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Cisco · Networking · Expert

Cisco CCDE (Certified Design Expert) exam guide

Exam 400-007 CCDE written (qualifying exam); CCDE practical (lab) exam

The Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE) is Cisco's expert-level network design certification. It proves you can translate business requirements into large-scale network architectures and defend design trade-offs. You earn it by passing the 400-007 written exam and then the 8-hour scenario-based CCDE practical exam, which tests core enterprise architecture plus one elective.

Questions90-110
Time limit120 minutes
Passing scoreSee official page
Exam fee$400 USD
Valid for3 years
DeliveryWritten: Pearson VUE test center or online proctored. Practical: Cisco-designated test locations

Format: Written: multiple choice. Practical: 8-hour scenario-based design exam with core topics plus one elective (AI Infrastructure, Large-Scale Networks, On-Prem and Cloud Services, or Workforce Mobility). Fee note: Price is for the 400-007 written exam; the practical exam is a separate fee. Cisco Learning Credits accepted.

Who it's for

Senior network engineers and architects with years of experience designing enterprise, service provider or data center networks who want the top design credential.

What the exam covers

Business Strategy Design15%
Control, Data, Management Plane, and Operational Design25%
Network Design30%
Service Design15%
Security Design15%

Eligibility & prerequisites

Required: None formally. You must pass the 400-007 written exam before you can book the CCDE practical exam, and the practical must be passed within the window Cisco allows after the written.

Recommended: Cisco recommends five to seven years of experience designing and deploying networks, with deep knowledge of routing, transport, security, QoS and cloud connectivity.

Keeping it active

Valid 3 years. Recertify by passing the CCDE written or practical exam again, a qualifying combination of professional or expert exams, or by earning Cisco Continuing Education credits (expert level requires the highest credit total; confirm in the Cisco recertification tool).

Skills & careers

Skills it validates

  • Translating business and technical requirements into network designs
  • Routing protocol and control-plane design at scale
  • WAN, SD-WAN and hybrid cloud connectivity architecture
  • High availability, convergence and resiliency design
  • QoS, multicast and service design
  • Security architecture and segmentation
  • Evaluating and justifying design trade-offs

Job roles

Network ArchitectPrincipal Network EngineerSolutions ArchitectNetwork Design ConsultantInfrastructure ArchitectEnterprise Architect

Where it fits in your path

Planning a degree too? See how this cert earns college credit in the College Credit Navigator.

Build my study plan

  1. Week 1-2: Read the CCDE v3.1 unified exam topics and take a diagnostic practice test; list weak areas across the five written domains.
  2. Week 3-5: Network design (30%) and control/data/management plane design (25%): IGP and BGP design, fast convergence, segment routing, overlay and underlay choices.
  3. Week 6-7: Business strategy, service design and security design: requirements gathering, cost and risk trade-offs, QoS, multicast, segmentation and zero trust.
  4. Week 8-9: Work through the Cisco Press CCDE Official Cert Guide end-of-chapter scenarios and justify each answer in writing.
  5. Week 10-12: Timed 400-007 practice; after passing, switch to scenario-based practical labs that read requirements documents and pick an elective early.

Make it yours: pick your exam date and weekly hours. We'll split your time by domain weight and give you a printable plan.

Exam-day tips

  • The written exam rewards picking the design that best fits stated business constraints, not the most technically advanced option.
  • Read every scenario for hidden constraints such as budget, staff skills or migration timelines before choosing an answer.
  • Network Design is the largest domain at 30%; be strong on routing protocol interaction, redistribution risks and failure domains.
  • Know why you would choose one technology over another (for example MPLS L3VPN vs SD-WAN) rather than how to configure it.
  • For the practical, choose the elective that matches your real job since it is tested alongside the core enterprise topics.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the CCDE cost?

The 400-007 written exam is $400 USD. The 8-hour CCDE practical exam is a separate, much higher fee, plus any travel to a testing location.

Is the CCDE harder than the CCIE?

They test different things. The CCIE is a hands-on configuration lab; the CCDE tests design judgment. Many engineers find the CCDE harder because there is no single correct configuration, only best-fit decisions.

Do I need a CCNP or CCIE before the CCDE?

No formal prerequisite exists, but most successful candidates hold CCNP- or CCIE-level knowledge and several years of design experience.

Does passing 400-007 give a certification on its own?

Yes. Passing the written exam earns the Cisco Certified Specialist - Design Core certification and qualifies you for the CCDE practical.

How do I keep the CCDE active?

It is valid for 3 years. Recertify by passing qualifying exams or earning Cisco Continuing Education credits before the expiration date.

Official page: www.cisco.com. Reviewed November 2026. Vendors change fees and objectives, so confirm with the vendor before you book. Spot something out of date? Tell us.