› 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.
Palo Alto · professional
PCNSEPalo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Engineer
Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Engineer
Official pageCisco · expert
CCIE SecCisco Certified Implementation Expert - Security
Cisco Certified Implementation Expert - Security
Official pageComparing
Palo AltoPCNSE
CiscoCCIE Sec
› Cost
Exam fee
PCNSE$200
CCIE Sec$1,750
Exam fee
$200
$1,750
Annual maintenance fee
PCNSE—
CCIE Sec—
Annual maintenance fee
—
—
3-year cost of ownership
PCNSE$200
CCIE Sec$1,750
3-year cost of ownership
$200
$1,750
› Exam mechanics
Pass mark
PCNSE70%
CCIE SecVariable — written exam ~825/1000 + 8-hour lab pass/fail
Pass mark
70%
Variable — written exam ~825/1000 + 8-hour lab pass/fail
Retake policy
PCNSE$175 fee · 14d wait
CCIE Sec$300 fee · 5d wait
Retake policy
$175 fee · 14d wait
$300 fee · 5d wait
Study time
PCNSE100–200 hrs
CCIE Sec1200–2400 hrs
Study time
100–200 hrs
1200–2400 hrs
Validity
PCNSE—
CCIE Sec3 yrs
Validity
—
3 yrs
CPE / yr
PCNSE—
CCIE Sec30 CPEs
CPE / yr
—
30 CPEs
Delivery
PCNSE—
CCIE Sectest center
Delivery
—
test center
› Salary signal (US base)
Range
PCNSE$115K – $175K
CCIE Sec$140K – $210K
Range
$115K – $175K
$140K – $210K
Median
PCNSE$138,000
CCIE Sec$170,000
Median
$138,000
$170,000
Premium %
PCNSE—
CCIE Sec—
Premium %
—
—
Role context
PCNSENetwork security engineer (Palo Alto-focused), US, 3–5 years.
CCIE SecSenior network security architect / consultant, US, 7+ years. CCIE-tier vendor lock.
Role context
Network security engineer (Palo Alto-focused), US, 3–5 years.
Senior network security architect / consultant, US, 7+ years. CCIE-tier vendor lock.
› Quality (4-axis rubric · 0–10)
Schema quality
PCNSE8.0
CCIE Sec9.0
Schema quality
8.0
9.0
Practice evidence
PCNSE7.0
CCIE Sec9.0
Practice evidence
7.0
9.0
Maintenance
PCNSE8.5
CCIE Sec8.5
Maintenance
8.5
8.5
Market recognition
PCNSE8.0
CCIE Sec8.5
Market recognition
8.0
8.5
Average
PCNSE7.9
CCIE Sec8.8
Average
7.9
8.8
› Recognition & lifecycle
Recognition
PCNSEGlobal
CCIE SecGlobal
Recognition
Global
Global
ISO 17024 accredited
PCNSE—
CCIE Sec—
ISO 17024 accredited
—
—
DoD 8140 baseline
PCNSE—
CCIE Sec—
DoD 8140 baseline
—
—
Holders worldwide
PCNSE—
CCIE Sec5,000
Holders worldwide
—
5,000
Current version
PCNSEPAN-OS 11.x aligned (2024-01)
CCIE SecCCIE Security v6.1 (2024-02)
Current version
PAN-OS 11.x aligned (2024-01)
CCIE Security v6.1 (2024-02)
› Domain coverage
A2Network Security
PCNSE● core
CCIE Sec● core
A2Network Security
● core
● core
A25Security Architecture & Engineering
PCNSE·
CCIE Sec● core
A25Security Architecture & Engineering
·
● core
A3Zero Trust Architecture
PCNSE·
CCIE Sec● core
A3Zero Trust Architecture
·
● core
A6Identity & Access Management
PCNSE● core
CCIE Sec·
A6Identity & Access Management
● core
·
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