› Certifications · compare
Compare certifications
Pick up to 3 certifications and compare them side-by-side on cost, exam format, recertification, salary signal, quality, and domain coverage.
Cisco · expert
CCIE SecCisco Certified Implementation Expert - Security
Cisco Certified Implementation Expert - Security
Official pageCisco · professional
CCNP SecCisco Certified Network Professional - Security
Cisco Certified Network Professional - Security
Official pageComparing
CiscoCCIE Sec
CiscoCCNP Sec
› Cost
Exam fee
CCIE Sec$1,750
CCNP Sec$300
Exam fee
$1,750
$300
Annual maintenance fee
CCIE Sec—
CCNP Sec—
Annual maintenance fee
—
—
3-year cost of ownership
CCIE Sec$1,750
CCNP Sec$300
3-year cost of ownership
$1,750
$300
› Exam mechanics
Pass mark
CCIE SecVariable — written exam ~825/1000 + 8-hour lab pass/fail
CCNP SecVariable (~825/1000 scaled)
Pass mark
Variable — written exam ~825/1000 + 8-hour lab pass/fail
Variable (~825/1000 scaled)
Retake policy
CCIE Sec$300 fee · 5d wait
CCNP Sec$300 fee · 5d wait
Retake policy
$300 fee · 5d wait
$300 fee · 5d wait
Study time
CCIE Sec1200–2400 hrs
CCNP Sec200–400 hrs
Study time
1200–2400 hrs
200–400 hrs
Validity
CCIE Sec3 yrs
CCNP Sec3 yrs
Validity
3 yrs
3 yrs
CPE / yr
CCIE Sec30 CPEs
CCNP Sec30 CPEs
CPE / yr
30 CPEs
30 CPEs
Delivery
CCIE Sectest center
CCNP Sectest center
Delivery
test center
test center
› Salary signal (US base)
Range
CCIE Sec$140K – $210K
CCNP Sec$110K – $165K
Range
$140K – $210K
$110K – $165K
Median
CCIE Sec$170,000
CCNP Sec$130,000
Median
$170,000
$130,000
Premium %
CCIE Sec—
CCNP Sec—
Premium %
—
—
Role context
CCIE SecSenior network security architect / consultant, US, 7+ years. CCIE-tier vendor lock.
CCNP SecNetwork security engineer (Cisco-stack), US, 4-6 years.
Role context
Senior network security architect / consultant, US, 7+ years. CCIE-tier vendor lock.
Network security engineer (Cisco-stack), US, 4-6 years.
› Quality (4-axis rubric · 0–10)
Schema quality
CCIE Sec9.0
CCNP Sec8.5
Schema quality
9.0
8.5
Practice evidence
CCIE Sec9.0
CCNP Sec7.0
Practice evidence
9.0
7.0
Maintenance
CCIE Sec8.5
CCNP Sec8.5
Maintenance
8.5
8.5
Market recognition
CCIE Sec8.5
CCNP Sec8.5
Market recognition
8.5
8.5
Average
CCIE Sec8.8
CCNP Sec8.1
Average
8.8
8.1
› Recognition & lifecycle
Recognition
CCIE SecGlobal
CCNP SecGlobal
Recognition
Global
Global
ISO 17024 accredited
CCIE Sec—
CCNP Sec—
ISO 17024 accredited
—
—
DoD 8140 baseline
CCIE Sec—
CCNP Sec—
DoD 8140 baseline
—
—
Holders worldwide
CCIE Sec5,000
CCNP Sec—
Holders worldwide
5,000
—
Current version
CCIE SecCCIE Security v6.1 (2024-02)
CCNP SecSCOR + concentration exam (2024-02)
Current version
CCIE Security v6.1 (2024-02)
SCOR + concentration exam (2024-02)
› Domain coverage
A2Network Security
CCIE Sec● core
CCNP Sec● core
A2Network Security
● core
● core
A25Security Architecture & Engineering
CCIE Sec● core
CCNP Sec·
A25Security Architecture & Engineering
● core
·
A3Zero Trust Architecture
CCIE Sec● core
CCNP Sec·
A3Zero Trust Architecture
● core
·
A6Identity & Access Management
CCIE Sec·
CCNP Sec● core
A6Identity & Access Management
·
● core
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