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Cisco · Networking · Professional

Cisco Meraki ECMS: Engineering Cisco Meraki Solutions exam guide

Exam 500-220 ECMS (v1.0)

The 500-220 Engineering Cisco Meraki Solutions (ECMS) exam earns the Cisco Meraki Solutions Specialist certification. It validates that you can design, deploy, monitor and troubleshoot cloud-managed Meraki networks across MX security appliances, MS switches, MR wireless, MV cameras, MG cellular and Systems Manager. With cloud-managed networking now the default for branch and campus refreshes, it is the credential partners and enterprises look for on Meraki projects.

QuestionsSee official page
Time limit90 minutes
Passing scoreSee official page
Exam fee$300 USD
Valid for3 years
DeliveryPearson VUE test center or online proctored

Format: Multiple choice and other single-answer item types. Fee note: Cisco Learning Credits accepted.

Who it's for

Network engineers, partner pre-sales and deployment engineers, and MSP staff who already work in the Meraki Dashboard and want vendor proof of design and troubleshooting skill.

What the exam covers

Cisco Meraki Cloud Management15%
Design30%
Implementation25%
Monitoring and Troubleshooting30%

Eligibility & prerequisites

Required: None

Recommended: Cisco recommends taking Engineering Cisco Meraki Solutions (ECMS) training and having hands-on experience deploying and operating Meraki products in production networks.

Keeping it active

Valid 3 years. Recertify by passing the current ECMS exam again or another qualifying Cisco exam, or by earning Cisco Continuing Education credits before expiry (check the Cisco recertification tool for the current credit count).

Skills & careers

Skills it validates

  • Designing Meraki organizations, networks, templates and tagging
  • MX SD-WAN, Auto VPN and firewall policy design
  • MS switch stacking, port profiles and QoS
  • MR RF design, SSIDs, authentication and group policies
  • Systems Manager (MDM) and MV camera deployment
  • Using Dashboard events, alerts and API for monitoring
  • Troubleshooting with Dashboard tools and packet captures

Job roles

Network EngineerWireless Network EngineerMeraki Deployment EngineerPre-Sales Systems EngineerMSP Network AdministratorNetwork 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: Download the 500-220 exam topics and map each bullet to the ECMS course modules; open a free Meraki Dashboard sandbox or DevNet lab.
  2. Week 2: Cloud management and organization design: licensing models, admin roles, templates, tags, firmware management and Dashboard API basics.
  3. Week 3-4: Design domain (30%): MX Auto VPN and SD-WAN policies, MR RF and SSID design, MS stacking and routing, high availability and scaling decisions.
  4. Week 5: Implementation: build networks end to end in the lab (combined networks, group policies, Systems Manager enrollment, MV retention settings).
  5. Week 6: Monitoring and troubleshooting (30%): event logs, summary reports, alerts, packet capture and tools pages; finish with timed practice questions.

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

  • Design and Troubleshooting together are 60% of the exam, so expect scenarios that ask for the best Meraki-native fix rather than CLI commands.
  • Know which features need which license tier (for example MX Advanced Security vs Enterprise) since licensing appears in design questions.
  • Memorize Auto VPN hub/spoke behavior, hub priorities and how concentrator modes affect routing.
  • Learn where each tool lives in the Dashboard (Tools tab, Event log, Summary report) because questions reference real menu paths.
  • Practice reading wireless health and RF spectrum data to pick the root cause of poor client experience.
  • You have 90 minutes; flag long scenario items and return to them after answering the quick recall questions.

Key terms for this exam

All 14 terms Study with thinQcards™

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Cisco 500-220 ECMS exam cost?

The exam fee is $300 USD, and Cisco Learning Credits can be used.

What certification does 500-220 ECMS give you?

Passing 500-220 earns the Cisco Meraki Solutions Specialist certification. It is a standalone specialist credential, not part of a CCNP track.

Is the Meraki ECMS exam hard?

It is moderate for people with real Meraki deployment experience. Candidates who know only traditional CLI networking often struggle with Dashboard-specific behavior, licensing and Auto VPN design.

How long is the Meraki Solutions Specialist certification valid?

Three years. You recertify by passing a qualifying exam or earning Cisco Continuing Education credits before it expires.

ECMS vs CCNA: which first?

CCNA builds general routing, switching and wireless fundamentals that ECMS assumes, so most candidates take CCNA first. ECMS has no formal prerequisite, though.

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.