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Cisco · Networking · Professional

Cisco ENSLD: Designing Cisco Enterprise Networks exam guide

Exam 300-420 ENSLD

ENSLD (300-420) validates enterprise network design: addressing and routing design, campus and WAN design, security and network services, and SD-Access. With ENCOR it earns CCNP Enterprise and is the natural bridge toward the CCDE.

QuestionsSee official page
Time limit90 minutes
Passing scoreSee official page
Exam fee$300 USD
Valid for3 years
DeliveryProctored at a test center or online, scheduled through Cisco's certification portal

Format: Multiple choice (single and multiple answer), drag-and-drop, and simulation/testlet-style items; pass/fail. Fee note: Cisco Learning Credits accepted.

Who it's for

Network engineers moving into design and pre-sales architecture roles.

What the exam covers

Advanced Addressing and Routing Solutions—
Advanced Enterprise Campus Networks—
WAN for Enterprise Networks—
Security Services—
Network Services—
SD-Access—

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

Eligibility & prerequisites

Required: None.

Recommended: Three to five years of experience designing or implementing enterprise networks.

Keeping it active

Passing earns a Cisco Certified Specialist credential valid 3 years (renew with 40 CE credits or by passing a qualifying exam). The exam itself also counts toward recertifying CCNP/CCIE.

Skills & careers

Skills it validates

  • Structured IPv4/IPv6 addressing and summarization plans
  • OSPF, EIGRP, IS-IS and BGP design choices
  • Campus Layer 2/Layer 3 design and high availability
  • WAN, SD-WAN and VPN design options
  • QoS and multicast design
  • SD-Access fabric design

Job roles

Network ArchitectNetwork Design EngineerPre-Sales Systems EngineerSolutions ArchitectSenior 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. Week 1: Addressing and routing protocol design trade-offs.
  2. Week 2: Campus design: Layer 2 vs routed access, FHRP, STP design.
  3. Week 3: WAN and SD-WAN design, VPN choices, resiliency.
  4. Week 4: SD-Access fabric roles, QoS and multicast design.
  5. Week 5: Scenario-based practice and review of design guides (Cisco Validated Designs).

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

  • Answers hinge on requirements; underline constraints such as cost, convergence time or scale before choosing.
  • Know when to summarize and where (area borders, distribution layer).
  • Learn SD-Access component roles (control plane, border, edge nodes) precisely.
  • Read Cisco Validated Design guides; many questions mirror their recommendations.
  • Expect few CLI questions; this is a design exam.

Key terms for this exam

All 4 terms Study with thinQcards™

Frequently asked questions

How much does the ENSLD exam cost?

US$300 per attempt, or Cisco Learning Credits.

Does ENSLD alone give me CCNP Enterprise?

No. CCNP Enterprise requires the core exam plus one concentration exam. Passing ENSLD by itself earns a Cisco Certified Specialist credential.

What is the passing score?

Cisco does not publish passing scores or question counts; the score needed varies by exam form and is reported as pass/fail with a section breakdown.

How hard is ENSLD?

It is a 90-minute professional-level exam that assumes CCNA-level knowledge plus hands-on experience with enterprise design. Candidates without real lab time usually struggle.

ENSLD or another concentration?

Pick ENSLD if you are heading toward architecture or the CCDE; pick ENARSI for operations and CCIE lab preparation.

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.