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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 · professional
CCNP SecCisco Certified Network Professional - Security
Cisco Certified Network Professional - Security
Official pageComparing
Palo AltoPCNSE
CiscoCCNP Sec
› Cost
Exam fee
PCNSE$200
CCNP Sec$300
Exam fee
$200
$300
Annual maintenance fee
PCNSE—
CCNP Sec—
Annual maintenance fee
—
—
3-year cost of ownership
PCNSE$200
CCNP Sec$300
3-year cost of ownership
$200
$300
› Exam mechanics
Pass mark
PCNSE70%
CCNP SecVariable (~825/1000 scaled)
Pass mark
70%
Variable (~825/1000 scaled)
Retake policy
PCNSE$175 fee · 14d wait
CCNP Sec$300 fee · 5d wait
Retake policy
$175 fee · 14d wait
$300 fee · 5d wait
Study time
PCNSE100–200 hrs
CCNP Sec200–400 hrs
Study time
100–200 hrs
200–400 hrs
Validity
PCNSE—
CCNP Sec3 yrs
Validity
—
3 yrs
CPE / yr
PCNSE—
CCNP Sec30 CPEs
CPE / yr
—
30 CPEs
Delivery
PCNSE—
CCNP Sectest center
Delivery
—
test center
› Salary signal (US base)
Range
PCNSE$115K – $175K
CCNP Sec$110K – $165K
Range
$115K – $175K
$110K – $165K
Median
PCNSE$138,000
CCNP Sec$130,000
Median
$138,000
$130,000
Premium %
PCNSE—
CCNP Sec—
Premium %
—
—
Role context
PCNSENetwork security engineer (Palo Alto-focused), US, 3–5 years.
CCNP SecNetwork security engineer (Cisco-stack), US, 4-6 years.
Role context
Network security engineer (Palo Alto-focused), US, 3–5 years.
Network security engineer (Cisco-stack), US, 4-6 years.
› Quality (4-axis rubric · 0–10)
Schema quality
PCNSE8.0
CCNP Sec8.5
Schema quality
8.0
8.5
Practice evidence
PCNSE7.0
CCNP Sec7.0
Practice evidence
7.0
7.0
Maintenance
PCNSE8.5
CCNP Sec8.5
Maintenance
8.5
8.5
Market recognition
PCNSE8.0
CCNP Sec8.5
Market recognition
8.0
8.5
Average
PCNSE7.9
CCNP Sec8.1
Average
7.9
8.1
› Recognition & lifecycle
Recognition
PCNSEGlobal
CCNP SecGlobal
Recognition
Global
Global
ISO 17024 accredited
PCNSE—
CCNP Sec—
ISO 17024 accredited
—
—
DoD 8140 baseline
PCNSE—
CCNP Sec—
DoD 8140 baseline
—
—
Holders worldwide
PCNSE—
CCNP Sec—
Holders worldwide
—
—
Current version
PCNSEPAN-OS 11.x aligned (2024-01)
CCNP SecSCOR + concentration exam (2024-02)
Current version
PAN-OS 11.x aligned (2024-01)
SCOR + concentration exam (2024-02)
› Domain coverage
A2Network Security
PCNSE● core
CCNP Sec● core
A2Network Security
● core
● core
A6Identity & Access Management
PCNSE● core
CCNP Sec● core
A6Identity & Access Management
● core
● core
Browse the full catalog or open any one of these on its detail page for full study materials, peer comparisons, and lifecycle notes.