CCNP Enterprise ENCOR 350-401: Everything You Need to Pass

ENCOR 350-401 is the exam that gates every CCNP Enterprise concentration - ENARSI, ENSDWI, ENSLD, ENAUTO, ENWLSI. Pass ENCOR plus one concentration and you've got CCNP Enterprise. Fail ENCOR and everything else waits. It's a 120-minute, 90–110-question monster covering everything from BGP path selection to Python REST calls, and Cisco knows most candidates underestimate it. This guide is the plan I've used to get four engineers through it since 2023.

§What ENCOR 350-401 covers in 2025

Six domains, and the weightings tell you exactly where to spend your time:

Notice Infrastructure is 30% - that's where your OSPF and BGP fluency has to be automatic. And Automation at 15% is not concept-level like CCNA anymore. You will see actual Python snippets and need to predict output.

§The 90-day study plan

ENCOR isn't a 60-day exam unless you're a full-time student. Ninety days at 2 hours weeknight, 5 hours weekend = ~180 hours.

• Week 1–3: Architecture + virtualization (VRF-lite, GRE, IPsec fundamentals)
• Week 4–7: OSPF deep dive - LSA types, area design, virtual links, authentication
• Week 8–10: BGP - path selection, attributes, communities, route reflectors
• Week 11: Wireless - AP modes, WLC deployments, security, RF fundamentals
• Week 12: Network services + assurance (NetFlow, SPAN, syslog levels)
• Week 13: Security - AAA order, TACACS vs RADIUS, port security, MACsec basics
• Week 14: Automation - REST fundamentals, Ansible, Python snippets, YANG models
• Week 15: Full practice exams + weak-area review

§BGP: the topic that decides your score

If you can't recite BGP path selection order in your sleep, you'll lose 8–10 questions. The order: Weight → Local Preference → Locally originated → AS Path → Origin → MED → eBGP over iBGP → IGP metric → Router ID. Memorize the mnemonic "We Love Loud Angry Old MEDs Even Ignoring Router IDs" if you must. Practice injecting routes with different attributes in GNS3 and predicting which one wins before you check show ip bgp.

§Home lab that mirrors real ENCOR labs

Packet Tracer is not enough for ENCOR. You need real IOS behavior.

• EVE-NG Community with IOSv, IOSvL2, CSR1000v, ISE, WLC images - the gold standard
• GNS3 with the same images if you're new to virtualization
• Cisco Modeling Labs (CML) Personal - USD 199/year, official Cisco option, most stable
• For wireless: use a physical AP if possible, but WLC virtual images work for concepts

Minimum lab machine: 16 GB RAM, i5 8th gen or better, SSD. A Dell OptiPlex 7060 refurb from Rifles Square (Dhaka) runs BDT 35,000–40,000 and handles every ENCOR topology I've built.

§Automation section - don't panic, but don't skip

Cisco wants you to recognize, not write, Python. Study these five things:

• REST verbs: GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE
• JSON structure - objects, arrays, key-value
• YAML formatting - indentation, lists, dictionaries
• Ansible playbook basics - hosts, tasks, modules like ios_config
• Python requests library at a read-only level (headers, auth, response.json())

§CCNP salary - what passing actually earns you

§Resources that are actually worth it

• Kevin Wallace's ENCOR 350-401 Complete Video Course (CBT Nuggets or Pluralsight)
• Official Cert Guide by Ramiro Garza Rios - the reference bible
• INE ENCOR series if your employer pays - otherwise skip
• Boson ExSim-Max for 350-401 - non-negotiable purchase before booking
• Jeremy's IT Lab ENCOR playlist on YouTube - free, high quality

§FAQ

Is ENCOR harder than CCIE Written?

Comparable, actually. ENCOR replaced the old CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure written qualifier, so the depth is similar. The pass mark is not published but consensus is ~825/1000.

How much does the ENCOR exam cost?

USD 400 per attempt, worldwide. No regional discount from Cisco directly.

Do I need CCNA before ENCOR?

Not required since 2020. Recommended if you're not already working with enterprise gear daily.

Which concentration should I pair with ENCOR?

ENSDWI (SD-WAN) for the highest current market demand in the Gulf. ENARSI if you're pure routing/switching. ENAUTO if you're moving into DevNet.

How long is CCNP Enterprise valid?

Three years. Recertify with a higher-level exam, another concentration, or 80 CE credits.