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