how long lab access lasts after the class.
- How many days are really instructor-led. Global Knowledge and Learning Tree add about three days of self-study to the five class days.
Recertifying every three years
CCNP Enterprise is valid for three years. To recertify at the professional level, Cisco accepts 80 continuing education credits; it also lets you recertify through qualifying exams, so check its recertification page for the exact exam options.
Paying with an employer's budget
If your company buys Cisco equipment, ask whether it holds Cisco Learning Credits: Cisco accepts them for both exams; ask each training provider whether it takes them for classes before you book. For a team, ask providers to quote ENCOR and the concentration together, and compare that with self-study materials and a shared lab.
Questions
- How much does CCNP Enterprise cost?
- $700 in exam fees with ENARSI as the concentration: $400 for ENCOR and $300 for ENARSI, as of November 2026. Training is extra.
- Do I need the CCNA first?
- No. Cisco sets no prerequisites for either exam, though the material assumes CCNA-level knowledge.
- Which concentration should I take?
- The one that matches your work. ENARSI is the routing and services option; the others cover SD-WAN (300-415), design (300-420), automation (300-435), cloud connectivity (300-440) and network assurance (300-445).
- How long is CCNP Enterprise valid?
- Three years. You recertify with 80 continuing education credits or qualifying exams (see Cisco's recertification page).
Next step
Tell us what you work on and which concentration you are weighing, and we will suggest a route for both exams.
Ask for help choosing CCNP Enterprise training
Sources
- Cisco: CCNP Enterprise (exam fees, length, prerequisites, validity), checked November 5, 2026
- Cisco: recertification policy (80 CE credits for professional level), checked November 5, 2026
- ONLC: ENARSI v1.1 class (price before and after November 10, 2026), checked November 5, 2026
- Certification Camps: CCNP Enterprise bootcamp, ENCOR and ENARSI in 9 days, checked November 5, 2026
- Microsoft Learn: Azure Network Engineer Associate (exam AZ-700), checked November 5, 2026
- Learning Tree: ENARSI training, checked November 5, 2026
Prices are published list prices we recorded on the dates shown, not quotes. How we research.