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Cisco · Networking · Professional

Cisco SPCNI: Service Provider Cloud Network Infrastructure exam guide

Exam 300-540 SPCNI

SPCNI (300-540) validates designing and implementing service provider cloud network infrastructure: virtualized architecture, cloud interconnect, high availability, security and service assurance. With SPCOR it earns CCNP Service Provider.

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

Engineers building telco cloud, NFV and cloud interconnect infrastructure.

What the exam covers

Virtualized Architecture—
Cloud Interconnect—
High Availability—
Security—
Service Assurance and Optimization—

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

Eligibility & prerequisites

Required: None.

Recommended: Three to five years of SP or cloud infrastructure experience.

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

  • NFV and virtualized network functions
  • Data center interconnect and cloud on-ramps
  • High availability and redundancy design
  • Infrastructure and tenant security
  • Service assurance, telemetry and optimization

Job roles

Telco Cloud EngineerCloud Network EngineerService Provider Network EngineerNFV EngineerNetwork 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: Virtualization and NFV architecture.
  2. Week 2: Cloud interconnect and DCI.
  3. Week 3: HA and security.
  4. Week 4: Assurance and optimization; practice exams.

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

  • Expect design-style scenarios; identify the requirement driving the answer.
  • Know DCI options and when each is used.
  • Review telemetry and assurance tooling concepts.
  • Know how high availability is achieved at each layer (link, node, site) and its effect on convergence.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the SPCNI exam cost?

US$300 per attempt, or Cisco Learning Credits.

Does SPCNI alone give me CCNP Service Provider?

No. CCNP Service Provider requires the core exam plus one concentration exam. Passing SPCNI 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 SPCNI?

It is a 90-minute professional-level exam that assumes CCNA-level knowledge plus hands-on experience with SP cloud and virtualization infrastructure. Candidates without real lab time usually struggle.

SPCNI or another concentration?

Choose SPCNI if your work is telco cloud or interconnect; SPRI or SPVI for traditional SP routing and services.

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.