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Cisco · Networking · Expert

Cisco CCIE Service Provider exam guide

Exam 350-501 SPCOR + CCIE Service Provider lab v5.1

CCIE Service Provider is Cisco's expert certification for carrier and large backbone networks, covering IGPs, BGP, MPLS, Segment Routing, VPN services and automation. It requires 350-501 SPCOR and an 8-hour hands-on lab.

QuestionsSee official page
Time limit120 minutes
Passing scoreSee official page
Exam fee$400 USD
Valid for3 years
DeliveryCore: Pearson VUE test center or online proctored. Lab: Cisco lab locations

Format: Core: multiple choice, drag-and-drop, simulations. Lab: 8-hour hands-on practical (design, deploy, operate, optimize). Fee note: Core exam $400 (120 min); lab/practical exam $1,600 (8 hours). Cisco Learning Credits accepted.

Who it's for

Senior engineers at ISPs, carriers and large enterprises running MPLS or Segment Routing backbones.

What the exam covers

Core Routing—
Service Provider Architecture and Services—
Network Assurance—
Automation and Programmability—

A dash means the vendor does not publish a weight for that domain.

Eligibility & prerequisites

Required: None formally. You must pass the core exam and then the lab/practical exam within 3 years of the core exam.

Recommended: Cisco recommends 5-7 years of experience designing, deploying, operating and optimizing the technologies in the track.

Keeping it active

Valid 3 years. Recertify by earning 120 Cisco Continuing Education credits, passing any CCIE lab/practical exam, passing a technology core exam plus CE credits, or other combinations defined by the Cisco recertification policy.

Skills & careers

Skills it validates

  • IS-IS, OSPF and BGP at scale
  • MPLS, Segment Routing and SRv6
  • L2VPN and L3VPN services
  • Multicast and QoS for SP networks
  • Network assurance and telemetry
  • Automation and orchestration

Job roles

Service Provider Network ArchitectSenior Backbone EngineerIP/MPLS EngineerNetwork ConsultantCarrier Network Engineer

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. Month 1-2: Pass 350-501 SPCOR.
  2. Month 3-5: IS-IS/BGP and MPLS L3VPN labs on IOS XR.
  3. Month 6-7: Segment Routing, TI-LFA, SR-TE and L2VPN/EVPN.
  4. Month 8-9: Multicast, QoS, automation and telemetry.
  5. Month 10-12: Full mock labs.

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

  • Be fluent in IOS XR commit model and route policy language.
  • Know verification commands for SR and BGP-LU.
  • Plan time for design questions before deploying.
  • Watch address-family details in BGP tasks.

Key terms for this exam

All 6 terms Study with thinQcards™

Frequently asked questions

How much is CCIE Service Provider?

$400 core plus $1,600 lab.

What is the current lab version?

v5.1.

How long is it valid?

3 years.

CCIE SP vs JNCIE-SP?

Both are expert SP credentials; choose based on your carrier's vendor.

Is it worth it?

For ISP, carrier and large backbone roles, yes.

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.